Tito wants $350,000 per fight

Underground
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From MMAWEEKLY:

What's the strategy here?

by Ivan Trembow

Tito Ortiz' management team previously indicated that Ortiz would be looking for a huge, unprecedented salary now that he is a free agent, and they have now clarified that statement with an exact number.

Ortiz' agent/manager previously said in an interview with Sherdog's Josh Gross that Ortiz was looking to make "at least $300,000" per fight, but never specified an exact amount. Now, in a recent interview with MaxFighting's Benny Henderson, Jr., Ortiz' agent has said that the amount they're looking for is $350,000 per fight, and further added that they feel Ortiz is worth the money. This would be guaranteed money just for fighting, with no win bonus.

As I wrote in the UFC 51 salaries article, this is a ridiculous demand that I don't believe the Ortiz camp expects the UFC to take seriously. It can be argued that Ortiz is the fourth-biggest star in the UFC, but it would be extremely hard to suggest that he's in the top three. Ken Shamrock has been the UFC's box office mega-star and biggest PPV draw since his return to the company. Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell are the two central figures on The Ultimate Fighter, one of this TV season's biggest break-out hit series on all of cable television. More people have seen The Ultimate Fighter than have seen all of Ortiz' fights combined.

So, with all of that said, and with Randy Couture as the current highest-paid fighter in the UFC with a guaranteed amount per fight of $150,000 (with a $75,000 win bonus), it would be ridiculous for Tito Ortiz to suggest that he should get paid $200,000 guaranteed per fight. It would be comical for Ortiz to suggest that he should get paid $300,000 guaranteed per fight. But with the demand at $350,000 guaranteed per fight being so drastically far away from reality, one has to wonder if the Ortiz camp legitimately thinks they might get that much money, or whether they just want to be able to save face while walking away from the UFC.

When Pride signed Rulon Gardner last year as a huge name free agent who was an Olympic Gold Medalist, it was a three-fight deal for $200,000 per fight. So, while Pride and K-1 are much bigger companies with much deeper pockets than the UFC, it's still unlikely that they would be willing to pay Ortiz $350,000 in guaranteed money per fight. Time will tell whether or not this is the case, but there appears to be a significant possibility that Tito Ortiz is pricing himself out of the sport.

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He's crazy...

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Totally nuts - he won't come near making that kind of loot, so we've probably seen the last of Tito in the UFC.

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Well, he knows that UFC doesn't have that kind of dough for one fighter.

Is this a negotiating tool?

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I think there are a shitload of fighters that deserve that much, unfortunately nobody can possibly pay that much per fight. I'm a huge Tito fan but I'm sorry if he loses again his marketability is gonna go to shit.

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He may not get it, but give him props for pushing the envelope. Like it or hate it, it is guys like Tito that will push salaries higher for fighter's accross the board, even the Couture's.

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Tito is going to end up being one of the UFC's blacklisted fighters along with fighters like Horn and Sherk. The blond hair and bad boy attitude along with a boring lay and pray style will not go over in Japan. Tito's management better make a reasonable request to the UFC or Tito's career is going to be over.

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In addition, does anyone on here honestly believe that the UFC is still losing money? There revenue streams have increased, ticket prices were just recently increased, DVD's and posters, etc. On top of that, Tito does do a great deal of marketing for the sport, and is very recognizable to many.

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If he starts out with a rediculous price like $350,000 and works the bargaining down to say $150,000 or even 100K, he will get exactly what he really wants.

This is just step one in his attempt to be guaranteed six figures per fight.

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Tito is at the end of the line in his career. Despite the "win" over Belfort, he is pretty much done with fighting. He wants to be an actor (as if) and this is his way of pricing himself out of the game so he can save face and go out "on top" (as if, again).

If he goes to Pride, we may see the the first death in a major MMA event.

-km

p.s. I am not a Tito basher, he is a good fighter, I just think all signs lead to him being done with MMA at this point...

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Hes just copying Rickson who has done this for years

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This is just nuts! He is a fighter that does not seem to want to fight. I can understand that he is trying to make a living but I think that this does not pass the reality test.

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he just needs a couple whupins in pride to clear his head

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They can get 10 solid exciting fighters or they can get one boring Tito. I know which one I would rather have for 350k.

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When Pride signed Rulon Gardner last year as a huge name free agent who was an Olympic Gold Medalist, it was a three-fight deal for $200,000 per fight.

Bad comparison IMO... What exactly are they comparing? Wrestling ability? Tito is a much bigger draw to MMA compared to Rulon. In fact Tito is a much better draw in UFC compared to Cotoure, so even that was a poor example. Tito is legitimately the 2nd biggest star, and draw in UFC next to Ken. There is no denying that. Look at the numbers of buys, and revenue from ppv's, comparing the main events Tito has headlined, compared to other fighters (other than Ken). IMO, Tito is making a smart move here, and hes likely to get 250,000 and maybe more from pride for a 2 fight deal.

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OMG the Tito jockriding is out of control on thie board.

lol... U think Im a tito jock rider? Where exactly do you come up with the logic of even having Rulon in the same category (draw wise) as Tito? Hes had one fight to date, in a long lay and pray fight in pride, which bored the hell out of everyone. He has NO look, NO marketibility....the guy is an AWESOME wrestler and he may get the hang of MMA in the future, but if you think Rulon is a top draw in any organization, youre out of your mind.

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The UFC should counter with their proposal as a take it or leave it. The last time Tito's contract was up, he held the cards. This time he is not in demand as he once was. If he refuses their offer, let him go try Pride. There are more charismatic wrestlers out there.

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nobody will pay tito that

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Do you think DSE is full of idiots? Don't you think they know what their fans want? If Tito was such a huge draw like you claim, they would have signed already.

I dont think they are full of idiots. But I think they have made MANY stupid mistakes in the past, just like Dana and the UFC has. They havent signed Tito yet because of several factors. For one, Pride is in Japan. Japanese fans may be aware of some fighters from UFC, but they still do not have the same popularity recognition, as their own marquee fighters. So the hesitation on the signing is due to that, and other factors. Matchmakers, like Takada, also have to find out where Tito would fall in their organization. What fights could they make from it? Get it? MMA is not just a rinky dink business, like how it is played out in your mind. It isnt as simple as sign Tito to fight Quentin. Its alot more complex than that....unfortunately, you seem to have dumbed it down to simple logic, in your mind. (im not saying you are dumb).

Rulon is a huge draw, becaues he an olympian.

Bro, before you just spit out your thinking, go do some research. Pride lost BIG to K1 on their NYE show. Ive seen the numbers, we all saw the numbers, and K1 clearly defeated pride in ratings that night. So obviously he is not as huge of a draw as you think. So where exactly are you drawing this logic from? Tito has consistantly proven himself to be a huge draw because we can two proven facts.

  1. We can look at the money generated from ticket sales that Tito has headlined.

  2. We can look at the ppv sales of UFC events that Tito has headlined.

He has consistantly proven himself to be a bigger draw than Chuck, and Cotoure. He is only smaller to Ken Shamrock at this point (in recent UFC history).

Unlike the UFC, Pride and its fans care little if the fighter is ripped and has a nice body.

LMAO!! RIIIIIIGHT! THe japanese are infatuated with Giant freak shows. Why else do they have Akebono, and Giant Silva in their shows time and time again? Why do they market Randleman as donkey kong, and Quentin as Junk Yard Dog? If you think that Pride doesnt care about body and looks, you're off here too.

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wow