Tito Ortiz Says He'll Pass on Affliction, Fight on CBS or Showtime for Strikeforce

Another day, another interview in which the former UFC star Tito Ortiz says he's close to reaching a deal to return to MMA. This time Ortiz says he thinks he'll be fighting soon on CBS and Showtime.

"I'm looking forward to possibly signing a deal with CBS and Showtime," Ortiz said. "But as of right now we're going back and forth. I thought it was going to be Affliction, but I think I'm going to end up passing on the deal."

Although Ortiz never actually says the word "Strikeforce," only one MMA promotion has a deal with CBS and Showtime, so if Ortiz thinks he's going to be fighting on CBS and Showtime, that must mean he thinks he'll be fighting for Strikeforce.

Ortiz already had a relationship with Affliction because he worked as a commentator on Affliction's last show, but he apparently doesn't think that's going to lead to a contract in which he'll fight for Affliction.

"With Affliction, all I did was just commentating," Ortiz said. "I think I did a pretty good job."

Most fans I know disagree with that last part, but whatever: Ortiz remains a free agent, and I'm betting he will be for at least another couple months. But eventually he'll fight again, and as of right now, Strikeforce is the favorite to acquire his services.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-22-2009 @ 12:31PM

retrojoke said...

Tito used to be my favorite fighter but hes all marketing now. Hes practically a Jenna Jameson clone now. Hes only willing to impress his fans for money. He always was like that but now he isnt young and he isnt evolved. Machida was an easy fight for him but he had no fire in him,no will to win. He played womens self defense against a guy who wins by timing and evading.
Its ok, Tito is not the future of MMA but neither is Machida.

3-22-2009 @ 4:21PM

Aidan4 said...

I agree with the first half of your comment but how was Machida an easy fight for Ortiz, Machida is one of the best P4P fighters in the world. Machida is going to be the future of MMA because he is going to win the light heavyweight title in May and go on to dominate even more than he has.

3-22-2009 @ 6:33PM

Matrix said...

I also agree with the first part, the bottom line is that nobody wants to give him the money he thinks he's worth and it's probably an embarrassingly smaller amount that he's been boasting he would get since leaving the UFC.

Time is not on his side, with his injuries and lack of activity, the money is just going to get less & less.

As for Machida, that wasn't an easy match for Tito and he's not going to be an easy match for anyone else, however it's very "COMICAL" on how some people rank him at #1 at lhw and even more ridiculous that they rank him on a p4p best list. The guy has fought "NOBODY"!

4-07-2009 @ 9:32PM

Patrick said...

Absolutely retarded that you guys not acknowledge the unstoppable force that is Machida. He will destroy Evans and he will have the belt. Hasn't fought anybody? He beat Franklin, BJ Penn, Bonnar, Ortiz, Sokoudjou, and most recently Thiago Silva (in devastating fashion). None are push overs. Anderson Silva trains w/ him and has started to mimic his style. Do me a favor, actually watch him fight. Every strike, counter, takedown, and then tell me hes a nobody.

3-22-2009 @ 4:25PM

fightfan said...

Makes sense that Tito stays as far away from the best mma has to offer(ie, the UFC).....

Therefore he can convince himself that he can still fight. He will fight sub par opponents and act like he is a bad ass.

What a joke. But, I wouldnt expect anything less than him. Probably the main reason he keeps the beef with Dana & the UFC.....so he has an excuse not to go where all the top LH are at.

3-22-2009 @ 11:43PM

Angelo said...

TITO PLEASE! YOU ARE NOT A CONTENDER ANYMORE. NO WAY, ANY WAY. HOW YOU KEEP MARKETING YOURSELF AND STAYING IN THE LIME LIGHT AS MUCH AS YOU DO IS BEYOND BELIEF...BUT THAT IS NO SECRET. YOU ARE FLICKERING MOTH SOON TO BE BURNED BY THE HEAT THAT IS NO LONGER THE LIGHT THAT YOU KEEP BOUNCING AROUND IN HOPE OF GETTING A REAL CHANCE AT SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE NO CHANCE IN OBTAINING. AND WHAT IS THAT? A WORLD TITLE. KEEP PLAYING SECOND OR SHOULD I SAY SECOND THOUSAND FIDDLE TO YOUR FORMER PORN STAR WIFE... GET REAL, NO ONE GIVES A DAMN ABOUT THE BAD BOY. AND YOU KNOW THAT...HOWEVER, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. YOU GET AN "E" FOR EFFORT...AND YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB IN THE PAST. BUT THE PAST IS? NEED I SAY MORE???

3-22-2009 @ 11:34PM

XXX said...

I agree with the majority of the MMA community and MMA fans. Tito and his "INFERIORITY COMPLEX" gets in the way of a positive and forward progression that the sport needs...Listen Tito:
Jenna has retired...Please do the same...She has made a lot of money...I know her and many of the people in the BIZ...So, please just chill and be a goog little house boy and help raise your child in a really great environment. ONE that you can help not be a victom to what you and your wife have been subjected to. You're a good guy and your wife is a good woman...So move on, please....

3-23-2009 @ 12:35PM

DumboLice said...

Tito, give it up. You're the ONLY one who thinks you did a good job commentating and you're the only one who thinks you're still relevant among the top LHW MMAist in the world. Well, other than your porn star wife.

3-23-2009 @ 2:59PM

Woaw woaw slow down guys. The guy isnt championship material anymore but stop being haters. Hes a fighter and a good one that rashad couldnt knock out and that Forrest couldnt do anything about either. This guy almost ended Machida in an armbar when he finally got in contact with him.
Tito is a fighter and if Couture is still fighting then why not Tito? The guy has some fight left in him and could very well bring in some huge numbers if he were to beat say frank shamrock and a Tim silva in a freeweight matchup.