By Jesse Holland
Love him or hate him, there is no denying the impact “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” has on the continuing evolution of mixed martial arts. In fact, the mere mention of his name is usually enough to start a heated debate between UFC enthusiasts.
Is he one of the world’s top light-heavyweights destined to recapture gold?
Or is he a B-level fighter who’s mastered the art of self-promotion?
There is no right or wrong answer, just opinions that are as diverse as his fan base.
I caught up with Tito in the late afternoon as he rested his injured back. He spoke softly but assertively with UFCmania (www.ufcmania.com), and as one might expect was never short on words.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Tito, first and foremost thank you for taking the time to talk with us here at UFCmania.com. You just returned from the USO tour in Iraq. Tell us a little bit about that experience.
Tito Ortiz: Actually we (Tito and good friend Justin McCully) returned Sunday night. It was a very interesting travel expedition. It was great. We wanted to help some of these guys that got hurt in the war in addition to the guys already fighting there. It was really crazy to go there and see this stuff in person. It was like a reality check and it’s made me rededicate myself to these troops. Guys have been over there for more than 14 months away from their families. That’s hard to do.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Well it’s not like you just hopped on Jet Blue and flew into Iraq. Tell us about the difficulties in getting there.
Tito Ortiz: It was sketchy. We flew in on a C-130 and had to make a combat landing where they land kind of crazy like a big U-turn to avoid getting hit with a rocket launcher. Then we took a Blackhawk to get to the troops.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): I’ll bet it was a humbling experience.
Tito Ortiz: I’ve been in battles in the Octagon but it doesn’t compare to what these guys are going through. Every person there had a rifle on them. You can try to describe it but until you’re really there feeling what they’re feeling you have no idea. It really put a smile on my face. It made me want to rededicate myself. When I fight again and beat Rashad it’s going to be for them, for the troops. They’re the real heroes.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Let’s switch gears and talk about Punishment Athletics. I understand you want to take it in a new direction.
Tito Ortiz: We’re pushing forward now and we’re starting to get into dressier clothes. Punishment is for everyday life. Guys who wake up at four or five in the morning and put in a 15-hour day, that’s punishment. Everything you try to get out of life and achieve is punishment. It’s a brand, something I’m gonna continue with and that’s the next step for us. You’re gonna see dressier t-shirts, button-ups, stuff like that. I’ve already conquered the mixed martial arts market and now its time to move into another realm.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): How involved are you in the design phase?
Tito Ortiz: Everything is 100 percent my ideas. The logos, the layouts, everything. We’re going towards the gladiator side of it now. I watched 300 and I loved the film. It’s the same type of idea of punishment and the gladiators. It goes hand-in-hand.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): How’s your relationship with Jenna Jameson?
Tito Ortiz: It’s great, she’s actually right here with me. We’re getting along great.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): How involved is she with the business aspect of your career?
Tito Ortiz: She’s more of an adviser. She has a lot of experience. I also have a great attorney now who handles everything for me so I can focus on training.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Do you see yourself as more of a businessman or a fighter? Can you be successful at both without one hurting the other?
Tito Ortiz: I’m a fighter at heart. I wouldn’t be where I am if I wasn’t. I’ve had to fight for everything I have. Whether its fighting to get my contract with the UFC or fighting to make my clothing better I’m always fighting. People call me a fighter and people call me a businessman. People may even call me both. In reality I’m just a smart guy who knows how to take care of himself.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): The rematch with Rashad Evans is the last fight on your current contract. Where do you go from there?
Tito Ortiz: I don’t know, I want to fight someone in the top five. Anybody. I would love to get a great match. I don’t know, who do you want to see me fight?
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): How about your unfinished business with Frank Shamrock?
Tito Ortiz: That would be awesome but you know what? I would love to fight him again and cave his face in. People would rag on me because he’s a 185 lb. guy. He did beat me, but people always say stupid things like now I want to fight a smaller guy because I can’t beat anyone else. I think a lot of people would pay for it to happen.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): You know with the way Frank talks it wouldn’t matter if he were a lightweight some people just want to see him get his.
Tito Ortiz: I’ll give it to him he was the better man that night. He got the better of a young and inexperienced fighter but if we did fight again I would feel sorry for him. I really don’t think he could stand five rounds of punishment. Last time I gassed out like ten seconds into the fourth round. I remember it to a tee. I was a young punk kid. He could sell the fight and possibly make it interesting and we’d get a million pay-per-view (PPV) buys because I believe we have that much star power. You know my fans support me no matter what.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): On that note, who is the more delusional Shamrock, Frank or Ken?
