Dana Leave Tito Alone...

Rahkus · 08-12-2005, 01:51 PM

This is getting ridiculous. I was watching the Liddell Horn Unleashed special last night on SpikeTV and saw some genuine BS. Whenever Tito Ortiz was shown fighting in the octagon they blurred out the Punishment Athletics logos on his shorts. Are you serious? I'll be honest, I used to think that Tito was to blame for this mess. Not anymore.

First Tito was removed from the UFC website with Dana's justification being that "Tito is no longer a UFC fighter." That's all fine and good. However, at this writing, Vitor Belfort and Phil Baroni are still listed. Strange? Did Dana lie?

Then Dana told Ivan Salaverry that Tito's company couldn't sponsor him and Tito couldn't be in his corner. No wonder the guy put on a bad show. He was probably more worried about where his rent money was going to come from than he was about the fight. I know that Ivan blames himself for losing the fight, but you have to feel for the guy.

The blurring out the Punishment Athletics logos on Tito's shorts is just infantile. What is the next step? To start removing Tito's fights from the UFC DVD's? Perhaps they can blur out Tito entirely. How about implementing a series of fines if anyone mentions Tito's name in a live broadcast.

This has gone far beyond a friendship gone bad. In the past Dana has said "Tito has this fantasy that he's the biggest guy in MMA, that he is the God of all MMA." Dana man, you need to look in the mirror sometime bro. Try and be the bigger man and not the bigger prick. In fights like this there are no winners, only losers....

subgenius · 08-12-2005, 02:05 PM

It does seem that the UFC is only showing the fights that Tito has lost. I have yet to see any of the UFC TV programs show a Tito Ortiz highlight that shows him winning. Joe Rogan has talked about Tito's toughness and his skills, but not really his wins. Do they really think that they can blur out the memory of Tito Ortiz from our minds? It would be nice to be able to see the behind the scenes stuff that goes on, and perhaps see what Tito did or said to warrant all of this BS. I am not a big Tito Ortiz fan, but I have respect for the guy's skills as a fighter... no fighter should be treated this badly without some serious reasons.

DrumzCT · 08-12-2005, 02:10 PM

Dana White is the biggest threat to MMA. His petty personal issues with people could his judgement and that's not good for business. He needs to get it together.

IYAOYAS · 08-12-2005, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rahkus

Then Dana told Ivan Salaverry that Tito's company couldn't sponsor him and Tito couldn't be in his corner. No wonder the guy put on a bad show. He was probably more worried about where his rent money was going to come from than he was about the fight. I know that Ivan blames himself for losing the fight, but you have to feel for the guy.

Do you think that this may have played a part with Ivan Salaverry's release? I understand that he may have had a 3 fight deal but it seemed to me that Salaverry was coming off as a bit of a fan favorite.

Rahkus · 08-12-2005, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IYAOYAS

Do you think that this may have played a part with Ivan Salaverry's release? I understand that he may have had a 3 fight deal but it seemed to me that Salaverry was coming off as a bit of a fan favorite.

It may have. I think it's clear that most people feel that releasing Salaverry was a bad move on the part of the UFC. Was it done strictly because of his poor performance or because of his affiliation with Tito Ortiz? In either case, a message has been sent to the fighters of the UFC.

[Danny] · 08-12-2005, 03:13 PM

Dana is a great promoter and is going to take UFC to a height above boxing in the US that isn't corrupted. Tito on the other hand is crying about this Punishment logo, and his beef with Dana. Dana is the one being more professional about it. He hasn't said anything about it. Truth is that logos and ads have to go through the UFC and if Dana doesn't want to support Punishment, that's his deal.

Also, it's not just Dana. It's also teh rest of the UFC admin. I think the thing that broke the camels back with Dana/Tito is that Tito almost started a riot after his fight with Vitor. Riots after MMA fights will only set us back further. Also, don't you find it werid that Pride isn't giving any offers to one of teh biggest names in MMA history? Maybe they know how Tito is.

