Tito out of UFC for good?

[( o Y o )]

A post on his forum........by him.


I just want to come on and say Hi. I have been very busy on my future. It looks very bright. But being a UFC fighter will not be my future. I have never been so embaressed in my life. I got put in the bleachers, asked to leave the octagon when Ivan won, I was not aloud back stage to get my bags. But its business to the UFC. I am pushed in to a corner and wont be pushed anymore. I have done good for the UFC in every interview, fights,and just trying to push the UFC to mainstream. Now that I am not their Champ they can careless. I will make it with or without them. I have to look out for my self. I do want to thank them for everything, but its time to go on with my future. What is next for Tito? You all will know soon!!!!
I want to thank my fans for the support. Couldnt have done it without YOU!!!!!!!
Tito Ortiz

[FieldingMellish]

What Tito says and waht Tito does often end up being very different things. We'll see.

Though if what he says is true (and I wouldn't be surprised) then that, along with Dana White's comments about him in an interview on the Wrestling Observer website would seem to indicate he's not particularly welcome in UFC right now.

Of course, we don't know what will happen in the next few months and I'd actually be surprised if this really was it for Tito and the company.

[Grant Ellis]

As loud as his mouth is Tito is good for the UFC as a spokesman.
He is knowledgable about the sport and he gives the fans a lot of credit, often more than we deserve.

However, he would be just as good for the sport in any other promotion.

[sandrey1]

I would like to see him in Pride, he has style that can bring a lot of trouble to his opponent

[Shinobu]

I sure hope he doesn't pursue (sp?) his acting career...
I wouldn't mind seeing him in Pride but I'm not to sure about that.

[TheDude]

After watching several american reality-tv shows, I have come to the conclusion that americans talk too much. Action speaks louder than words. I hope Tito puts up or shuts up.

[-=[DM]=-]

I really don't think that PRIDE rules will benifit Tito's style of fighting or that the Japanese fans will take an instant liking to his slow and methodical G'n'P.

[nycfreefight]

This guy has an incredible fan base. Any organization that signs him will not be sorry. He's always comes in shape to fight, that's more than I can say for a lot of other fighters.
I've know Tito for many years, though I don't know what happened at UFC 52, all I can say is that he's great fighter and a great person. It's business you know.....

[( o Y o )]

Something posted at Ironlife and originally noticed by someone at MMAweekly.....Tito`s name has been removed from the UFC web page....

[nycfreefight]

wow.... now that's really personal....I wonder what the UFC is tring to prove by doing that.

[Water]

I hope PRIDE signs him...I want to see Silva get a rematch and KO him!

[RedHawk]

Looks official.


"But being a UFC fighter will not be my future." - Tito

[mugen67]

I wouldn't rule out Tito re-signing with the UFC, this could all be part of the negotiating process (Tito isn't gonna get the money he's asking for anywhere).

The best thing Pride could do for buisness in the US is sign Tito and advertise it. Lets face it, the only MMA fighters the US public knows are Tito, Chuck, and Shamrock, (maybe Randy after TUF, maybe Tank as well).

[Grant Ellis]

Uh, everyone knows Tank.

He's who most people associate the UFC with.

[Jules]

I`d love to say I will miss him. But I wont.

I would however like to see him fight Yoshida for the reserve spot of the current GP.

[FieldingMellish]

LOL at that list of fighters on their website.

Zikic fought once, almost 3 years ago and only then because the show was in Britain. Randleman left years ago and Kondo and Homer Moore haven't worked for the xompany in what, 4 years?

[mugen67]

Uh, everyone knows Tank.

He's who most people associate the UFC with.

Yeah, that's why I mentioned him (probably shouldn't have put the maybe), Royce is another guy that people know (to an extent) but both of those guys have been out of the spotlight...

The point is that Tito is pretty well known (it's all relative), people who don't know what MMA is may still have heard of Tito (Zuffa put a lot of their marketing money behind him), so if Pride is looking to increase their PPV buys/fanbase in America then it would be smart to see if Tito is willing to take less money than he's asking for. It's not like they'd have to worry about him beating everyone and taking the title while boring everyone to death, they will always have multiple fighters that can beat him...