Tito Ortiz: (Laughs) I would say Ken. Frank’s intelligent. For a 185 lb. guy he’s good. Ken was a man of his time. Once we all caught on to his style it was the end of Ken.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): I’ve always said that Ken could have been an all-time great but the ship kind of passed him by during those four years he spent in the WWF.
Tito Ortiz: For sure. That was the turning point for our sport when it started to really become mixed martial arts. You can’t take so much time off and come back expecting to be at the same level as the rest of the talent. He blew it.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): A lot of fans like myself want to know once and for all: Who is the real Tito? Is he the guy in the Octagon who is accused of disrespectful antics or is he the helpful and caring coach from the third season of The Ultimate Fighter?
Tito Ortiz: The real Tito goes from day-to-day and lives a normal life. I wake up, brush my teeth, take a shower, take a shit, and whatever everybody else does. The Ultimate Fighter Three is the real Tito. When I step into the Octagon that’s a character that I portray to get my aggression out. I entertain when I fight. That’s why so many people buy my PPV’s. They know win, lose or draw they’re gonna get their money’s worth when I fight.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Speaking of draws, you’re predicting a win against Rashad in the rematch?
Tito Ortiz: I’m not predicting anything, I’m guaranteeing it.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): How hard is it dealing with the steroid issue in the UFC?
Tito Ortiz: You know what it comes down to is you separate the men from the kids. The men are the ones who fight and don’t use drugs. The kids fight and try and use drugs to win. I don’t understand it to be honest, these guys pin their hopes on this stuff and they get popped for it.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): So you’re going on record as being steroid free?
Tito Ortiz: Hell yeah man I’ve been tested all the time and never come up positive. I don’t believe in using that stuff and I never have. My old training camp before Team Punishment was always trying to push it on me but I said no and left. I read the message boards. I know what people are saying but you know what? People don’t have a clue as to what they’re talking about. I’ve been gifted, gifted by God that’s it.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Do you have an opinion on the Sean Sherk scandal?
Tito Ortiz: You know he said he didn’t do it so I gotta believe him. I know him and he’s a really, really good guy and if he says he didn’t do it then I’m behind him 100 percent. Maybe something in his vitamins threw his system off. You never know with over-the-counter stuff.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Do you feel the same way about recreational drugs like marijuana? Guys in your stable like Kendall Grove openly admit to using it.
Tito Ortiz: All of us have. I have, of course but there is a time for recreation and there is a time for work. When it’s time for work you need to be focused on training and preparing for your fight, not smoking pot. That’s wrong, completely wrong. You have to separate the two.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): You’re a fighter who is known for your cardio. Is that getting harder to maintain now that you’re in your thirties?
Tito Ortiz: It’s there. I’m in the groove. I’m more worried about my back. When I fought Rashad I thought I was in really good shape until the second round when my back went out and I couldn’t feel my legs.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): How do you feel now?
Tito Ortiz: I feel a lot better now. It doesn’t ache the way it did. After the fight I had to lay down every single day. I’ve made it through this interview so far sitting down so that’s good. I’ve been getting anti-inflammatory shots and hopefully I can start training in the next week or two.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): You’ve gone on record and said that you were not interested in fighting Rampage because of your friendship. But what if Rampage was the only thing that stood between you and the title?
Tito Ortiz: If we were making awesome money, hell yeah. That’s the whole thing. When I fought Liddell, people were saying that I was afraid. I wasn’t afraid I just wanted to make the right money. Look at what we made on the second fight. I don’t want to take any money out of Rampage’s family’s mouth and I know he wouldn’t want to do the same thing to me.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): You’ve always kept busy outside of fighting whether its movies or pro wrestling. Is that something you will pursue after you’re finished fighting?
Tito Ortiz: The next step for my foundation is the acting. I’m 32 years old and I’ve been in this sport for 10 years and I’ve done very well. I’m one of the UFC’s most recognizable names. I have probably five more years and then acting will be the next step for me.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): If Joe Silva called you tomorrow and said you can have one more fight after Rashad and it can be against anyone, who would it be?
Tito Ortiz: Shogun.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Do you buy into the Shogun hype or do you think he’s getting too much credit?