I'm on Dana's side on this. Tito tried to play the game tough and got his ass bite because of it. He is exactlly like TO is to the NFL/Eagles and now look where he is. Not playing for the time being. I think it's funny because this has more to do with Ivan, and he is completely cool with it.

Tito is using Ivan's normal situation and trying to add heat against Dana. Jeez ppl! Wasn't a few months agon you were praising Dana for getting MMA on regular US televsion, now "he's the biggest problem to MMA." Whatever!

Salavary said also on MMAWeekly that it's a normal situation in his contract. You lose, your contract is released. Vitor's contract was released when he lost to Overeem, because fighting as a UFC rep in Pride was a conracted UFC fight.

Also, a bet the UFC has tons of trouble with other sponsers and it doens't get blown up this big. They probably have a few sponsers they don't want on television. It's just because it's Tito's company, that the UFC gets heat for.

DirtyChuckRulz! · 08-12-2005, 05:28 PM

Im really starting to think that dana white is a massive douche bag......

DrumzCT · 08-12-2005, 05:51 PM

Not letting Ivan advertise a promotion that wants to sponsor him when he's getting paid less than Bonnar and less than Nate the Great because you don't like the owner of the company is a scummy thing to do. That's messing with Ivan's living because he doesnt like Tito.

ALso, not letting your friend/training partner or what have you be your cornerman for your fight is also a scummy thing to do.

I think Dana thinks alittle too highly of himself and is making it hard for talented fighters who have paid thier dues to compete with not so experienced TV fighters who simply have more market value.

Business, yes I understand that but it's not hard to give a fighter a few fights to introduce him to the audience and make him popular. And I'm not taking anything from the TUF fighters either, a few of them are my favorites right now. I'm just saying Dana better be careful how far he goes in controling who HE wants fighting instead of supporting these fighters that are the work horse of the MMA sport.

DrumzCT · 08-12-2005, 05:53 PM

...and for the record, I am a Dana White fan. He's done incredible things so far. ALso, I hate Tito Ortiz and love watching Chuck beat the crap out of him over and over again, so I'm not a biased Ortiz lover and I'm glad he's getting this crap from UFC. It's the principles I don't agree with.

LuvMyCRX® · 08-12-2005, 06:02 PM

I think we can agree that thje UFC could use Tito, but how much is too much to pay him? If Captain America gets $150G for a win, how much is Tito worth?

DrumzCT · 08-12-2005, 06:04 PM

Tito only has pull on the old school fans so he wouldn't be making as much as Chuck or Randy for a few fights. He should definitely get more than say Ivan was getting. He should probably get whatever the current champs are making.

[Danny] · 08-12-2005, 07:22 PM

But you guys are getting this vibe about Punishment because it's a top clothing brand for MMA. I bet you that Dana denies a lot of sponsers the right to be on his show. Tito is making a big deal because it's part of his stock or whatever.

Tito is trying to drag Dana's name through the mud because he wants to look like the right guy.

Jeez, Ivan got the MAINEVENT SPOT ON LIVE TELEVISION. You don't think Dana was pulling for him? UFC Unleashed featured a TKO and a Submission victory for Ivan. They were banking on him winnning.

Nate the Great got paided more because he won the match. It's like that in every promotion.

Rahkus · 08-12-2005, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [Danny]

Jeez, Ivan got the MAINEVENT SPOT ON LIVE TELEVISION. You don't think Dana was pulling for him? UFC Unleashed featured a TKO and a Submission victory for Ivan. They were banking on him winnning.

Tito was in Ivan's corner for UFC 52. (He got booted from the octagon after Ivan won if you don't remember.) Is there anyone here that disputes the value and experience that Tito brings as a corner man? You take a sponsorship away from the guy, you take a valuable corner man away, and then you expect him to perform at the top of his game.

Not to mention that you put two excellent technical fighters in the main event on Live TV. I can't think of a bigger recipe for boring. I'm not saying that the UFC didn't want Salaverry to win. I'm saying that they created unnecessary distractions and put him in a no-win situation.

Then, to throw salt on the wound, the UFC released him. Hey, someone had to take the blame.

