Ortiz

Not Quite a Perfect Ending- All good things must come to an end, and at UFC 84, it was the beginning of the end for Tito Ortiz and his run with the UFC.  Ortiz was in the last fight of his current contract, and there is no extension on the horizon, nor does he want there to be. He has left the UFC once before in a contract dispute, but this time it is different. He was younger then, and one of the most feared fighters in the world. At 33, Tito’s MMA career is seemingly on the decline, having posted a Draw and two Losses in his last three outings.

Ortiz wasn’t necessarily one of the UFC’s founding forefathers, but he certainly was one of the most influential fighters the organization has had. His role in the UFC’s development in the late 90’s has helped evolve the sport, more specifically the UFC, to get to where it is today. And almost a decade’s long effort came to a crashing end at UFC 84, without much of a fight, until after the bout.

“I’m going to go and sign up with somebody else just because the way Dana White (UFC President) treats me as a fighter is very disrespectful, said an emotional Ortiz”

“It’s not about money anymore it’s about respect,” added Ortiz. “I’m going to go with someone else who will pay me more money and treat me with more respect than Dana White has ever treated me. I’m very excited to move on, to grow and go somewhere else and help them build a company like I did with the UFC.”

All of Ortiz’s 22 professional fights have been for the UFC, and in a sense he helped build it from the ground up. So the question is, why would White be forcing out such a staple of the organization? Ortiz isn’t the first fighter to have beef with White (please see Randy Couture), and he certainly will not be the last.

The answer is simple. White is a businessman. He has swallowed his pride many times before when he thought it was best for the organization, which included bringing back fighters that he didn’t agree with, such as current UFC lightweight champion BJ Penn, as well as Ortiz himself. But he feels that Ortiz is not the fighter he once was, that he doesn’t have the hunger or the skill to become dominant again. And Ortiz did nothing to show anybody and different at UFC 84.

By the reaction that Ortiz received from the Las Vegas crowd shows that he still is a fan favorite, but White is over it and thinks that Ortiz is more trouble than he is worth.

“I not longer want to be apart of the Tito Ortiz business,” stated White.

And off Ortiz goes. Not quite into the sunset, that is just yet. He will sign with one of the larger competitors, and be in their main events, maybe even win a fight or two. But the beginning of the end for Ortiz already took place. And that is the ending that most MMA fans will remember.