Tito Ortiz: We’ll see. He has a very tough fight against Forrest. Forrest will test him and honestly it would be funny to see him lose to Forrest. He can do it. Forrest has Randy in his corner and Randy is a smart guy. Shogun needs to be outwrestled and the question is can Forrest wrestle?
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): You mentioned Randy Couture. What’s your relationship with him at this point?
Tito Ortiz: Strictly business. I say hi when I see him face-to-face. If I needed help I know he wouldn’t show up for me but I would show up for him because that’s how much respect I have for the guy. We’re on good terms but Randy’s his own person now.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Fans of the UFC who have been around are starting to see a lot of the early guys enter the twilight of their careers. Do you think Wanderlei Silva is a great fighter who’s just had a run of bad luck or is he just a reckless brawler who’s past his prime?
Tito Ortiz: He’s a reckless brawler whose talent hasn’t gotten any better. He just punches straight and comes at you. The way to beat him is just to pick him apart. Henderson showed that but what really hurt him was getting knocked out by Cro Cop. Some guys don’t recover from that and the next time it happens even faster and before you know it a guy’s career is over. He can do good in the UFC but he has a problem with the cage and he can be outwrestled. But hey he’s still a top fighter. I have him in the top five or six in the world.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Bigger adrenaline rush: First night as light-heavyweight champ or first night with Jenna Jameson?
Tito Ortiz: First night as champ. I worked my whole life to get there. Jenna is a blessing and an awesome woman. Everyday with her is great.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Where is your relationship headed?
Tito Ortiz: Right now we’re just enjoying every day. We haven’t talked about marriage at all. Right now we’re best friends and we don’t need the pressure of marriage plans getting in the way with that. We’re as happy as we can possibly be.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania):You’re living the dream man.
Tito Ortiz: (Laughs) I just finished with my writer Mark Shapiro for my book coming out possibly in March with Simon and Schuster. It was like therapy. It’s going to be an interesting story.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): What’s left for Tito to accomplish?
Tito Ortiz: Well I have my next fight with Rashad possibly in October or November. I’m not 100 percent sure yet but I’m hoping it’s in Vegas and not Cincinnati. I love Vegas. It’s my home away from home. After that I’ll hopefully sign with the UFC again or maybe somebody else. We’ll see. My heart’s in the UFC but anything can happen. I have to make sure that I make the right moves so that I don’t have to ever worry about money again. That’s the most important thing to me as a businessman and as someone who’s fought to get everything I have. Besides, who’s gonna say no to me? Somebody out there is going to pay me what I want. I’m dealing with Lorenzo Fertitta now and he’s awesome to deal with, a great businessman, not like that loser they have as President. What a horrible guy. He’s gonna send the company down the drain because sooner or later the fighters are gonna realize they don’t have to be bullied anymore. They should just get rid of Dana.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Do you think the demise of PRIDE hurts the fighter’s long term earnings in that they have no place else to fight?
Tito Ortiz: Of course. It’s a monopoly. Where else are you gonna fight? Fighters want to make more money but they have to accept what Dana gives them because it’s the only game in town.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Do you think fighters are secretly hoping EliteXC takes off so they have some bargaining power?
Tito Ortiz: You never know. Maybe the UFC will eventually step up. The UFC made $221,000,000 last year and maybe $10,000,000 of that went to fighters. Maybe. And that’s just domestic PPV’s. That’s a lot of money. Now fighters are talking about a union. Hey, you never know.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Tito, thank again for checking in with us. Good luck in your upcoming fight against Rashad Evans. Anything we can plug for you?
Tito Ortiz: Be sure to check out my Web sites www.TitoOrtiz.com and www.PunishmentAthletics.com. And remember that we have our friends and families still in Iraq and we need to support them no matter if you’re for the war or against it.
71 Comments »
Trackback responses to this post
- ***NEW*** Tito Ortiz interview 8-9-07 - MMA Forum - UFC Forums - UFC Results - MMA Videos
- MMA Notebook: New UFC matches announced; fighters changing camps; and much more! « Five Ounces of Pain!
- NEW Tito Ortiz Interview - Fight Forum - Boxing - UFC - Pride - K1
- Tito Ortiz Admits To Smoking Weed
- Tito Ortiz "They Should Just Get Rid of Dana"
- FightOpinion.com - Your Global Connection to the Fight Industry.
I am starting to think that Tito is truly a nice guy that acts like an asshole, and that Dana is truly an asshole who acts like a nice guy…
Great Interview!
