Donald Trump: I Like Tito Ortiz, He Likes Me and He'd Love to Be With Affliction

When Donald Trump signed on to be a business partner in the Affliction mixed martial arts promotion, it wasn't his money he was bringing to the promotion so much as his name. Trump is well known and well connected, and having him on board helps Affliction make deals.

In a call today to promote the upcoming Affliction: Banned show, Trump told me he hopes to make a big deal with one of the biggest free agents in MMA, Tito Ortiz:

"I think Tito's terrific," Trump said. "He was on The Apprentice. ... He was not only a nice guy -- and that's very different than he is in the ring -- he was really very talented and very smart. I think he likes me a lot and I like him a lot. That doesn't mean he's signed a contract, but I think Tito would love to be with us."

Ortiz, whose contract with UFC expired after his loss to Lyoto Machida at UFC 84, is expected to sign with some promotion in time to fight by the end of 2008. EliteXC boss Gary Shaw told me last month that he'd like to sign Ortiz, so it's clear that even though Dana White is out of the Tito business, Tito is going to have options.