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wgs2005 · 08-12-2007, 01:07 AM

TITO ORTIZ INTERVIEW (August 11, 2007)
MMANEWS.COM | Exclusive: New MMANews.com Interview With Tito Ortiz

Justin Bullock of MMANews.com: This is Justin Bullock for MMANews.com and today I'm talking with former UFC Light Heavyweight champion, Tito Ortiz. So, Tito, you just got back from Iraq; can you tell us a little bit about your trip?

Tito Ortiz: Actually I got back on Sunday of last week. I was out there for a week, you know? We went to Washington, D.C. first, and went to Bethesda and Walter Reid medical centers where we visited the troops that came from war before I went to go visit all the troops that are still there. And you know, my first experience, seeing something like this, this was a first. It was an eye-opener and a gut-wrenching thing to see all these guys coming back from war missing limbs - legs, arms, you know, brain damaged and so forth - and seeing their families supporting them through it. It just shows that there are a lot of young guys dieing, missing limbs and what-not. It's really a tragedy that's happening. When I went there I really didn't know what to expect. I didn't know how it would feel. But once I was there I really felt like supporting these guys is what matters. And when I walked inside each one of their rooms, just the smiles on their faces because they knew who I was and they were like "I can't believe Tito Ortiz is sitting in my room with me!" It was cool, man. It was a really good time to see that for the first day. Giving these guys support; that is what really matters. I sat down with a lot of them for a long time and just let them know how much I appreciate their support and I appreciate all those guys who are out their laying down their lives for us. We've been at war for the last six years. We've been at war for a while now. When I flew over to Kuwait after I was in D.C., it was a really good feeling. I was really happy to go see some troops. Just the smiles that I saw on their faces when they say "Oh my God! Tito Ortiz is here!" They were just young kids man they were so stoked and happy for it and I was really just proud to be there to maybe bring them a little bit of home. We went and flew into Baghdad two days later. We flew in on a DC-130 - that's like one of their troop transporters that has all the combat gear and everything - and we did what's called a "Combat Landing" and you know the G's that we pulled on the plane on - that was pretty intense. But we got there with no problems at all and visited the troops there. It was exciting, seeing all the smiles on the faces of the guys who knew I came their to support them, and everyone walking around with M-16s. It was a reality check for me, knowing that we are at war. And the weather was so hot, it was like 130 degrees. It was crazy there but it was more than worth it to support these guys and do my best to show them how much I appreciate what they are doing for the country.

MMANews.com: Yeah, it's nice to see someone who has celebrity status vocally supporting our troops. But how does it feel coming back to the states from a trip like this and seeing people walking around practically clueless to what's actually happening over there?

Tito Ortiz: Once you're here it's just a reality check. I'm very grateful even to live here. You know, everybody who works a nine-to-five job and can go home and be with their families, go see movies, or do whatever they want to do; they have a normal life. These troops are there year-in and year-out. Being there for fourteen months with no family, no girlfriend, no wife, and only getting that type of support through email is hard, and it's hard for these guys. I was just glad to go there and try to bring a little bit of home to them.

MMANews.com: So after seeing what the troops go through on a daily basis, would you say you are more motivated now?

Tito Ortiz: Oh, for sure, I feel like I've rededicated myself to these guys. I'm really happy to rededicate myself, and to be proud to be an American. These guys are in a really tough situation out there and to them they don't really know what they are fighting for. They are just there to protect the land that they're on, I mean they don't even know who their enemy is. Guys that live there walk around with assault rifles with no problem at all. You are allowed to do that. Then all of a sudden they come around their back and they pull guns out and start shooting at American troops. It's hard because they don't know who they are fighting because a lot of the terrorists are underground.

MMANews.com: So is it safe to assume that there are American Troops out there rocking Punishment Athletics now?

Tito Ortiz: Oh, yeah for sure, we brought a bunch of 8 x 10s, a bunch of beanies, a bunch of hats and shirts and other stuff. I think we had like five thousand 8 x 10's that we had and they were all given out so we got to touch a lot of troops, man. The clothing line is Punishment and that's what these guys are doing. These guys are out there living the life as real heroes. So anytime I see anybody in the army, navy, marines, etc., wearing my stuff it is really cool.

MMANews.com: What other ideas are you implementing to expand your brand?

Tito Ortiz: When I first started making my company we were more into athletic gear; shirts, board shorts, beanies, you know, stuff you wear to the gym. But now I want to start getting more into jeans and fitted shirts, button down shirts that you can wear to the club and stuff like that. Stuff you can wear to a nice dinner. That's the next step for my clothing company. Punishment is a great name brand and I'm going to keep running with it. I've invested a lot of my time and money and I just want to give the fans stuff that they can wear to the clubs and have a good time. I mean, these are clothes that I wear myself so I want to make sure I look good while I'm out having a good time.