You can tell by his answers that he is well versed in talking to the press. I like how he snuck in how he feels about Dana White, plugged his new book and gave an excuse for why he lost the third round without being directly asked.
Tito seems like a cool guy. Great interview Jesse. Seeing as how it was one of my favorite fighters made it even better. Cant wait for him to come back and dominate Rashad. He gassed a lil bit last time, its not gonna happen again, and if he doesnt gas at all. It’s over for Rashad.
First interview I’ve read with Tito that didn’t ask the same questions everyone else does. Good job.
great interview he really sounds like a good business man. He is one of the only fighters that does not need to fight to make money and dana knows it. He used to come off as a jerk but lately you can tell that it is really just an act to rev up PPV dollars? He is still a top ten fighter but i wouldn’t call out shogun if I was him, this guy is on another level he will be the lightwieght champ soon!
I can’t understand why fighters like Tito admit to smoking Marijuana after the Diaz-Gomi fight was overturned to a no contest.
It just seems silly to give the NSAC or CSAC a reason to test you in every single fight.
Titos a clever guy,remember everyone on here was sayin he was gonna be beat by Rashad(well most people)well me and a few of the more noligable bloggers on this site knew otherwise and I think next time they fight Tito is gonna run through him like a train,and what he says about Wanderlei and Shogun is exactly what I keep saying on here.
[quote comment=”123091″]I can’t understand why fighters like Tito admit to smoking Marijuana after the Diaz-Gomi fight was overturned to a no contest.
It just seems silly to give the NSAC or CSAC a reason to test you in every single fight.[/quote]
hes admited to smoking weed before,who hasnt,Id say about 95% of people have atleast smoked it once.
[quote comment=”123080″]great interview he really sounds like a good business man. He is one of the only fighters that does not need to fight to make money and dana knows it. He used to come off as a jerk but lately you can tell that it is really just an act to rev up PPV dollars? He is still a top ten fighter but i wouldn’t call out shogun if I was him, this guy is on another level he will be the lightwieght champ soon![/quote]
what makes you so sure Shogun is gonna be Champ(and by the way its Lightheavy weight not lightweight).
Watch a Shogun highlight and what do you see? Soccer kicks,stomps,knees to the head of a downed opponent.
Dont you think its a little too early to start claiming he is unbeatable when hes yet to face his toughest fights which will be held in a cage where he can no longer use his HL reel moves.When I watch Shogun I think he is great but nothing I have seen from him has led me to belive he is undoubtably the greatest 205 pound fighter in the world
(and I have watched every single fight in his carrer looking for where this idea comes from).
I think alot of the people who think this are probably from the nicer “upper class families” and have never seen a peasent getting his head stomped in on a Friday night.Head stomps are a dirty street move which involve NO skill what-so-ever,anyone can KO anyone with head stomps,now I know that this is not all Shogun can do,hes got quite good stand up and good jujitsu so he is a very well rounded fighter and he is excelent,I do not doubt that,its just he has a long way to go before I start holding him up on the God like level that alot of people on message boards do.
He said the UFC made $221 million last year. I assume that’s top line. They’ve got to be netting a pretty good chunk of change out of that. Like he said there needs to be a competing organization to force salaries up. He might have to take one for the team and go somewhere like eliteXC or IFL for less money to help build them up. If he can convince any other top fighters to come with him that would help.
Tito still got it. That’s a great interview. He is very versed in handling interview. How I wish his fighting game is as good as his interview. I lost a lot of respect for tito since his draw with rashad. I was a fan of his. Anyway, the truth is u really don’t know what he’s thinking or who he really is. He’s a great businessman for sure. I’m not too sure about fighting game because I suspect he has passed his prime. I don’t quite know why he’s known for his cardio because a lot of his recent fights, he gassed out after 2 rounds. He’s always great in first round.
You can’t help but respect a man that is trying to help our troops. I dont care who you are, that is totally respectable. Also, you can tell Tito has been around for a while, he knows exactly what is going on around him and knows exactly what he needs to do. Smart guy.
Absolutely love the way Tito puts it. Dana is nothing more but a glorified Don King. He preaches on how the UFC is far and beyond boxing. Taking care of “his” fighters is a crock of you know what. A union would be great for the UFC because currently these fighters only have one main outlet to display their skills. Dana knows it and thus he has them by the balls. Gotta respect Tito he keeps it real and obviously puts others ahead of himself.
