Dana White: Tito Ortiz next fight in the UFC a ‘possibility’
By: MMAmania
Dana White may not be out of the Tito Ortiz business after all.
While nothing is official at this time, and despite a “welcome back Tito” message on White’s Twitter account earlier this afternoon, “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” could “possibly” return to the Octagon sometime soon.
White clarified the situation, sort of, on ESPN 1100’s Radiothon just a few minutes ago.
Here’s a snip:
“Tito and I have been talking, and we’ve been trying to see if we can figure things out,. It’s a possibility…. I’ve said many times Tito and I have issues. We both need to grow up.”
White and Ortiz began to mend fences at the fan expo on UFC 100 weekend, which was another surprising twist in their tumultuous relationship. It appears now that both parties may have put their prides aside to once again make money together.
Lots of it.
Ortiz — one of the most recognizable and controversial faces in the sport — has been a part of several of the top-grossing pay-per-view (PPV) events ever for the promotion. All of his professional fights, 22, have come under the UFC banner in a career that dates back to 1997.
He has three wins, two defeats and one draw since he returned to action in 2006 from a brief hiatus. And those three victories have come at the expense of a past-his-prime, Ken Shamrock (twice), and a controversial split decision over Forrest Griffin.
His last fight was a unanimous decision loss to current 205-pound light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida at UFC 84: “Ill Will” back in May 2008.
Ortiz has blamed nagging back injuries, which he recently underwent major spinal fusion surgery to correct, as the reason for his most recent lackluster performances.
http://mmamania.com/2009/07/24/dana-whi ... ssibility/
