NEW Tito Ortiz Interview

Dr.Chicago · 08-10-2007, 11:04 AM

Quote:

The Huntington Beach Businessman: Exclusive UFCmania interview with Tito Ortiz

By Jesse Holland

Name: titoortiz_interview.jpg
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Name: titoortiz_interview.jpg
Views: 172
Size: 58.1 KB

Love him or hate him, there is no denying the impact “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” has on the continuing evolution of mixed martial arts. In fact, the mere mention of his name is usually enough to start a heated debate between UFC enthusiasts.

Is he one of the world’s top light-heavyweights destined to recapture gold?

Or is he a B-level fighter who’s mastered the art of self-promotion?

There is no right or wrong answer, just opinions that are as diverse as his fan base.

I caught up with Tito in the late afternoon as he rested his injured back. He spoke softly but assertively with UFCmania, and as one might expect was never short on words.

Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Tito, first and foremost thank you for taking the time to talk with us here at UFCmania.com. You just returned from the USO tour in Iraq. Tell us a little bit about that experience.

Tito Ortiz: Actually we (Tito and good friend Justin McCully) returned Sunday night. It was a very interesting travel expedition. It was great. We wanted to help some of these guys that got hurt in the war in addition to the guys already fighting there. It was really crazy to go there and see this stuff in person. It was like a reality check and it’s made me rededicate myself to these troops. Guys have been over there for more than 14 months away from their families. That’s hard to do.

Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Well it’s not like you just hopped on Jet Blue and flew into Iraq. Tell us about the difficulties in getting there.

Tito Ortiz: It was sketchy. We flew in on a C-130 and had to make a combat landing where they land kind of crazy like a big U-turn to avoid getting hit with a rocket launcher. Then we took a Blackhawk to get to the troops.

Jesse Holland (UFCmania): I’ll bet it was a humbling experience.

Tito Ortiz: I’ve been in battles in the Octagon but it doesn’t compare to what these guys are going through. Every person there had a rifle on them. You can try to describe it but until you’re really there feeling what they’re feeling you have no idea. It really put a smile on my face. It made me want to rededicate myself. When I fight again and beat Rashad it’s going to be for them, for the troops. They’re the real heroes.

Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Let’s switch gears and talk about Punishment Athletics. I understand you want to take it in a new direction.

Tito Ortiz: We’re pushing forward now and we’re starting to get into dressier clothes. Punishment is for everyday life. Guys who wake up at four or five in the morning and put in a 15-hour day, that’s punishment. Everything you try to get out of life and achieve is punishment. It’s a brand, something I’m gonna continue with and that’s the next step for us. You’re gonna see dressier t-shirts, button-ups, stuff like that. I’ve already conquered the mixed martial arts market and now its time to move into another realm.

Jesse Holland (UFCmania): How involved are you in the design phase?

Tito Ortiz: Everything is 100 percent my ideas. The logos, the layouts, everything. We’re going towards the gladiator side of it now. I watched 300 and I loved the film. It’s the same type of idea of punishment and the gladiators. It goes hand-in-hand.

Jesse Holland (UFCmania): How’s your relationship with Jenna Jameson?

Tito Ortiz: It’s great, she’s actually right here with me. We’re getting along great.

Jesse Holland (UFCmania): How involved is she with the business aspect of your career?

Tito Ortiz: She’s more of an adviser. She has a lot of experience. I also have a great attorney now who handles everything for me so I can focus on training.

Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Do you see yourself as more of a businessman or a fighter? Can you be successful at both without one hurting the other?

Tito Ortiz: I’m a fighter at heart. I wouldn’t be where I am if I wasn’t. I’ve had to fight for everything I have. Whether its fighting to get my contract with the UFC or fighting to make my clothing better I’m always fighting. People call me a fighter and people call me a businessman. People may even call me both. In reality I’m just a smart guy who knows how to take care of himself.

Jesse Holland (UFCmania): The rematch with Rashad Evans is the last fight on your current contract. Where do you go from there?

Tito Ortiz: I don’t know, I want to fight someone in the top five. Anybody. I would love to get a great match. I don’t know, who do you want to see me fight?

Jesse Holland (UFCmania): How about your unfinished business with Frank Shamrock?

Tito Ortiz: That would be awesome but you know what? I would love to fight him again and cave his face in. People would rag on me because he’s a 185 lb. guy. He did beat me, but people always say stupid things like now I want to fight a smaller guy because I can’t beat anyone else. I think a lot of people would pay for it to happen.

