Tito Ortiz Causes A Scene At UFC 84 Press Conference
Posted by Dustin James on 05.25.2008
What else did you expect?
The following was written by Dave Meltzer of Yahoo! Sports:
Based on the buildup, a lot of people expected fireworks between Tito Ortiz and Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White in the octagon at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday night, when one of the company's biggest drawing fighters was presumed to be in his last UFC match.
On the pay-per-view telecast, Ortiz lost a unanimous decision to undefeated Lyoto Machida with White keeping himself out of the spotlight. White was not even at ringside during the fight, watching it from an office in the arena.
But a few hours later, things were quite different, as Ortiz decided to crash the post-fight press conference.
The 33-year-old former UFC light heavyweight champion showed up, uninvited, with UFC official Jennifer Wenk asking him to leave and not cause a scene. Ortiz at first refused, but after some pleading, got up and seemed to act like he'd made his point in front of the press about not being allowed in. But when girlfriend Jenna Jameson told him to stay put, he changed his mind and went back to his seat.
Wenk, after seeing the press wanted to talk with him, agreed to give him 10 minutes before the official press conference started. That lasted about two questions before Zuffa COO Kirk Hendrick stopped the questioning. But after much discussion and a tense scene with the media that wanted to talk with him and the appearance of four Las Vegas Metropolitan police officers, they agreed to let him participate.
Both Wenk and White said that Ortiz was never banned from the press conference, but that he should have waited for everyone else as the fighters and White came in as a group.
He also got his ass kicked last night that was a joke. He has the balls to cause a scene? He should have left with at least some dignity.
Posted By: JM (Guest) on May 25, 2008 at 03:18 PM
Good. There goes the last fighter with any ounce of personality from the UFC. Dam.
Posted By: Huhu (Guest) on May 25, 2008 at 08:37 PM
"But when girlfriend Jenna Jameson told him to stay put, he changed his mind and went back to his seat."
Can u say WHIPPED! Hahahahaha
Posted By: - (Guest) on May 25, 2008 at 09:48 PM
People love or hate Tito and that is for sure. However he pushed the pace in the fight. Folks are calling Machida elusive. If this was anyone other than Machida or another top ranked fighter he would be accused of running away (catch me if you can) as opposed to the more respectful term of elusiveness.
As for Jenna, she is just standing up for her man (and of course she has had a few men to say the least), but he is the man in her life now and I can respect her intentions.
I am not a big Tito fan but Machida ran away for the majority of the fight. He never controlled the center of the octagon or pushed the action. Simply put, I was not impressed.
Most of you folks blogging have no history in MMA. I have a purple be in BJJ and 5 years experience Wrestling.
Quite frankly, it was the most boring fight of the evening!
As for Dana White…, he has a lot to learn about business and over time I am sure he will come to his senses as to how to respect and compensate fighters. I guess only time will tell.
If anyone objects feel free to call my business line @ 904-616-5470. As a point of reference I own a sporting apparel company Guillotine Gear, LLC. I only mention this to be fair and un-biased.
Josh
Posted By: Josh (Guest) on May 26, 2008 at 12:02 AM
U are exactly right above me. Lyoto punch kicked and ran. It was a boring fight that tito tried to make intresting
Posted By: Alan (Guest) on May 26, 2008 at 01:19 AM
Josh, Machida is a smart fighter he didn't run he just didn't stand and throw punches back and forth with tito. He stuffed ever take down and did you see Titos face compared to Machidas? Also how the hell do you know that other people who post don't practice MMA or BJJ? You sound like A dick.
Posted By: Top (Guest) on May 26, 2008 at 01:34 AM
How did Tito try to push the pace exactly? Aside from the awesome submission attempt(s) at the end of the fight and trying a few takes down, he just stood there and took kicks. Why should Machida have tried anything different? It was a boring fight, I agree, but dont just blame Machida, Tito himself had alot to do with it as well.
Posted By: Ness (Guest) on May 26, 2008 at 03:11 AM
I've never been an Ortiz fan and often found him to be arrogant but I've always respected his skill as a fighter. The way he's been treated by Dana is BS, the guy has no class w/ his "you wanna be an f'n fighter" speeches and his general attitude thinkin he's "hard". Good luck to Tito, I'll be tuning in wherever he ends up fighting.
DANA WHITE IS NOT BIGGER THAN THE SPORT OF MMA!!!
Posted By: PJ (Guest) on May 26, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Guillotine Gear is a BAD ASS name!
Posted By: daniel (Guest) on May 27, 2008 at 02:00 PM
sounds like dana and company was the ones that made a scence. Tito was on the card the press conference was about the card tito was a fighter on that card. He had every right to be there. And it sounds like he came in took a seat and was waiting when asked to leave and UFC decided to throw a hissy fit until the press was interested then they thought well Dana can get some face time. Looks like tito may have more points than people would care to admit. I enjoyed his fight and lyoto did a great job, fought smart and really took it to tito in a tech fashion. Tito showed him respect at the end and the crowd seemed to be fine. Dana might not be losing the greatest fighter but he is losing another one of his biggest draws. Dana needs to drop the hard act and start thinking about business. Treating the fighters better/with respect would be a start. Not just the ones that say yes; or stand there like an idiot and take punches to the head beacause dana thinks its more exicting. Stop running UFC like a wrestling fed I've work in that field and thats what it looks like Dana is doing now. It will make you some quick money but once the fans catch on they will turn on him and the sport. I hope it doesnt happen but we will see. JMO BTW!
Posted By: really? (Guest) on May 27, 2008 at 04:56 PM
Oh Man What Happened to you, the little hooker you troll with is dictating what you do, go back to your seat NOW!, dude you had an edge bro really and beat some top names at one time, but really son take to heart the saying that behind every good man is a good woman & figure out that the woman your with has as much class and a low-end street walker, hey I might not know you, but I'll tell you that between the BS and arrogance that comes out of your mouth, not to mention the fact that pretty much every guy form 16 to 60 has seen your woman treated like a watermelon in prison leads me to think of just one word ...........embarrassing
Posted By: James (Guest) on May 27, 2008 at 05:00 PM
In my opinion, Tito Ortiz should not have been allowed to participate in the post-fight press conference. His time is over with the UFC, as he is no longer a viable opponent for its top level competitors. I must agree with Dana White that Ortiz has lost the will to be the best fighter in the world, and the UFC has no place for fighters who do not have that desire. I really hope that I do not have to watch another flat Tito Ortiz performance as part of a UFC pay-per-view again. I wish Tito all the luck in the future should he choose to continue to fight in another promotion, but his time at the top tier levels of MMA competition are over.
Posted By: Machiel (Guest) on May 27, 2008 at 05:01 PM
