Article of www.sportsuntapped.com: Former light-heavyweight champion and current Ultimate Fighter season 11 coach, Tito Ortiz, has recently defended himself in the midst of the UFC officially announcing Chuck Liddell (21-7) vs. Rich Franklin (25-5) as the main event for UFC 115 in Vancouver. Both season 11 coaches, Liddell and Ortiz, were scheduled to conclude the current installment of the reality show in traditional fashion by locking horns for the third time in their careers until rumors surfaced about Tito’s questionable fighting status.

The rumor mill has been set ablaze with various reports weighing in on the Huntington Beach Bad Boy’s recent absence from the media–posts and reactions from numerous online forums have slandered Ortiz for being a lying coward.  While all the negativity and harsh words have been swirling around the internet, both Ortiz and the UFC have remained quiet, even going as far as Dana White reassuring fans that “Tito is definitely fighting Chuck” as early as last week.

Both parties have been coy about the situation until now with the organization’s announcement of Liddell vs. Franklin.  Ortiz has even broken the silence in an appropriately modern way: Twitter.  He defended himself via “Tweet” on the massively popular social networking site, stating legal repercussions as the reason for his silence on the matter.

“I haven’t lied to anyone. I was told not to say ‘Anything’! Having a chance to be sued for $5 million was not a chance I wanted to take. So watch TUF 11 and see what happens. I was just doing what I was told, for once. Sorry!”

The news leaves many open-ended questions in regards to Tito’s future in the octagon and as a coach on the reality show.  Stay posted to SportsUntapped.com for further updates and more complete MMA coverage.

-SpikeTv airs new episodes of The Ultimate Fighter season 11 every Wednesday, 10pm ET/PT.

-UFC 115 is set to take place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on June 12, 2010.

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