It all seemed so understandable when Tito Ortiz announced his retirement last July following his 28th bout in a pro career that stretched 15 years and made him one of the most-celebrated competitors in mixed martial arts history. But he has announced his return after only a year and it’s equally understandable why he’s coming back to the cage.
A bitter separation in his personal and professional lives has forced him back to the arena from which he had left because of concerns about the physical toll it had taken on his body, in particular his back and knees.
The 38-year-old Ortiz recently received custody of the four-year-olds twins he fathered with his ex, Jenna Jameson, a former well-known professional adult film star. The two have had multiple issues in their rocky relationship and it filtered into the media. Using her Twitter account, Jameson accused Ortiz of being an addict and faking drug tests while with the UFC and posted pictures of syringes and pill bottles to back her claims. She also claimed he almost killed her.
The home that the two shared in California is now up for sale.
In a story on FOX News, Ortiz defended the allegations, claiming they were lies and that she had been an absentee mother. He said she had a sobriety problem and hoped she could overcome it and think about their kids. One of the reasons Ortiz retired was to participate in physical activities with his kids without having to worry about the toll of continuing to fight in MMA.
Ortiz also blamed Jameson for negatively impacting his career, saying he won only two of nine fights during their relationship. Ortiz won the UFC light-heavyweight championship in 2000 and defended it five times. He was literally one of the most colourful fighters of his era with his bleach blonde hair and his outrageous/outlandish comments and personality.
Following retirement, Ortiz turned to developing young amateur fighters and managing the career of Cristiane (Cyborg) Justino, the former featherweight champion with the now-defunct Strikeforce.
She returned to competition in April following a one-year suspension for testing positive for steroid use and is undefeated in MMA since 2005. Cyborg has also exchanged verbal shots with Ronda Rousey, who usurped her crown as the Queen of the Cage with the UFC, which bought Strikeforce and its roster.
Cyborg is currently fighting in the all-women’s promotion Invicta FC and Rousey is open to defending her 135-pound bantamweight title against Cyborg, who is fighting at the 145-pound featherweight limit. Cyborg says she can’t reduce her weight to 135, but if the fight ever materializes, it would be huge.
Independent of that, Ortiz has had a rocky relationship with UFC president Dana White, his onetime manager, and it appears reconciliation is highly unlikely.
The two apparently patched their differences. Certainly it seemed that way when Ortiz wanted to change his nickname from the Huntington Beach Bad Boy to the Peoples’ Champ towards the end of his career. But whatever clout Ortiz seemed to have, it was always White who called the shots.
At a media conference prior to his second-last fight, Ortiz refused to answer a question from a leading MMA journalist because he said he didn’t like him. Dressed in a dark businessman’s suit and black glasses, Ortiz looked tough and in control. But White, who is always conscious of media accessibility, forced Ortiz to answer the question.
White inducted Ortiz into the UFC Hall of Fame, but never offered him a job with the company following his retirement, something afforded to other stars such as Chuck Liddell and Matt Hughes. Ortiz may have never accepted such a position anyways considering he has always marched to the beat of his own drum.
Ortiz and White have taken verbal shots at one another, and the enmity that exists between the two is certain to escalate now that the onetime fighter has ended his retirement and signed on with Bellator MMA, the UFC’s rival.
Bellator has signed several former UFC stars as a means to grow its brand. The company has just announced it will do its first-ever pay-per-view on Nov. 2 in California, headlined by Ortiz and Quinton (Rampage) Jackson, his onetime training partner and friend. Jackson is also a former UFC star who has spewed venom about the company.
Formed in 2008 with a plan to develop its own talent and champions through a traditional tournament-style format, Bellator has started to change its ideology, partly because of a relationship with Spike TV, which is part of Viacom. Spike also broadcasts TNA Wrestling, which is incorporating some of its Bellator talent to create a crossover synergy.
Bellator offered Ortiz a two-year deal he could not refuse. He spoke highly of the UFC and its majority owners, but mentioned the differences he had with White, although he wouldn’t utter his name. Notwithstanding all the reasons he gave for retiring, in particular his concern about the physical rigors if he continued to fight, Ortiz believes he can still compete at a high level. That remains to be seen. It was certainly over for him in the UFC.
Whether or not Jameson had been the ruination of his career or he simply had reached a point of expiration, Ortiz is motivated for his return and Bellator is banking on that.
Much has happened to Ortiz since his retirement, and it wouldn’t be unreasonable to think that because of the mess in his personal life he may need a steady income. Signing on with Belabor will provide him with a healthy stipend, along with the love and respect he no longer felt with the UFC, in particular the individual who once managed him and now runs the company.
Divorces are never easy or pretty.