Tito/Machida confirmed .. Tito leaving ufc

[Dilaudid]

FREE AGENCY FOR ORTIZ


Disrespected “Bad Boy” Lashes Out at UFC, Confirms May Bout with Machida

By Loretta Hunt (loretta@thefightnetwork.com)

Another UFC champion is speaking out against the promotion he once called home.

In an interview on Sirius’ Fight Network Radio on Monday, a disgruntled Tito Ortiz cited money as a primary point of contention with Zuffa LLC, the Las Vegas-based company that purchased the mixed martial arts’ brand in early 2001 and turned it into a $200 million-plus industry over the next five years.

“They don’t want the fighters to get as big as a 'Tyson' or a 'De La Hoya' or one of those types because all of a sudden, they’ll be expecting to see a lot more payment,” said Ortiz. “The UFC makes about 99 percent of the money, and the rest goes to the fighters. That one percent ain't nothing compared to what they make on merchandising, on pay-per-view, and everything else they make around the world.”

Ortiz is not the only marquee fighter to take Zuffa to task. UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture resigned from the organization on Oct. 11, citing compensation and poor treatment within the company as his main motivations. Couture walked away from his title, two contracted fights and a separate employment contract for commentating and promotional duties. Zuffa filed suit with Couture last Monday for breach of his employment contract.

A polarizing former UFC light heavyweight champion, Ortiz confirmed he will face Lyoto Machida (12-0) at a UFC event on Saturday, May 24 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The bout will satisfy the final fight of his UFC contract.

Expecting a rematch with “The Ultimate Fighter 2” winner Rashad Evans, Ortiz (15-5-1) said he begrudgingly accepted the bout with the Japanese-Brazilian fighter who toppled PRIDE sensation Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou with a second-round submission at UFC 79 “Nemesis” on Dec. 29 in Las Vegas.

“I was expecting a bigger fight. I think the fans were expecting a bigger fight,” said Ortiz. “I got pressed into it, and all of a sudden, it’s all over the Internet that Tito Ortiz won’t fight Machida. I’m just looking to get my final fight over with the UFC.”

Ortiz has headlined 17 of his 20 UFC appearances since he stepped into the Octagon at UFC 13 “Ultimate Force” in May 1997. Energetic and captivating, Ortiz became the UFC’s light heavyweight champion after his victory against future PRIDE Fighting Championships star Wanderlei Silva at UFC 25 in April 2004. A poster boy for the promotion, he lost the title to Chuck Liddell (21-5) via a second-round TKO at UFC 47 four years later.

Ortiz’s rematch against Liddell at UFC 66 in December 2006 remains the largest UFC pay-per-view to date, with a reported 1,000,050 buys. The event also holds the North American record for paid attendance, with 12,191 fans shelling out $5,397,300 to see the former friends rumble. The 33-year-old said he’s banked over $ 1 million per fight in his latest outings, but that half those wages go to taxes and training expenses.

Money has always been at the root of a rocky relationship with Zuffa officials. In 2003, Ortiz held out on a pay raise from the Las Vegas promotion in favor of a supporting movie role in a sequel to “The Crow." Ortiz eventually returned to the fold, but the relationship remained strained.

Ortiz’s troubles with the promotion have become public fodder, particularly with his former manager turned UFC president Dana White, who has belittled the fighter and his girlfriend, Jenna Jameson -- the world’s most recognizable porn star -- in numerous interviews.

The clash between promoter and fighter came to a head last fall, when Spike TV aired a special documenting a regulated boxing session the two were to have had in a Las Vegas gym. Ortiz said he pulled out of the bout ahead of time, claiming compensation for the publicity stunt was never agreed upon. The cameras rolled with White waiting at the scales.

Nearing the end of his contract last year, Ortiz opted to go back to the table with UFC majority owner Lorenzo Fertitta. Subsequent negotiations stalled.

“They said I wasn’t worth the money,” said Ortiz. “I was worth no more than what I’m getting paid now, and I’m not a commodity to them anymore. I’m not as viable to them anymore. That was a sign of disrespect.”

Ortiz also believes White's ill feelings towards him will most likely prevent the fighter from getting a shot at the UFC title again.

"With Dana in charge, I don't think that fight will ever happen for me," said Ortiz. "Dana has bad blood for me and nothing but bad blood. They're going to try and ruin me."

Often at the center of controversy in the sport, bleached-blonde wrestler Ortiz, 33, has managed to stay in the spotlight despite his inactivity. After his heated July 7 draw with “The Ultimate Fighter 3” reality TV series winner Rashad Evans (11-0-1) at UFC 73 “Stacked” in Sacramento, Ortiz (15-5-1) landed a stint on NBC’s “The Celebrity Apprentice,” alongside KISS frontman Gene Simmons and actor Stephen Baldwin. The show is now in its third week, with Ortiz donating his earnings to the St. Jude’s Children's Hospital.

“UFC is caring so much about the brand itself,” said Ortiz. “They could care less about the fighters. Fighters are a dime a dozen. They’ll keep coming. Dana is really out for himself and the company. He doesn’t give a s--t about the fighters.”

[puremass]

He might start looking at the IFL. (international fight league) he already has a team over there and they have some good competition too.