MMANews.com: Are you as sick of seeing Affliction t-shirts as the rest of us are?

Tito Ortiz: Affliction actually started out being high-end and now they are really all over the place to the point that I think people are starting to get sick of it. But with my clothing company I've really built a good base, all by myself with no big money behind it or anything to push it along. You know, I did everything myself; me and my ex-wife, we made it what it is today and I think that there is a lot of room to grow. It's the beginning of a clothing company. Affliction has been around for three or four years and they had a bunch of money to push their shirts and now all of a sudden everyone is wearing them. It'll get burned out. It will be a flash in the pan like most of the clothing companies. But Punishment Athletics is here to stay, I can guarantee you that much.

MMANews.com: You mentioned recently that you are recovering from a back injury. How is the healing process coming along?

Tito Ortiz: I've had a bulging disc in my lower back from the [Randy] Couture fight. It's always reacting and you know after I fought Rashad [Evans] it was really bothering me. Now it's been almost a month since I fought last and I gotta do rehab for it. I'll possibly have to get some injections in my back just to stop the inflammation and after that go through some physical therapy and then get ready for my next fight against Rashad.

MMANews.com: It seems like you rarely go more than one or two fights without getting some sort of injury. I mean, you must have to deal with fighting through the pain all the time, right?

Tito Ortiz: Well, you know it's just one of those things, man. That's just what training is about. That's why I put in such long hours. I've been doing training MMA for tens years, man. I started training in high school for sophomore wrestling and after so many years of doing that my body gets worn down sometimes, you know? That's just one of those things that happens. When injuries come around I deal with them and just do my best to push through them. I'm not gonna back out of any fights. That's just the way I am.

MMANews.com: The rematch fight against Rashad has been rumored for UFC 77 in October. How do you see your current issues with your back coming into play, or is that date for the fight still just hearsay?

Tito Ortiz: Well, there is no fight signed yet. I'm not even one hundred percent yet, so how could I sign a for a fight when I'm not even a hundred percent? I'm not going to make that mistake again. The fight will happen before the year is over for sure. I'm not sure if it is going to be in Cincinnati, it could be but if not, possibly [Las] Vegas which would be sweet because I love to fight in my hometown. You know, whatever happens I just want to make sure I am one hundred percent for the fight. Once I get it signed people will know about it.