Love him or hate him..you have to respect Tito for who he was and still is in/out the cage. When the UFC was in its Young Guns stage Tito was that guy..him as a fighter is coming into the twilight of his career soon. But the person/businessman will be involed with this sport for many years to come, and that’s good. I’m a Tito fan.
I definately think the UFC fighters are underpaid BIGTIME. I mean if their pay doesnt increase in the near future as the sport grows, then they should really consider the possibility of a union. I dont even get how much money the UFC makes compaired to what they pay their fighters. I feel like they are taking complete advantage of the fact that they are the top organization so fighters are willing to deal with it for now. My vote is pay up or deal with a union.
[quote post=”2993″]I am starting to think that Tito is truly a nice guy that acts like an asshole, and that Dana is truly an asshole who acts like a nice guy…[/quote]
You can never tell in “show business” Its all smoke and mirrors. I mean if Couture doesnt like Tito and Tito is a nice guy…. does that mean you think Couture might be a DB too? Theres no telling what goes on in any of these guys lives outside of the UFC. You cant judge how a person is solely on how they act on TV or because of what another fighter says about them.
This is all E Entertainment crap. haha. Im here to watch fights. Plain and simple. Who cares if Couture thinks Tito’s breathe is bad or Lidell thinks Jenna is hot. lol
Great interview too! Nice thread.
Another great interveiw Jesse….
There is Tito, just as animated as ever….
He hit Wanderlei dead on the head with his veiws. Wreckless brawler.. Wont do well if he gets out wrestled.. which is much easier to happen in the Octagon.
Grats Mania and Jesse, Im sure this interveiw was a BIG step for this site.
Tito for UFC prez?
Muhahaha
Great Interview Holland.
[quote comment=”123214″]Another great interveiw Jesse….
There is Tito, just as animated as ever….
He hit Wanderlei dead on the head with his veiws. Wreckless brawler.. Wont do well if he gets out wrestled.. which is much easier to happen in the Octagon.
Grats Mania and Jesse, Im sure this interveiw was a BIG step for this site.[/quote]
He wont do well if he comes at a great counter puncher with those wreckless punches either,this is what I have kept trying to say on the Chuck vs Wandy debate.
Jesse showed alot of interest in Jenna didn’t he? haha..
Great interview. Almost need interviews like this to keep re-humanizing Tito, cause all we see is the UFC side of him that is annoying and talks to much trash, and the more you see his “out-of-the-cage” antics, the more you like the guy. I look forward to seeing Tito get back up into the top 5 and fighting the best. I hope he can get back up into the rankings, a win over Shogun would definitely put him there.
Very interesting quote from Ortiz in this interview:
“Now fighters are talking about a union. Hey, you never know.”
This is the first I’ve heard of that.
If this was Vince McMahon, he would have phone calls made threatening anyone who ever supports a union or collective bargaining.
That has worked for him because the top guys have to be on-board, and the top guys are always “taken care of” so that they wouldn’t stand to benefit as much from a union or some form of collective bargaining.
Love him or hate him Tito sells. If (and i hope he does) beat rashad in the rematch, he will get a big name fight (Shogun,Rampage,Silva…..) And it will be a huge PPV sell. As much as Dana hates Tito he is not dumb and knows that Tito equals big money for the ufc. Great interview Mania….. Keep up the great work!
Tito said he hopes the rematch is in Vegas but I don’t see that happening. After Aug 25 the next PPV in Vegas isn’t scheduled until Dec 29. The 2 in Sept are in England and Cali. October is in Ohio and November in NJ.
Think you have to put that in quotes: much as Dana White “hates” Tito and vice versa. They’re both making money hating each other. More like a hate* asterisk.
In other news, the stock market is going down faster than Jenna today.
I don’t agree with everyone here at all. Tito is not a cool, intellient guy. He talks like he is very smart but in reality, he really isn’t. He gets paid way more than what he is worth and still complains and ask for more. He steps on a dime to get a penny.
Great interview Mania - every other interview with Tito carries some lame questions, but there’s a lot of really good stuff in this one - good job! Love him or hate him, Tito is a pioneer and deserves to be respected as such…I’d love to see him explode against Rashad this time…I hope it’s in Ohio, I’m planning on making the trip from north of the border…cheers all.
Good interview. Tito is right on about the money.
Does anyone know what the beef is between Tito and Randy?
Good Job Jesse!!!!!