[Danny] · 08-12-2005, 08:10 PM

Credit MMAWeekly.com

"Ivan Salaverry has been one of the best fighters in the 185 division, but this weekend it just didn't go well for Ivan and he's even looking for answers himself.

Salaverry told MMAWeekly today "The loss was my fault, nobody else's. The UFC put me out there to showcase me in a big fight and I gave him (Nathan Marquardt) too much respect. What can you do."

Salaverry was in the first fight of his three fight contract, but as is the case with all UFC contracts... if you lose a fight you can be cut from that deal. Salaverry was officially released from that deal this week.

"It's no different than any other UFC contract. If you lose they can cut you. I've been told they can bring me back at a later time and that's fine with me. I'm more upset at myself than anybody right now."

Salaverry has had a very good record in MMA with an impressive 11-4 record. In the UFC he is 3-2 with wins over Joe Riggs, Tony Fryklund and Andrei Semenov, with his losses coming this past weekend to Nathan Marquardt and at UFC 39 against Matt Lindland. Salaverry said he will let some lingering injuries heal and will keep busy training waiting for his next opportunity."

Rahkus · 08-12-2005, 08:20 PM

Thanks for that. I've already read the article. "...if you lose a fight you CAN be cut from that deal." The key word being CAN. There's a whole Christmas list of fighters who've lost and were not cut. Most people would argue that it was stupid for the UFC to cut him when they didn't have to.

Ivan's release was punishment for a sub-par performance in a big event. He is a humble guy and takes full responsibility for losing. I just don't feel like it was his fault.

You get what you give, and you get what you pay for. In this case Dana got both.

DrumzCT · 08-12-2005, 11:30 PM

Quote:

"...if you lose a fight you CAN be cut from that deal." The key word being CAN. There's a whole Christmas list of fighters who've lost and were not cut. Most people would argue that it was stupid for the UFC to cut him when they didn't have to.

Exactly where I am coming from

Master Jones · 08-13-2005, 11:10 AM

I think the bs with Dana and Tito is worst for the UFC then the fight Tito got going after the Vitor fight. Actually I don't think that was as big of a deal as people made it to be. Know body told Chuck to go up in the ring to confront him, and know body told Ken to go up there etheir. It was their choice to do so, Tito antaganized them to do so, and they took the bait. If anything it set the stage for a rematch fight with etheir of them that would have be full of drama. Just what people like to see, two guys that really hate eachother fighting in the cage. Doesn't get anymore exciting then that!! Don't take these remarks and think right away that i'm a Tito fan etheir, cause I'm not. But the more his name is mentioned the more I would like to see him come back and fight. He's the perfect person to have in the UFC to help stur the pot!!

Eraser2K1NIN · 08-13-2005, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Master Jones

I think the bs with Dana and Tito is worst for the UFC then the fight Tito got going after the Vitor fight. Actually I don't think that was as big of a deal as people made it to be. Know body told Chuck to go up in the ring to confront him, and know body told Ken to go up there etheir. It was their choice to do so, Tito antaganized them to do so, and they took the bait. If anything it set the stage for a rematch fight with etheir of them that would have be full of drama. Just what people like to see, two guys that really hate eachother fighting in the cage. Doesn't get anymore exciting then that!! Don't take these remarks and think right away that i'm a Tito fan etheir, cause I'm not. But the more his name is mentioned the more I would like to see him come back and fight. He's the perfect person to have in the UFC to help stur the pot!!

I try to avoid these types of topics cause Tito is my fav MMA fighter...
I really do want to know what the REAL story is here...There has to be something we are missing here....It can't be just cause Tito was "outpricing" himself and then they hate each other...
If I'm correct didn't Dana start the sh*t talking with the "Tito thinks he's the god of MMA thingy?"
Man let the guy fight and he keep things interesting...

SeikanJudanski · 08-13-2005, 12:58 PM

Tito should just leave the UFC alone, I heard he wasn´t even allowed to go backstage at UFC 52. He should show some pride and turn his back to the UFC.

[Danny] · 08-13-2005, 03:42 PM

I just think it's interesting that Pride wouldn't give him a contract offer. That just makes me think that Dana is more in the right than Tito.