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Tito Ortiz Ready to move on

2K views 27 replies 23 participants last post by  _JB_ 
#1 · (Edited)
Just tito ortiz on leaving the ufc and whats lies ahead for the "huntington beach bad boy" a decent read for tito fans or haters.

Source MMAweekly.
The end of the journey for “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy,” Tito Ortiz, and the Ultimate Fighting Championship seems to be drawing near. The former light heavyweight champion has all but packed his bags to leave the company after his May 24 fight against Lyoto Machida.

“I really think it’s time for me to move on,” said Ortiz during an appearance on MMAWeekly Radio. “I’d love to finish my career with the UFC, but the way they treat me, it’s just… it’s really, really bad. It really hurts me. It’s really disrespectful towards me. I’ve given them 11 years of my life, blood, sweat and tears in that Octagon, putting my heart on the line, putting my life on the line, and they give me no respect for it because I’m outspoken.”

The outspoken nature of which Ortiz speaks is his tendency to try and fight for fighters to receive a higher salary from the various promotions, a battle he has been fighting for many years.

“I believe the fighters should get a fair cut of what they (UFC) make. They’ve made their money back time and time over, now it’s time I think for the fighters to start receiving revenue that they get because of us,” Ortiz stated. “I’ve been a person to be outspoken about that, and no one else has.

“I think Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell should be thanking me from three years ago when I spoke out and they started getting paid more money, and I started making more money. That’s what it’s really about, focusing on fighters of the future, not just being paid low sums like some of the undercard guys are getting.”

Obviously, Ortiz has been fighting a very public battle with UFC president Dana White. The California native can’t deny it’s a major reason for his departure.

“To me, it’s just with Dana White, he has such hard feelings against me, he’s been very disrespectful towards me, and I’m willing to move on,” he commented. “To not have to wake up every day and worry about what he’s going to say about me.”

While the former champion doesn’t deny the tough relationship with White, he also says that he’s ready to put all of that behind him and just go somewhere else.

“I really just want to focus on what’s going to happen after this. I’m willing to move on, I’m willing to think about the positive stuff that’s around me and diss all the negative stuff,” Ortiz said about his future. “I’m over all the negative stuff, I’m over talking about Dana… I’m very thankful for Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, for what they’ve done for me. I’m very thankful, and they don’t want to help me anymore, which is fine.”

Ortiz went on to say that he was negotiating for a new contract with the UFC, but ultimately the talks ended and the last fight on his current contract, the fight against Machida, will likely be his last UFC fight ever.

“At this point it’s pretty much stopped,” he said of the contract negotiations. “I gave them my first offer. They came back at me with some totally… I thought was ridiculous (offer). I held out, and I held out, and I held out until they gave me something else, which was a six-fight contract, and I don’t want to be held down for six fights with them.

“I want to go to a company that they’ve got respect, that’s the biggest thing. It’s not about the money, people got to understand, the money’s going to be there no matter what. It’s about a fair cut and being respected as a champ, as the fighter I am.”

After his May 24 fight against Lyoto Machida, Ortiz stated he has a 60-day waiting period before he can negotiate with another company. During that time he plans on attending some shows, checking out the production value and how the various organizations handle promoting their events.

He also talked about working behind the scenes of a promotion to help with marketing, while working to build young fighters and make new stars in the sport.
Specifically, Ortiz mentioned organizations such as EliteXC and Affliction as promotions he intends on checking out. And what kind of animal does Tito Ortiz hope to unleash when he works with a new promoter?
“I think it’s going to be huge for any company that does sign me,” said Ortiz about a positive relationship with a new company. “The marketability I’ll have where I want to put my heart and soul into it, as I did for the UFC.”
 
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#2 ·
Good read, and whether you like him or not he does put butts in seats. I don't know if he will do as well somewhere else as he does in the UFC. The biggest difference is that the UFC helped Tito promote by giving him air time via commericals and other avenues to trash talk and build fights. Other promotions are likely to expect him to do it himself, which may not work out so well for him.
 
#4 ·
what a douche! i totally disagree. the ufc built him, he did not build the ufc. he is old news anyway. so he beat an old tired shamrock and forrest should have got the decision as should have evans! he has done nothing of mention since early in 05' with a split decision over vitor belfort.
 
#5 ·
Great article. People can say what they want about Tito. But he does have some great fights under his belt. He did defend the LHW title what 4 or 5 times successfully. He's had a few wars in the cage. He did make UFC some descent money. He did beat Wanderlei Silva some time ago.

He does have star power and to any of the younger organizations he will be a great acquisition.
 
#7 ·
Unfortunately for Tito it looks like he "missed the boat" with regards to big fight pay days. No doubt his fued with Dana and recent lacklustre performances haven't helped in recent contract negotiations. It's sad to see what is arguably a Hall of Fame fighter leave the UFC under these circumstances.
 
#11 ·
How much would it suck if he actually beat Machida? That could potentially derail Machida's climb to the top. I can't imagine Zuffa not bending to his will after a victory over their number two contender.

In any case, maybe now I get to see some dream rematches with Tito. Mezger vs Ortiz ... F.Shamrock vs Ortiz. etc.
 
#15 ·
I think its actually good for Tito to move on. He will never be champ in the UFC again but imagine what another promotion could do with him. Look at what Elite did with Kimbo! They could feed Tito some cans to get him on top as well and he still has drawing power.
 
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#17 ·
he has only fought once since 06'. that was a draw to rashad evans. he simply is not a factor anymore. jtaylor42 is on the money... he would be a big draw with affliction or dream (maybe even elite)where he could probably write his own ticket! tito wont be able to hug on machida for three rounds... i hope lyoto will finish him! they both have a habit of leaving it in the hands of the judges.
 
#19 ·
Glad to see Tito leave, I get tired of hearing his whining, this guy is always butt hurt over something. Peace out fat head!!!:bye01:, have fun being washed up in another organization.

Now he can go to EXC and talk his mouth off about being the best in the world without ever having to prove it, just like Frank. Man, they will be like two peas in a pod. Two guys that aren't anywhere near being the best in the world demanding respect while fighting cans for the rest of thier careers and living off thier former glory.
 
#25 ·
Tito was a great champ in his day. I am glad to see him go to another org because he deserves to be treated with respect. Im not saying that the UFC didnt do anything for him, but it does seem like he has been getting a hard time from them lately.

I think that he would do great with Elite XC more so than an org like Dream because i just don't believe that his attitude or persona would fit well with the Japanese fan base, and besides like said before, look what they have done with Kimbo.
 
#26 ·
So if Tito beats Machida, what's Machida the #2 contender or something?

So if Tito beats Machida, will he still be washed up in everybody's eyes?

People say that he looked terrible against Forrest. But he won. He's already defeated the #1 contender.

Wanderlei Silva KOed Rampage twice. The champ.
Tito Defeated Wanderlei Silva.

He successfully defended the LHW title how many times?

Tito's not even in my top five of favorite fighters, but he's accomplished alot more than alot of MMA fighters.
He says he's still gonna scrap.
If he wins,
I hope he does leave the UFC, because it looks like even alot of fans don't respect him any more.
 
#27 ·
it all comes down to the money and respect. Im not a tito fan but tito would be stupid to stay in the UFC. The way things are in the devision hes in he will never be a champion again. He also wont be able to market himself or get proper respect in the ufc. He is better off going to another venue where he can become a champion use them and the publicity to make more money and then have his new venue pay him a riddiculous ammount of money.

Hes not getting any younger at this point he has to set things up for retirement.
 
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