Tito is right about a few things, many of us may not agree but he is right about Dana. They should try to get Pride up and running instead of taking all the talent. They would still sell out in Asia with large PPV #’s over there. Dana claims PRIDE is all messed up and what he doesn’t know how to put on an event?
Oh yeah Jesse, how many Jenna DVD’s do you have?
He also believe sherk is innocent, maybe he is right. Dana also confirmed it. I just don’t see anyone in the LW division giving Sherk any problem..but facts are facts we shall all wait and see.
I loved this interview.. I was a big tito fan, but everything was happening wit him.. I kinda lost interest in him.. I was really dissapointed.. but im glad i got to see this interview, so i kno who the real tito is.. and hes number 1 babayyy!!
Yes, if anyone knows the backstory on Tito’s and Randy’s bad blood, I’d like to know.
I hate Tito, and no matter what he says or does or how nice he comes off, you can’t erase all the no-class, disrespectful antics he’s pulled, and the fact that he never shuts up and has at least 3 excuses for each loss. Laughed my arse off when he slipped in the back excuse for his loss to Rashad (legit or not, it’s lame to make excuses).
Oh, and Tito only ’supports’ and ‘dedicates’ himself to our troops to endear himself to the ufc fans out there. He could care less and he’s full of it.
[quote post=”2993″]I am starting to think that Tito is truly a nice guy that acts like an asshole, and that Dana is truly an asshole who acts like a nice guy… [/quote]
Totally agree!
That was a really good interview Jesse. Keep up the good work guys.
[quote comment=”123091″]I can’t understand why fighters like Tito admit to smoking Marijuana after the Diaz-Gomi fight was overturned to a no contest.
It just seems silly to give the NSAC or CSAC a reason to test you in every single fight.[/quote]
I think its the same reason certain people tell cops that they smoke. You can’t get in trouble unless you are tested and it is detected in your system.
Great Interview. This interview really changes the way i view Tito
I’m willing to bet that Tito will get a new contract with the UFC. It will probably be a 4-6 fight contract that will take Tito through his remaining fight years. Afterwards he would probably form a team with the IFL (if it’s still in business).
I am a long time Tito fan. I was starting to really lose faith in the guy until his fight with Rashad. He took the fight to a guy that alot of people (including myself) thought could beat Tito. The Tito of old showed up that night. Tito is a force in light heavy division. Chuck may have his number but it’s also obviouds that Rampage has Chuck’s number too.
At what point does Tito get a title shot again. If Shogun beats Forrest, then he is next in line to fight the winner of Rampage vs. Hendo. Does Tito get the eventual winner of those fights?
And if Chuck beats Jardine, then we can expect Chuck vs. Wandy?
The light heavy’s are getting REAL interesting.
[quote comment=”123267″]I don’t agree with everyone here at all. Tito is not a cool, intellient guy. He talks like he is very smart but in reality, he really isn’t. He gets paid way more than what he is worth and still complains and ask for more. He steps on a dime to get a penny.[/quote]
i think tito is a cool intelligent guy.
cool because he knows how to work the crowd, either you hate him or love him like “ss”.
intelligent because, again, he plays the crowd, he has a very well developed character that makes you wanna see what he’ll do after a fight or during weigh-ins.
And the money thing, well, you are fighting here. you dont wanna make 5,000 - 30,000 like some fighters are making. what if your leg is broken? where are you gonna get money to pay mortgage? energy bills? water bills? The way the ufc pays it’s fighters for sacrificing their bodies for the amusement of others is garbage.
What is this step on a dime to get a penny stuff? Tito gets paid a quarter million plus per fight while title holders make a shit load less in most cases. Seems he’s handling his business pretty good.
tito is one of the best paid faithers in the bussines… is he one of the best??? for sure the best in self advertise.
I think the bad blood may have started when Couture spanked Tito in there fight…
TRavis -
Thanks. I totally forgot about that. HA. Could be that I guess.
[quote comment=”123405″]I think the bad blood may have started when Couture spanked Tito in there fight…[/quote]
Yeah, could be! As much as I hate Tito and think Randy is classy, that’s actually a rare moment of role reversal. But it was funny!
[quote comment=”123106″][quote comment=”123080″]great interview he really sounds like a good business man. He is one of the only fighters that does not need to fight to make money and dana knows it. He used to come off as a jerk but lately you can tell that it is really just an act to rev up PPV dollars? He is still a top ten fighter but i wouldn’t call out shogun if I was him, this guy is on another level he will be the lightwieght champ soon![/quote]
what makes you so sure Shogun is gonna be Champ(and by the way its Lightheavy weight not lightweight).
