In the 'real world' time heals all wounds. In the fight game, money has the same curative effect. This was vividly illustrated with the recent announcement that Tito Ortiz has patched things up with Dana White and will return to the UFC. Tito left the promotion over a year ago after a highly publicized split with the UFC president.
Ortiz has had several run ins with the UFC over their notoriously tight pay structure, and first left the promotion in 2005. He was back later that year for a run as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter against longtime rival Ken Shamrock. After losing to current light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida in his last UFC appearance, he left the company and bounced around in a promotional capacity. He had surgery on his back in the process, and now claims that hes back to 100%.
Tito may never regain his championship form as a fighter, but that is of minimal relevance due to one salient fact"people will pay to see him fight. Dana White evoked the same theme in his comments on Ortiz at a Friday press conference in Las Vegas:
"Tito and I have a history that everyone knows. He's still a guy that everyone wants to see fight. He said his back has healed perfectly and he's ready to take a shot at the title. He's one of those guys that people love and people love to hate. We've put all our differences aside, have squashed everything and will move forward, and Tito will retire in the UFC."
To which Ortiz responded:
"Time really cures everything. Dana was a man of his word. Dana apologized to me. We're like boyfriend and girlfriend."
Ortiz said that Dana White and UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta came to his home in Huntington Beach, California and made him the proverbial offer he couldnt refuse:
"I'm happy, I'm satisfied, You'll never hear anything about money again.
While both Ortiz and White said that he'd be back in the octagon 'ASAP, neither man gave much in the way of specifics. Sources suggest that he could debut on the UFCs New Years card against Mark Coleman. Coleman is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Stephan Bonnar at UFC 100 in mid July.
Though he may be past his prime as a fighter, Tito Ortiz is a star. Some love him, some hate him but people pay to watch him fight. That dynamic is money in the bank to a fight promoter.
Ortiz has had several run ins with the UFC over their notoriously tight pay structure, and first left the promotion in 2005. He was back later that year for a run as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter against longtime rival Ken Shamrock. After losing to current light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida in his last UFC appearance, he left the company and bounced around in a promotional capacity. He had surgery on his back in the process, and now claims that hes back to 100%.
Tito may never regain his championship form as a fighter, but that is of minimal relevance due to one salient fact"people will pay to see him fight. Dana White evoked the same theme in his comments on Ortiz at a Friday press conference in Las Vegas:
"Tito and I have a history that everyone knows. He's still a guy that everyone wants to see fight. He said his back has healed perfectly and he's ready to take a shot at the title. He's one of those guys that people love and people love to hate. We've put all our differences aside, have squashed everything and will move forward, and Tito will retire in the UFC."
To which Ortiz responded:
"Time really cures everything. Dana was a man of his word. Dana apologized to me. We're like boyfriend and girlfriend."
Ortiz said that Dana White and UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta came to his home in Huntington Beach, California and made him the proverbial offer he couldnt refuse:
"I'm happy, I'm satisfied, You'll never hear anything about money again.
While both Ortiz and White said that he'd be back in the octagon 'ASAP, neither man gave much in the way of specifics. Sources suggest that he could debut on the UFCs New Years card against Mark Coleman. Coleman is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Stephan Bonnar at UFC 100 in mid July.
Though he may be past his prime as a fighter, Tito Ortiz is a star. Some love him, some hate him but people pay to watch him fight. That dynamic is money in the bank to a fight promoter.
About the Author:
Ross Everett is a consulting handicapper for Sports-1 and an authority on sports betting . He's a well known and widely published expert sports handicapping theory, as well as stock market investing. He contributes to a number of websites providing insight on how to bet on UFC, MMA and boxing.
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