Tito Ortiz Speaks On Leaving The UFC, Fighter Salaries, More
Posted by Dustin James on 05.09.2008
The Huntington Beach Bad Boy speaks.....
Tito Ortiz recently appeared on "MMA Weekly Radio" and spoke on numerous subjects including his strained relationship with Dana White, possibly leaving the UFC after his fight with Lyoto Machida, and more:
On his current status with the UFC:
"I really think it's time for me to move on. 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."
On why the UFC should pay their fighters more:
"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. 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."
On his strained relationship with the UFC & President Dana White:
"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. To not have to wake up every day and worry about what he's going to say about me.
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."
On contract renegotiations with the UFC:
"At this point it's pretty much stopped. 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."
What if he doesn't re-sign with the UFC:
"I think it's going to be huge for any company that does sign me. The marketability I'll have where I want to put my heart and soul into it, as I did for the UFC."
god damnit Tito get over yourself. Dana White might not be known for his cordial
attitude but hes smart enough to know a money making fighter when he sees one
and your best days are behind you. Tito you do not deserve a contract on par
with lidell, silva or st. pierre. Go out and actually beat somebody worth
while and then bitch and moan about respect.
Posted By: stronelis (Guest) on May 09, 2008 at 02:26 PM
Tito's not asking for a contract like those guys you mentioned. He's asking for
respect from a company that frankly will always be in debt to Tito. Tito single
handedly carried the UFC through the lean years with his charisma and
marketability. GSP and those other guys you named wouldn't be enjoying their
fat contracts without Tito.
Dana White is making a huge mistake in believing that he himself is more
marketable than the fighters his company promotes. Maybe not now, but I think
in the future he will have to change the way he does business or the UFC will
be losing out on alot of fighters in the future.
Posted By: Frank (Guest) on May 09, 2008 at 03:33 PM
Cliff's Notes version:
"I've won a lot of fights in the past and I've been a champion, but I
haven't done shit lately...but I still deserve $$$$millions$$$$ because of how
good I *used* to be."
Posted By: Nick (Guest) on May 09, 2008 at 04:52 PM
Its gonna be so huge when he signs with another company. Yeah im still not gonna
watch him lay and pray his way to victory or a B list fighter
Posted By: TD (Guest) on May 09, 2008 at 05:09 PM
Tito makes some good points and some bad ones... Its true him leaving won't hurt
the UFC, but it certainly will help whoever (EliteXC) signs him. He is no longer
an elite (no pun intended) talent but he is a DRAW. People WILL pay to see him,
just not me. And Tito is absolutely right about Dana treating his fighters like
absolute crap and promoting himself before his fighters. Chuck Liddell, Randy
Couture and Tito Ortiz. Those are the three biggest names of the early 2000's.
You think its a coincidence two of them are walking away because they feel
disrespected?
Posted By: kev0 (Guest) on May 09, 2008 at 07:45 PM
You notice only those that bitch about how their being treated tend to be the
shittier fighters lately? Go play Jenna's bodyguard and let some real fighters
come up. Bitch.
Posted By: CM Wolf (Guest) on May 10, 2008 at 02:40 PM
The UFC name is bigger than any fighter. The other promotions mean nothing in
the US now after UFC killed Pride. They'll probably go out of business once the
popularity of MMA starts waning. Only the UFC is built for the long haul.
Tito doesn't get that. The fighters don't matter now. When people think MMA
they think UFC. They are a brand like WWE.
Posted By: Steve (Guest) on May 10, 2008 at 03:09 PM
long haul sure, but white will have to tone it down and stop being such a prick.
cause i don't care if your the only game in town, if you don't like who you are
working for you will find work else where, UFC ain't the only place for
fighters to make money. and about your comment on how the fighters don't
matter, thats bull, these men battle and hurt on another all for our
entertainment and you say they don't matter. u sir are a tool.
Posted By: cody (Guest) on May 10, 2008 at 07:13 PM
I may dislike Tito Ortiz, but the man has a point - I would want respect if i
was the man who was responsible for making UFC *big*, Tito is over himself...
its Dana White who thinks he is a god.
Posted By: Brad (Guest) on May 10, 2008 at 07:35 PM
Tito Ortiz = MMA's Bret Hart
Posted By: Guest#5839 (Guest) on May 11, 2008 at 01:01 PM
