<div class="Article" style="float: left;">
<table>
<tr style="vertical-align: bottom;">
<td>
<h3><a href="/go=news.detail&gid=333382" target="_blank">
Ortiz: I begged the UFC for my job back
</a></h3>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<a href="/go=news.detail&gid=333382" ><img class="photo" src="http://img.mixedmartialarts.com/method=get&rs=63&q=75&x=7&y=6&w=310&h=165&ro=0&s=tito-ortiz-10-25-10-8-52-10-539.jpg" /></a>
<strong class="ArticleSource">[blogs.telegraph.co.uk]</strong>
<div style="clear: both; line-height: 1px;height: 1px;"> </div>
</div>
<blockquote>
Tito Ortiz has revealed to The Telegraph that he “begged the UFC for his job back” after he was jettisoned by the mixed martial arts organisation following his loss to Matt Hamill.
“Dana White and Joe Silva [the UFC's matchmaker] told me they wanted me to retire, but I knew I still had the fight inside me. I pretty much begged for my job, to show how much I want to fight, but I still have it in my heart to compete, to fight. I told them I want to still fight against the top guys, I want to put on a show.”
“I’ve just turned 36, but when they put me against the top guys, I think I can still compete.”
it's great that they gave him another shot, but is bader really a good idea for him to be facing at this stage of his career. it seems like they've progressively given him tougher opponents as he loses, usually they tend to give easier fights. bader just fought in a #1 contenders fight.
Haywood Jablowme - I like Tito and what he has done for the sport. After this loss to Bader, he needs to hang it up.
Yeah, his "leaked pics" put MMA right between MLB and the NFL. Not only is Tito delusional, but his fans seem to be as well. Tito COULD be someone considered to be a "pioneer" and "original badass" for the sport, but he panicked and started doing retarded shit to try and keep himself relevant. Fuck'em.
so much for "Dana is my bitch" haha. Poor tito, doesnt stand a chance with all that drama in his life, that kind of shit can really bring a fighter down. Most fighters are head cases as it is, add a crazy ex porn star....well you get the picture lol.
"In fairness to Ortiz, he may not have won a fight since 2006, but he fought to a draw against Rashad Evans who won the world title a couple of fights later, and in that contest, he had a point taken away harshly. There was no warning of a transgression for holding onto the cage, and he had a point taken away immediately."
Tito is the kind of fighter with a personality, a story to sell, every organisation needs that kind of fighters who will bring interest to the mainstream....I for one have always enjoyed his fights
but he needs to WIN....and Ryan Bader is not top 3...only in Tito"s head...and if Tito dun beat Bader, he has gotta retire...or move over to Strikeforce where he will easily be top 5
blueheron20816 - so much for "Dana is my bitch" haha. Poor tito, doesnt stand a chance with all that drama in his life, that kind of shit can really bring a fighter down. Most fighters are head cases as it is, add a crazy ex porn star....well you get the picture lol.
He did carry the Zuffa flag and rep MMA during the dark ages when the sport wasn't mainstream... Tito used to put butts in seats! He was at his best when he fought the Shamrocks and Lion's Den...
His series of losses as of late have all been against top shelf guys... However, no one has finished him since Chuck, am I right?
Can someone please put him out of his misery so he can go back to commentating? Seriously, he needs to retire, regardless of who he fights next, regardless if he wins or loses...
I get a little taken back when I hear people call for people like Tito to quit...
Comments like he hasn't won since 2006... simply don't hold up. He has instant name recognition - has held his own against the best in the game - and only fights like 1/year...so we are talking about 5 losses and one draw. This would be different if he wasn't the former champ, one of the most recognizable names in the sport, and only 36 years old. It's not like he is 45 and getting destroyed when he steps in the cage. He lost to Liddell, Machida (relatively close fight), Griffin (was that ever messed up), and Hamill (bad matchup to say the least).
If he wants to fight - is able to fight at a high level - and will put butts in seats - who are you to say he cannot fight? For the UFC - its a question of ROI. Will his paycheck outweigh the butts in seats... Do people want to see him? I don't think he can headline after that many losses but I know everyone wants to fight him. He is an awesome gatekeeper. Tito and Randy both fought at UFC 13!
