LOOKING IN ON: MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

By Jeff Haney

Monday, Nov. 13, 2006 | 7:35 a.m.

Tito Ortiz, one of the most colorful fighters in mixed martial arts, likens his appeal to that of Mike Tyson in his prime.

"Only with more intelligence," said Ortiz, the former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion.

Ortiz will bring his brash style, superb conditioning and trademark wrestling skills into the octagon Dec. 30 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena when he tries to take the UFC 205-pound title from reigning champion Chuck Liddell.

The matchup, pitting two of the sport's most charismatic figures, is projected to be the most-watched pay-per-view fight in the organization's history, UFC President Dana White said.

A privately held company, Las Vegas-based UFC does not release its pay-per-view sales figures, but White said his top-performing shows draw in the same neighborhood as major boxing matches (think mid-six figures).

Ortiz sees the pay-per-view "buys" for the Dec. 30 show smashing any previous numbers.

"They're expecting 1 million pay-per-view buys, and I think they'll do at least that, no problem," Ortiz said recently at the MGM Grand. "I expect this to be one of the biggest UFC fights ever."

A million buys would indeed vault the UFC into Tyson-in-his-prime territory. Ortiz thinks that would be appropriate, as he believes mixed martial arts is replacing boxing in the hearts and minds of the public.

"I'm a huge fan of boxing, but I think UFC is overtaking boxing, just by looking at the numbers of fans who watch it," Ortiz said. "It's just different. It's more exciting. There are more ways to win ...

"The misconception (about the UFC) was that two men went in, and only one came out alive. But the sport has evolved so much in the last 10 years. Everyone has to go through an evolution to get better."

In boxing's early days, there were no rounds and no gloves, Ortiz pointed out.

"What we've done in the last 10 years, it took boxing 100 years to do," he said.

Liddell (19-3 in mixed martial arts) scored a second-round technical knockout victory against Ortiz (15-4) in April 2004. Both fighters have gone a combined 10-0 since.

Never lacking in self-confidence, Ortiz - "the Huntington Beach Bad Boy" who dyes his hair blond and dates Jenna Jameson - vowed to regain his title.

"Now I have the tools to make it happen," Ortiz, 31, said. "That belt is mine."

Liddell, who turns 37 on Dec. 17, is regarded as perhaps the most talented and well-rounded fighter in the UFC.

A betting favorite of more than 2-1, Liddell exudes a quiet confidence in contrast to Ortiz's cockiness.

"It's easy to get motivated for Tito," Liddell of San Luis Obispo, Calif., said. "I don't like him very much, and he knows that. If he stays on his feet with me, he's going to get knocked out."

Title bouts in Sacramento

Two titles will be at stake Saturday in Sacramento in UFC 65, the last major UFC event before the Dec. 30 show in Las Vegas.

Welterweight champion Matt Hughes (41-4) will meet No. 1 contender Georges St. Pierre (12-1) in a rematch of their 2004 fight, in which Hughes forced St. Pierre to tap out, handing him his lone career loss. Heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia (24-2), 6-foot-8, risks his title against 5-foot-9 wrestling specialist Jeff Monson (24-5).

Hughes is about a 3-2 betting favorite; Sylvia is favored by better than 2-1. The card is available on pay per view ($39.95).

Pro-am card at South Point

A mixed martial arts card billed as a "pro-am" and featuring amateur fighters is scheduled for Dec. 29 at the South Point hotel-casino. Organizer Barry Meyer of Tuff-N-Uff Productions said interested fighters should visit www.tuffnuff.net for information on becoming licensed.