Tito Ortiz Says Next UFC Fight Will Be His Last

by Bodog Beat News Ticker  |  January 22nd, 2008

Tito Ortiz

Tito Ortiz says his fight against Lyoto Machida will be his last UFC match. (AP Images)

 

UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture (16-8-0) isn't the only fighter unhappy with the terms of his UFC contract.

Just a few short months after Couture resigned from the octagon, former light heavyweight champ Tito Ortiz (15-5-1) is speaking out and is also accusing UFC management of underpaying and mistreating the fighters.

"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," Ortiz said on Sirius' Fight Network Radio on Monday. "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."

"UFC is caring so much about the brand itself," he explained. "They could care less about the fighters. Fighters are a dime a dozen. They'll keep coming. Dana [White] is really out for himself and the company. He doesn't give a shit about the fighters."

Ortiz was expecting his next fight to be a re-match againt Rashad Evans (10-0-1), who he fought to a controversial draw in July of 2007. Instead, the UFC offered Ortiz a match against Lyoto Machida (12-0-0), the Japanese fighter from Brazil who recently caught Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (4-2-0) in a choke, and beat the Pride superstar in his octagon debut. Although the fight pits him against a fast-rising opponent, Ortiz says he was expecting something bigger and promises the fight with Machida will be his last in the UFC.

"I was expecting a bigger fight. I think the fans were expecting a bigger fight," he said. "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."

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Comments

 

  1. Posted By Seane
    February 25th, 2008 at 9:21 pm

    Tito killed Rashaad! I can't stand that little jerk! Thiago Silva will kill him. I think Tito will do much better in a different organization! He deserves better than what Zuffa offers.

  2. Posted By Josh
    February 26th, 2008 at 9:11 pm

    All the fighters deserve more than what they get, especially when you compare the money that UFC fighters get paid to what pro boxers make. It basically boils down to greed. Obviously, the UFC wants to make as much money as they can, I can't blame them for that. This may sound off the wall to some but if this trend of top fighters leaving continues, it leaves the door wide open for an upstart organization with some major $$ behind it to come in and make people forget about the UFC. Obviously it isn't going to happen anytime soon as the UFC still has alot of top talent, but it is something that I could see happening in the future.

  3. Posted By CLINTON JONKER
    July 9th, 2008 at 10:31 pm

    IM CURRENTLY IN IRAQ
    IM A SOUTH AFRICAN, AND ONE WHO WATCHES ALOT OF THE TOP FIGHTERS, BUT ILL BEAT ANYONE OF YOU UNDER 210POUNDS.UNFORTUNATELY THE CONTACTS ARE THE PROBLM, AND A CONTRCT FOR A FIGHT MUST BE MADE.IM CURRENTLY 220POUNDS 6FT AND A MIXED MARTIAL ARTIST OF BOXING/JUDO/KARATE AND AM WILLING TO TAKE ON THOSE WHO DARE TO CHALLENGE A REAL CHAMP.YOU ALL LACK THAT SOMETHING…LETS SEE WHOS GOT THE BALLS???????