Tito Ortizvs. Tank Abbot

[Newbie]

Do you guys think Tank Abbot could cut down to Middleweight and beat Tito Ortiz? I know this may seem unreasonable at first, except Tank Abbot is very heavily muscled and somewhat obese at 250-265 pounds. At 250 pounds, he bench pressed 625 pounds, which is 2.5 times his body weight. He had an extremely massive layer of fat around his mid-section at 250 pounds. Losing the layer of fat alone could take him down to 235 easily. He could drop 20 pounds of muscle and de-hydrate himself enough to lose the last 15 pounds before the weigh-in. He would still be one strong, powerful punching Middleweight with good takedown defenses.
I seriously believe that if Tank Abbot cut weight down to 200 in the way Tito Ortiz does, he is genetically capable of coming into the Octagon weighing a lean 215 pounds and benching around 550 pounds on the day of the fight. How many Middleweights have that type of upper body strength? He is also very hard to take down.
When you watch Tank fight, don't you see a lean, mean Middleweight with awesome takedown defenses combined with powerful punches?

[DIRE WOLF]

I would think Tito has the advantage since Tank has been out of the UFC for a while.

[Qkfx]

Tank

The day Tank cuts down to middleweight will be a snowy day in hell. When I see Tank I see a fat undisciplined slob who couldn't even get in reasonable shape for the heavyweight division. He was in the game long enough to know he needed better conditioning, but he was either to stuborn or lazy to make it happen.
I've heard Tank ramble on and on about his natural talent and strength but what good is it when he is too much of a bumb to develop it?

[Shimora]

Forget Tank slimming down to middleweight.
Tanks best weapons are his strength, weight and punching power.

Considering that Tito is much better technically I say let Tank fight at his normal weight.

I think we all agree that Tank would punch holes in Tito even now. When they were training together Tank KO'd Tito on 3 seperate occasions.

[Qkfx]

disagree

I completely disagree Shimora. When Tank was knocking Tito out, it was the very beginning of Tito's career. He has improved ten times over since then.

[Shimora]

When Tank was knocking out Tito, Tito had already tapped out Mezger in the UFC. In typical Lions Den fashion, Mezger denied the tap and went on to win the fight. Tito was already a state wrestling champion when Tank was KO'ing him. My point being that Tito was not as inexperienced as you make him out to be.

Since then Tito has improved mainly in his cardio fitness.
On the other hand Tank has tightened up his flab, gained a lot of muscle and a lot of stamina. Tanks biggest weakness were the iron chains clamped around his lungs. Now that Tank has cardio fitness he would be standing in the Octagon atop of Tito's bloody broken body.

I think most of us would agree that in his current shape, Tank would easily become Heavyweight champ in the UFC today. He would destroy the likes of Randleman & Couture.

[Patterson]

Tank could theoretically get to 199, I'm sure he could even weight as low as 80 pounds. But he wouldn't be a good fighter at these weights. Tito is a better wrestler and Tank at 199 isn't as dangerous with his hands.

[Qkfx]

corrected

Shimora-
I stand corrected. I thought the ko's were earlier in Tito's career. However I still think Tito has improved greatly since then and I don't even like the guy. If Tank's cardio has improved as you say I would give him the win at heavyweight over Tito, since Tito should be fighting heavy anyway, But I'ld give it to Tito at 199lbs.

[Qkfx]

Tank

I forgot. Speaking of big guys dropping to middleweight...the interview with Vov on Sherdog's says he started out at 199lbs. Seems he has no interest in ever returning to that weight but I would really like to see it.

[festiva]

tank could stay at his regular weight why bother ortiz can beat him at any weight like many others before him ...come on its not like tank hasnt been pounded and submitted by guy who weigh even 180 lbs....

[Shimora]

Who are the 180lb guys that have pounded on or submitted Tank?

With one mighty punch, Tank would end Tito's UFC career the way he ended Steve Nelmarks.