Mark Coleman "Sissies Out", Tito Ortiz Awaiting Replacement at UFC 106

Former UFC heavyweight champ “Hammer” Mark Coleman (16-9) has apparently bailed on a light heavyweight match-up versus former 205-pound UFC champ “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (15-6-1) at UFC 106 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas November 21.

“Coleman, Coleman, Coleman…to bad he sissies out,” Ortiz posted at Twitter Tuesday morning.  “Who’s next?  I’m kicking someone’s ass on Nov 21st!”

MMA Weekly has since reported that it has “confirmed” Coleman’s withdrawal with “sources close to the bout”.

With the possibility of a replacement getting in a full six weeks of training before the November 21 fight versus Ortiz, it shouldn’t be difficult for the UFC to find a willing replacement.

Though a match-up between Fighters.com’s seventh-ranked light heavyweight “Banha” Luis Arthur Cane (8-1) and “Minotoro” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (15-3) has been speculated for 106, it hasn’t been officially announced.  Either fighter could step-in to fight Ortiz in a legitimate co-main event.

Other light heavyweights who could step-in to a co-main event versus Ortiz include “Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine (14-5-1) and Forrest Griffin (16-5).  Griffin is unlikely to take the rematch with Ortiz on somewhat short notice after his embarrassing knockout loss to “Spider” Silva at UFC 101 in Philadelphia August 8.  Jardine, however, should be fresh after his first-round loss to Thiago Silva (14-1) at UFC 102 in Portland August 29.

Another possibility, though unlikely, is eighth-ranked “Hollywood” Dan Henderson (24-7) finishing-up his contract negotiations with the UFC immediately and taking on the challenge.

Deep into the UFC’s 205-pound list, top prospect “Bones” Jon Jones (8-0) is expected to fight Ortiz’s former pupil “Hammer” Matt Hamill (6-2) at The Ultime Fighter 10 finale in Las Vegas December 5, but could be drafted to step-up versus Ortiz in a pickle.