Jesse Holland (UFCmania): You know with the way Frank talks it wouldn’t matter if he were a lightweight some people just want to see him get his.

Tito Ortiz: I’ll give it to him he was the better man that night. He got the better of a young and inexperienced fighter but if we did fight again I would feel sorry for him. I really don’t think he could stand five rounds of punishment. Last time I gassed out like ten seconds into the fourth round. I remember it to a tee. I was a young punk kid. He could sell the fight and possibly make it interesting and we’d get a million pay-per-view (PPV) buys because I believe we have that much star power. You know my fans support me no matter what.

Jesse Holland (UFCmania): On that note, who is the more delusional Shamrock, Frank or Ken?

Tito Ortiz: (Laughs) I would say Ken. Frank’s intelligent. For a 185 lb. guy he’s good. Ken was a man of his time. Once we all caught on to his style it was the end of Ken.

Jesse Holland (UFCmania): I’ve always said that Ken could have been an all-time great but the ship kind of passed him by during those four years he spent in the WWF.

Tito Ortiz: For sure. That was the turning point for our sport when it started to really become mixed martial arts. You can’t take so much time off and come back expecting to be at the same level as the rest of the talent. He blew it.

Jesse Holland (UFCmania): A lot of fans like myself want to know once and for all: Who is the real Tito? Is he the guy in the Octagon who is accused of disrespectful antics or is he the helpful and caring coach from the third season of The Ultimate Fighter?

Tito Ortiz: The real Tito goes from day-to-day and lives a normal life. I wake up, brush my teeth, take a shower, take a ****, and whatever everybody else does. The Ultimate Fighter Three is the real Tito. When I step into the Octagon that’s a character that I portray to get my aggression out. I entertain when I fight. That’s why so many people buy my PPV’s. They know win, lose or draw they’re gonna get their money’s worth when I fight.

Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Speaking of draws, you’re predicting a win against Rashad in the rematch?

Tito Ortiz: I’m not predicting anything, I’m guaranteeing it.

Jesse Holland (UFCmania): How hard is it dealing with the steroid issue in the UFC?

Tito Ortiz: You know what it comes down to is you separate the men from the kids. The men are the ones who fight and don’t use drugs. The kids fight and try and use drugs to win. I don’t understand it to be honest, these guys pin their hopes on this stuff and they get popped for it.

Jesse Holland (UFCmania): So you’re going on record as being steroid free?

Tito Ortiz: Hell yeah man I’ve been tested all the time and never come up positive. I don’t believe in using that stuff and I never have. My old training camp before Team Punishment was always trying to push it on me but I said no and left. I read the message boards. I know what people are saying but you know what? People don’t have a clue as to what they’re talking about. I’ve been gifted, gifted by God that’s it.

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I wasn't allowed to cover the whole interview in one post (too long).. So if you wanna continue reading.. Click here!

I liked the fact that he's interested in fighting Shogun after Rashad.. I hope he's aware about what he's wishing for..

Sorry guys.. I can't read a Tito's interview this long.. Especially when I hear his voice in my head while reading.. I always try to quit reading before any Jenna Jameson questions..

Anyway, maybe some of you guys are willing to read it all.. Good luck!

KungFuGrip · 08-10-2007, 11:57 AM

Good read. I can't believe the ufc made over $220,000,000 last year. That's an insane amount of money.

It good to hear that he plans on fighting after this contract. Thank 4 the post doc.

My GnP is Sick · 08-10-2007, 12:52 PM

I can see why he wants to fight a top 5 guy. If he wins it helps propel his career back up to the top. If he loses well he lost to one of the top 5 guys in the world, big deal...

OneBigThrow · 08-10-2007, 12:52 PM

Quote:

She has a lot of experience

no ****

KungFuGrip · 08-10-2007, 01:00 PM

I was going to comment on that, but you did first. Funny stuff lol.

FightingIrish · 08-10-2007, 06:26 PM

Thanks for the interview, I still like Tito and hope he beats rashad in their next fight.

MTKrav911 · 08-10-2007, 08:35 PM

I still like Tito, but his fanfare status with me has worn off with the stuff he's said and done.

Now, he is more than capable with his wrestling and submission skill, to bounce right back to the top in Brutal fashion. Even against a Shogun.

Will he?

That's the question. Is Tito mentally drained? Because even 3 years ago, by now Tito would have even challenged Fedor by now.