Cagewriter - UFC

For a who guy who was on top of the mixed martial arts game as recent as four years ago, Tito Ortiz's bargaining power has been reduced to zippo at age 33. UFC president Dana White has made it clear that he hates Ortiz and doesn't want to work with him. He retirated that in the press conference after UFC 90:

"You guys know I hate Tito so you always have to ask me a question about Tito. Listen the guy hasn't won a fight in a longtime," said White who is factually incorrect. Tito did beat UFC light heavyweight champ Forrest Griffin in April of 2006 and did fight Rashad Evans to a draw in July of 2007. "I don't know, Lorenzo still likes Tito."

Ortiz is probably at the backend of the top 10 in the 205 class. With a high price tag and a diminished rep in the cage, he's in real trouble unless it is true that UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta really loves the guy. That said, Ortiz is still threw UFC around as an option in his future when he spoke with MMAJacked's Chris Greenman.

Tito explains that his other option is Affliction. If there's a UFC offer on the table, Ortiz had better sign soon. Ortiz is in a risky negotiating position.

He says he had the same spinal fusion surgery as UFC fighter Nate Quarry. Ortiz is out of action a minimum of 6-8 months after back surgery less than four weeks ago. Which means that Affliction may not exist when Ortiz is actually ready to fight. Quarry got the surgery in June of 2006 and missed 15 months. 

Ortiz also mentions that he was all signed, sealed and delivered with EliteXC before it went out of the business. Is this another Ortiz misinterpretation or outright lie? It was mentioned in a few circles last week that EliteXC was holding fighters to their contracts leading up to a public auction next week. Did Ortiz also fib when he mentions potentially fighting on CBS for Affliction?  

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13 Comments

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  1. Steven W
    1. Posted by Steven W Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:47 pm EDT

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    retirated? is that, to go on another tirade?
  2. yep thats me
    2. Posted by yep thats me Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:26 pm EDT

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    i dont see ortiz making the money that he would expect if he goes back to ufc, and affliction probably wont last that long so tito you might want to try making a couple movies with your gal.
  3. Ican2
    3. Posted by Ican2 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

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    yea yea movie...Tito's got last longer then he did with chuckie...
  4. Ram B
    4. Posted by Ram B Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:36 pm EDT

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    Not much into porn and who wants to see an old woman riding her bf's schloong. If a younger girl is the partner I might consider it....
  5. Dubya b
    5. Posted by Dubya b Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:12 pm EDT

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    Alot of people are going to lose money against Courture.
  6. mmagrrl
    6. Posted by mmagrrl Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:04 pm EDT

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    Cofield, I am usually annoyed by all of the people who bash you on these blogs. But seriously, could you please either learn some grammar or read your blogs before you post them? What does "is still threw UFC around" mean? You look unprofessional when you write incoherently.
  7. Ricky C
    7. Posted by Ricky C Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:40 pm EDT

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    Damn! Tito looks fat.
    I think I am one of the only people that thinks Tito can come back strong and make another run at the LHW title. I think he might actually be able to beat Chuck at this point in his career. He already proved he can beat Forrest and he would have beaten Rashad if he didn't get a point taken away prematurely. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that Tito will hold a title in the LHW division soon. If he goes to Affliction, he'll have a title by the end of '09. If he goes to UFC, he'll have the belt by the beginning of 2010.
  8. chano
    8. Posted by chano Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:02 pm EDT

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    Ok yes......Tito did beat UFC light heavyweight champ Forrest Griffin in April of 2006 and did fight Rashad Evans to a draw in July of 2007.
    But can he still fight as good as he has before. We all remember the badass that he was young, and the champion at the time all I know all this waiting that he's doing will get him no where. He has to fight no matter what contract is thrown at him and make your way up the ranks if he's wanting to get paid good.
    It's a win win, Tito live with it
  9. yep thats me
    9. Posted by yep thats me Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:26 pm EDT

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    i thought tito looked fat too, its that huge juggernaut pumpkin head of his.
  10. HAHA
    10. Posted by HAHA Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:49 pm EDT

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    i wouldnt mind seeing tito vs babalu 4 the affliction LHW title
  11. HAHA
    11. Posted by HAHA Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:49 pm EDT

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    and tito looked fat at elite XC HAHA
  12. Karl A
    12. Posted by Karl A Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:47 pm EDT

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    Isn't Tito going under the knife for back surgery?
    I don't think he can beat the best the LHW division has to offer. Jackson, Griffin, Evans...maybe Jardine or Vera I don't see him on top again.
  13. Darkness!
    13. Posted by Darkness! Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

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    I was on Tito's bandwagon a couple years ago, right along with everyone else. I don't usually care for the cocky, over the top, character-like fighters... but I really liked Tito; there was just something about him. He was a bada**, and had charisma on top of it. Now, he's more of a drama queen than anything else. He's past his prime, but wants to be treated and paid like he's 25 yrs. old- f**k him. Some other promotion may need him, but UFC def. doesn't. Remember when Tito attacked Shamrock for being too old, fighting past his prime, and not knowing when to quit... kind of hypocritical now, isn't he? I do think his charisma, athletic ability, and jenna Jameson as a manager could work well for him in wwe, though...

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