Elite XC not shy about interest in Tito Ortiz

file this article under 'well d'uh'

any MMA org would love to have a well known fighter like Tito who is a pretty good self and fight promoter. Tito Ortiz on CBS.. that would draw a crowd I'm sure.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>During a Thursday conference call to promote the debut of CBS’ “Saturday Night Fights” on May 31, EliteXC Live Events President Gary Shaw did not shy away from any questions regarding former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz.

Ortiz will become a restricted free agent following his May 24 bout at UFC 84 against undefeated Brazilian fighter Lyoto Machida. Due to the animosity that exists between Ortiz and UFC President Dana White, many pundits have speculated that UFC 84 will be Ortiz’s final fight with the UFC and that he will be seeking a new promotion to call home.

Shaw made it clear Thursday that he wouldn’t mind if that home was EliteXC.

“I happen to be a huge fan of his (Ortiz) on a personal level,” Shaw responded when asked about his feelings towards Ortiz.

At another point in the press conference, Shaw expounded further on his desire to work with Ortiz in the future.

“Of all my years in the fight game, I know one thing that I could see, touch, smell and feel, and that is a star and a superstar,” he said. “Every time I see Tito Ortiz, he wreaks of stardom. I think I can even better his days in the UFC. I think I can reincarnate Ortiz. He is a talented fighter and has all the mechanisms that you need to make someone a superstar.”

The former boxing regulator-turned-promoter already has one matchup in mind for the “Huntington Beach Bad Boy.”

“Can you imagine Tito Ortiz and Kimbo (Slice) in the cage together one day?,” Shaw asked. “My door is open. I hope that he’s able to negotiate one day because I would never interfere with a contract. I hope he’s sitting right next to me, not across from my desk, but right with me.”</div>

 

more like lay and pray his was to a victory but a W is a W I suppose.

 

meh, that would take a lot of undermining if the refs are responsible to the acthletic commission and not the UFC.

 

here's Dana's thoughts on Tito and him possibly (re: most likely) leaving the UFC

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>As Tito Ortiz's final fight under Ultimate Fighting Championship contract draws nearer, he's been vocal to the media about his plans to leave the mixed martial arts promotion following his UFC 84 bout with Lyoto Machida. In a pre-fight media conference call, UFC president Dana White addressed the former light heavyweight champion’s future.

"I think Tito has made it very clear when he talks to everybody what his future in the UFC is," said White. "The UFC is where the best fighters in the world fight, and you put all the animosity aside between me and him, and, realistically, when was the last significant fight that Tito Ortiz won?"

"He beat Ken Shamrock three times. He fought Rashad Evans to a draw. He fought Forrest Griffin when Forrest just came out of The Ultimate Fighter and barely beat him. A lot of people think Forrest won that fight. In my opinion, the last significant fight that Tito Ortiz won was when he beat Vitor Belfort. "

Ortiz recently told MMAWeekly Radio, "I really think it’s time for me to move on,” and the UFC president agrees.

"To be honest with you, I have no interest whatsoever of being in the Tito Oritz business anymore," stated White. "I put up with his (expletive) when he was a good fighter. He's not anymore, and I'm just done.

"Tito Ortiz is a liar. Tito Ortiz is selfish. Tito always gets out there and says, 'I'm doing this for the troops, and I'm doing this for, you know? He's always doing it for everybody other than Tito. The only one Tito cares about is Tito. Tito doesn't give a (expletive) about anybody but himself. He's proven that to me a million times... He's just never been a guy that we've been able to do business with. Tito Ortiz was never a partner to anybody other than to himself."

Even if his does stand by his contention that he will leave the promotion following UFC 84, Ortiz has a lot on the line when he steps in the Octagon with Lyoto Machida. White commented, "Saturday night is going to be a big night for Tito."

If Ortiz wins, he leaves MMA's biggest promotion on a high-note, and becomes an even more valuable commodity to other organizations. If he loses, he walks away from the UFC with a dent in his image.

Commenting on Ortiz's fight with Machida, White said, "I don't win or lose fights for anybody. I sit there, and I watch, and I see what happens, and we go from there. So never at any time am I sitting there hoping this guy loses, but I can tell you what, I never wanted to see somebody get their ass kicked worse than I want to see Tito get his ass kicked on Saturday night."</div>