Rumors swirling the former world champion wants to get back in the cage.
UFC president Dana White did not have much to say when asked what he thought of the talk former champion Tito Ortiz wanted to comeback to the sport.
“Who gives a s–t?” White said.
White, who at one point managed Ortiz, said the ‘Hunting Beach Bad Boy’ (16-11-1 MMA, 15-11-1 UFC) needed to get on with his life.
“Tito’s lost every fight he’s had for the last three years or something? He won one fight in the last three years against Ryan Bader,” he said.
“Tito hung in there and made some more money. He was a guy who was around in the early days. It’s time for Tito to move on.”
Ortiz and White are no strangers to conflict with each other, with contract talks, amongst several other issues, seeing the relationship become toxic.
Despite this, Ortiz was recently elected to the UFC Hall of Fame, which is in contrast to other fighters who have crossed White in the past such as Pat Miletich and Frank Shamrock.
Ortiz has taken to managing fighters in his retirement with the biggest name under his wing being rising women’s star Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino.
White added one last parting shot to his former champion, saying any talk of return to the UFC or Bellator, is motivated not by testing himself and extending his legacy.
“Tito’s going to have to do whatever Tito’s going to have to do,” White said.
“Tito is the guy who back in the early days was like, ‘I’m going to retire young from this sport. I’m going to become an actor, and my Punishment Athletics line is going through the roof. I’m not going to be that guy who hangs around the sport.’ Does anybody remember all that s–t?
“Now Tito’s like, ‘Yeah, I think I’m going to come back. I haven’t won a fight in three years, and I’m old.’ Obviously, Tito needs money. That’s the only reason he would come back.”
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