08-12-2007, 01:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
wgs2005 Banned Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 1,364 Points: 15,500 Bank: 1,149 Total Points: 16,649 Donate	ANOTHER Tito Interview TITO ORTIZ INTERVIEW (August 11, 2007) MMANEWS.COM \| Exclusive: New MMANews.com Interview With Tito Ortiz Justin Bullock of MMANews.com: This is Justin Bullock for MMANews.com and today I'm talking with former UFC Light Heavyweight champion, Tito Ortiz. So, Tito, you just got back from Iraq; can you tell us a little bit about your trip? Tito Ortiz: Actually I got back on Sunday of last week. I was out there for a week, you know? We went to Washington, D.C. first, and went to Bethesda and Walter Reid medical centers where we visited the troops that came from war before I went to go visit all the troops that are still there. And you know, my first experience, seeing something like this, this was a first. It was an eye-opener and a gut-wrenching thing to see all these guys coming back from war missing limbs - legs, arms, you know, brain damaged and so forth - and seeing their families supporting them through it. It just shows that there are a lot of young guys dieing, missing limbs and what-not. It's really a tragedy that's happening. When I went there I really didn't know what to expect. I didn't know how it would feel. But once I was there I really felt like supporting these guys is what matters. And when I walked inside each one of their rooms, just the smiles on their faces because they knew who I was and they were like "I can't believe Tito Ortiz is sitting in my room with me!" It was cool, man. It was a really good time to see that for the first day. Giving these guys support; that is what really matters. I sat down with a lot of them for a long time and just let them know how much I appreciate their support and I appreciate all those guys who are out their laying down their lives for us. We've been at war for the last six years. We've been at war for a while now. When I flew over to Kuwait after I was in D.C., it was a really good feeling. I was really happy to go see some troops. Just the smiles that I saw on their faces when they say "Oh my God! Tito Ortiz is here!" They were just young kids man they were so stoked and happy for it and I was really just proud to be there to maybe bring them a little bit of home. We went and flew into Baghdad two days later. We flew in on a DC-130 - that's like one of their troop transporters that has all the combat gear and everything - and we did what's called a "Combat Landing" and you know the G's that we pulled on the plane on - that was pretty intense. But we got there with no problems at all and visited the troops there. It was exciting, seeing all the smiles on the faces of the guys who knew I came their to support them, and everyone walking around with M-16s. It was a reality check for me, knowing that we are at war. And the weather was so hot, it was like 130 degrees. It was crazy there but it was more than worth it to support these guys and do my best to show them how much I appreciate what they are doing for the country. MMANews.com: Yeah, it's nice to see someone who has celebrity status vocally supporting our troops. But how does it feel coming back to the states from a trip like this and seeing people walking around practically clueless to what's actually happening over there? Tito Ortiz: Once you're here it's just a reality check. I'm very grateful even to live here. You know, everybody who works a nine-to-five job and can go home and be with their families, go see movies, or do whatever they want to do; they have a normal life. These troops are there year-in and year-out. Being there for fourteen months with no family, no girlfriend, no wife, and only getting that type of support through email is hard, and it's hard for these guys. I was just glad to go there and try to bring a little bit of home to them. MMANews.com: So after seeing what the troops go through on a daily basis, would you say you are more motivated now? Tito Ortiz: Oh, for sure, I feel like I've rededicated myself to these guys. I'm really happy to rededicate myself, and to be proud to be an American. These guys are in a really tough situation out there and to them they don't really know what they are fighting for. They are just there to protect the land that they're on, I mean they don't even know who their enemy is. Guys that live there walk around with assault rifles with no problem at all. You are allowed to do that. Then all of a sudden they come around their back and they pull guns out and start shooting at American troops. It's hard because they don't know who they are fighting because a lot of the terrorists are underground. MMANews.com: So is it safe to assume that there are American Troops out there rocking Punishment Athletics now? Tito Ortiz: Oh, yeah for sure, we brought a bunch of 8 x 10s, a bunch of beanies, a bunch of hats and shirts and other stuff. I think we had like five thousand 8 x 10's that we had and they were all given out so we got to touch a lot of troops, man. The clothing line is Punishment and that's what these guys are doing. These guys are out there living the life as real heroes. So anytime I see anybody in the army, navy, marines, etc., wearing my stuff it is really cool. MMANews.com: What other ideas are you implementing to expand your brand? Tito Ortiz: When I first started making my company we were more into athletic gear; shirts, board shorts, beanies, you know, stuff you wear to the gym. But now I want to start getting more into jeans and fitted shirts, button down shirts that you can wear to the club and stuff like that. Stuff you can wear to a nice dinner. That's the next step for my clothing company. Punishment is a great name brand and I'm going to keep running with it. I've invested a lot of my time and money and I just want to give the fans stuff that they can wear to the clubs and have a good time. I mean, these are clothes that I wear myself so I want to make sure I look good while I'm out having a good time. MMANews.com: Are you as sick of seeing Affliction t-shirts as the rest of us are? Tito Ortiz: Affliction actually started out being high-end and now they are really all over the place to the point that I think people are starting to get sick of it. But with my clothing company I've really built a good base, all by myself with no big money behind it or anything to push it along. You know, I did everything myself; me and my ex-wife, we made it what it is today and I think that there is a lot of room to grow. It's the beginning of a clothing company. Affliction has been around for three or four years and they had a bunch of money to push their shirts and now all of a sudden everyone is wearing them. It'll get burned out. It will be a flash in the pan like most of the clothing companies. But Punishment Athletics is here to stay, I can guarantee you that much. MMANews.com: You mentioned recently that you are recovering from a back injury. How is the healing process coming along? Tito Ortiz: I've had a bulging disc in my lower back from the [Randy] Couture fight. It's always reacting and you know after I fought Rashad [Evans] it was really bothering me. Now it's been almost a month since I fought last and I gotta do rehab for it. I'll possibly have to get some injections in my back just to stop the inflammation and after that go through some physical therapy and then get ready for my next fight against Rashad. MMANews.com: It seems like you rarely go more than one or two fights without getting some sort of injury. I mean, you must have to deal with fighting through the pain all the time, right? Tito Ortiz: Well, you know it's just one of those things, man. That's just what training is about. That's why I put in such long hours. I've been doing training MMA for tens years, man. I started training in high school for sophomore wrestling and after so many years of doing that my body gets worn down sometimes, you know? That's just one of those things that happens. When injuries come around I deal with them and just do my best to push through them. I'm not gonna back out of any fights. That's just the way I am. MMANews.com: The rematch fight against Rashad has been rumored for UFC 77 in October. How do you see your current issues with your back coming into play, or is that date for the fight still just hearsay? Tito Ortiz: Well, there is no fight signed yet. I'm not even one hundred percent yet, so how could I sign a for a fight when I'm not even a hundred percent? I'm not going to make that mistake again. The fight will happen before the year is over for sure. I'm not sure if it is going to be in Cincinnati, it could be but if not, possibly [Las] Vegas which would be sweet because I love to fight in my hometown. You know, whatever happens I just want to make sure I am one hundred percent for the fight. Once I get it signed people will know about it.