Watch a Shogun highlight and what do you see? Soccer kicks,stomps,knees to the head of a downed opponent.
Dont you think its a little too early to start claiming he is unbeatable when hes yet to face his toughest fights which will be held in a cage where he can no longer use his HL reel moves.When I watch Shogun I think he is great but nothing I have seen from him has led me to belive he is undoubtably the greatest 205 pound fighter in the world
(and I have watched every single fight in his carrer looking for where this idea comes from).
I think alot of the people who think this are probably from the nicer “upper class families” and have never seen a peasent getting his head stomped in on a Friday night.Head stomps are a dirty street move which involve NO skill what-so-ever,anyone can KO anyone with head stomps,now I know that this is not all Shogun can do,hes got quite good stand up and good jujitsu so he is a very well rounded fighter and he is excelent,I do not doubt that,its just he has a long way to go before I start holding him up on the God like level that alot of people on message boards do.[/quote]
well shogun did fight his last pride fight in las vegas which means they were using the same rules as the UFC, and he still won he still did great, i still agree with you but i just thought i would throw that out there.
I don’t see how anybody can be talking about a Tito title shot anytime soon. He’s 0-0-1 since his last title shot, and got his last title shot after beating patrick Cote, Forrest Griffin, and Ken Shamrock twice. If he beats Rashad, he’d also need at MINIMUM, 2 top-10 wins. Shogun, Liddell, henderson, rampage(if he loses), wanderlei, i would consider to be ahead in line of Tito as far as getting title shots.
We have some amazing LHW title fights coming up in the next 2 years, dont’ we? Here is 1 possible scenario of many
Rampage vs Henderson 9/07
Henderson vs Shogun 12/07
Shogun vs Liddell 4/08
Shogun vs Rampage 8/08
Shogun vs Wanderlei/Tito/Evans/who knows??? 12/08
great interview. tito seems like a really nice guy. i hope he comes out an smashes rashad next fight.
[quote comment=”123106″][quote comment=”123080″]great interview he really sounds like a good business man. He is one of the only fighters that does not need to fight to make money and dana knows it. He used to come off as a jerk but lately you can tell that it is really just an act to rev up PPV dollars? He is still a top ten fighter but i wouldn’t call out shogun if I was him, this guy is on another level he will be the lightwieght champ soon![/quote]
what makes you so sure Shogun is gonna be Champ(and by the way its Lightheavy weight not lightweight).
Watch a Shogun highlight and what do you see? Soccer kicks,stomps,knees to the head of a downed opponent.
Dont you think its a little too early to start claiming he is unbeatable when hes yet to face his toughest fights which will be held in a cage where he can no longer use his HL reel moves.When I watch Shogun I think he is great but nothing I have seen from him has led me to belive he is undoubtably the greatest 205 pound fighter in the world
(and I have watched every single fight in his carrer looking for where this idea comes from).
I think alot of the people who think this are probably from the nicer “upper class families” and have never seen a peasent getting his head stomped in on a Friday night.Head stomps are a dirty street move which involve NO skill what-so-ever,anyone can KO anyone with head stomps,now I know that this is not all Shogun can do,hes got quite good stand up and good jujitsu so he is a very well rounded fighter and he is excelent,I do not doubt that,its just he has a long way to go before I start holding him up on the God like level that alot of people on message boards do.[/quote]
When Babalu beat shogon he outwrestled him, i think tito could take him
Tito’s a smart business man. Past his prime? Maybe. Still a great and exciting fighter? Absolutely. I think he’s right on the mark with Dana too. Love him or hate him, Tito is good for the sport and an all around nice guy. I’ve talked to many people who have met him and they all say the same thing - he wasn’t anything like he is in the cage. Well, no shit. Watch TUF 3 … there’s the real Tito Ortiz. Always supported him, always will.
[quote comment=”123080″]great interview he really sounds like a good business man. He is one of the only fighters that does not need to fight to make money and dana knows it. He used to come off as a jerk but lately you can tell that it is really just an act to rev up PPV dollars? He is still a top ten fighter but i wouldn’t call out shogun if I was him, this guy is on another level he will be the lightwieght champ soon![/quote]
shogun will be completely different in the ufc. the rules are different and it will make and pride fighter more succeptable to losing. they cannot kick a downed opponent and that help wanderlei/shogun and even rampage i can see shogun getting outstruck by forrest its a gut feeling but it wouldnt surprise me if he lost
Thanks for your support!!!!
Tito Ortiz
Punishment.com
Thanks for the support.
Tito Ortiz
Punishment.com
[quote post=”2993″]Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Bigger adrenaline rush: First night as light-heavyweight champ or first night with Jenna Jameson?
Tito Ortiz: First night as champ. I worked my whole life to get there. Jenna is a blessing and an awesome woman. Everyday with her is great.[/quote]
buurrrrrrrrrrrrrnnn jenna tito didn’t blink.
Frank Vs Tito in ExliteXC in a year or so, I called it!
titos right on about the monopoly the ufc and dana white have on the sport now,i think the pay theyre getting is way low especially the undercard and opening fighters,dana white does seem to be a bully and wants to own the fighters,which is why fedor wont sign,anyway the guy reminds me of eric bischoff the onetime president of wcw,always on tv acting like a star bullying people and saying “what? where else you gonna go huh?” when he wasnt a wrestler just a boss and then wcw went down the drain anyways tito is cool and i always buy his ppv’s
[quote comment=”123847″]Frank Vs Tito in ExliteXC in a year or so, I called it![/quote]
Not sure drama queen would take that fight. He only fights when he gets paid hard, and knows he can win. Tito would beat on Frank harder then he beat on Ken.
[quote comment=”123716″]Thanks for the support.
Tito Ortiz
Punishment.com[/quote]
If this really is Tito, great job giving troop and charitable support. Really says something for MMA, fans and fighters alike.
[quote comment=”123960″][quote comment=”123716″]Thanks for the support.
Tito Ortiz
Punishment.com[/quote]
If this really is Tito, great job giving troop and charitable support. Really says something for MMA, fans and fighters alike.[/quote]
IP is from Virginia. I just checked. Most likely an impostor.
Then FU ‘Tito Ortiz…’!!
[quote comment=”123213″]I definately think the UFC fighters are underpaid BIGTIME. I mean if their pay doesnt increase in the near future as the sport grows, then they should really consider the possibility of a union. I dont even get how much money the UFC makes compaired to what they pay their fighters. I feel like they are taking complete advantage of the fact that they are the top organization so fighters are willing to deal with it for now. My vote is pay up or deal with a union.
[quote post=”2993″]I am starting to think that Tito is truly a nice guy that acts like an asshole, and that Dana is truly an asshole who acts like a nice guy…[/quote]
You can never tell in “show business” Its all smoke and mirrors. I mean if Couture doesnt like Tito and Tito is a nice guy…. does that mean you think Couture might be a DB too? Theres no telling what goes on in any of these guys lives outside of the UFC. You cant judge how a person is solely on how they act on TV or because of what another fighter says about them.
This is all E Entertainment crap. haha. Im here to watch fights. Plain and simple. Who cares if Couture thinks Tito’s breathe is bad or Lidell thinks Jenna is hot. lol
Great interview too! Nice thread.[/quote]
I agree with you and Tito about the fighters being so underpaid. They gave bloods. They gave sweats. They put all of their time getting all banged up. Going to the hospital all the time (who knows how much these hospital bills would stack up?). And Dana is getting rich off these guys with that “my way or the highway” attitude of his.
Dana needs these guys to make him gazillions of dollars… so he gotta pay them more.
Didn’t Tito post here before as FUTA or something. Someone said it stands for Fuck You Tank Abbott.
Anyways I said it before about this whole monopoly situation and yes the fighters are all hoping the EliteXC blows up which I hope it does.
MMA fighters need a union and like him or not Tito would make a great rep. Frank too for that matter. Both are savy businessmen.
Remember this guys:
Support the fighters, not the organisations.
Shogun is def. not worth his hype.
this was a great interview and im a huge tito fan so i loved it!!! im glad that he has a book coming out he needs something like that!!! i hope when he has his rematch wit rashad that he puts rashad into major punishment!!!
This is a classic quote from TITO” I don’t want to take any money out of Rampage’s family’s mouth and I know he wouldn’t want to do the same thing to me”.
He sure doesnt mind taking money out of other so called friends families mouth. He is so fake, its unreal……
good job jesse, thats awesome you guys got such a big name like tito ortiz like that, very nice