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[MickeyKnox]

Tito: Rashad, Chuck, Rampage making millions because of me - MMA News

While former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz is no stranger to making headlines with his often controversial brand of trash-talking, it was something far different that had MMA fans buzzing earlier this week.

"People like (Rashad) Evans and 'Rampage' Jackson and Chuck Liddell – these guys are making the millions now because of me holding out. If I didn't hold out, they'd get taken advantage of. They want to be the company guy, which is cool. I'm the company guy now, and I'm very thankful for (UFC co-owners) Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta for being as giving as they were."

"'Rampage' is a guy who I've helped out a lot. When he came from PRIDE, he got the same contract I did – exactly the same contract as I did. I gave it it to him, and I told him, 'This is what I'm getting, bro. This is what you should be getting.' He did, and he got it. It's just one of those things that I've always tried to help out guys like Matt Hughes, the dirtbag, and guys like that who just hate on me – probably because either they wanted to be like me or they can't achieve as much as I have."

"Everything comes around for a reason," Ortiz said. "I battled for the last 18 months to get my contract. I raised the bar for all of the fighters, and they should be thankful. I got everything I wanted, and I'm on 'The Ultimate Fighter' again, so it seems like everything happens for a reason."

"I wanted to be successful, and sometimes people get things given to them," Ortiz said. "Sometimes people work hard to make them happen. Chuck has always had things given to him, and I work hard to make it happen. If it wasn't for my hard work and dedication, I would have been forgotten about."

"When you have a billion-dollar company against you, and they're trying to smash you as much as possible – you look over the last six years, and all you see is me getting punched, me getting slammed, me getting thrown, me getting hit, how much I suck. Now, all of a sudden, you look around and see me punching people, kicking people. It's all politics, man. You have to play within the lines."

"I'm honest," Ortiz said. "I'm respectful, and when it's fight time, yeah, I'm disrespectful with the guys I'm fighting, but it's no more than that. It's not meant to be any more than that, ever.

"I respect my fans, and you see me. I'll sit there, and I'll take every autograph, every picture. I remember back in the day when I would go to Mandalay Bay and put my back to a wall and sit there for five hours and sign until the last person was there. I've always done that, and I'll always do that. It's about the fans. If it wasn't for the fans, you'd just be another fighter. I've understood that. They love me, they hate me – as long as they care."

Tito running his mouth again, self boasting...nothing new.

[KnowledgeKnown]

Oh jeez, I didn't get past the Matt Hughes wanting to be like him or accomplish what he has. Uh, his reign was way more impressive than Tito's. This is just silly. I do like Tito. I've heard nothing but good things from people who have actually met him. They all say he's a really nice guy who seems to appreciate his fans. I believe this to be strictly for publicity. No one's talking about him, and he needs that for marketing purposes.

[Pasha K]

So now he is the poor victim that loves his fans, and that everyone hates him because they are jealous?

[MMA4EVERRR]

man i must be illiterate cuz all i was able to read was "blah blah blah"

Next we will hear him say hes responsible for Fedor's success

[GL Jeff]

For all the people who posted before me,you must not have read the same article.because it didnt say Hughes wanted to be like him, or that he is a victim of anything.He stated that he was one of the first fighters to hold out for a better contract, and helped pave the way for better wages. And hes right, he was the first highly paid fighter around, he was the UFC poster boy. I like Tito, he gripes, but who dosent.

[KnowledgeKnown]

Originally Posted by GL Jeff

For all the people who posted before me,you must not have read the same article.because it didnt say Hughes wanted to be like him, or that he is a victim of anything.He stated that he was one of the first fighters to hold out for a better contract, and helped pave the way for better wages. And hes right, he was the first highly paid fighter around, he was the UFC poster boy. I like Tito, he gripes, but who dosent.

" I've always tried to help out guys like Matt Hughes, the dirtbag, and guys like that who just hate on me – probably because either they wanted to be like me or they can't achieve as much as I have."

I'm sorry I must have mis read this. What does that insinuate? There is no other way to read that statement. Did you skip that part of it?

[The_Mab69]

Tito is a living legend, everyone respects what he has accomplished for the sport. He was the face of the sport back in the day, he has always brought controversy which created exposure for an unknown sport at the time, I remember seeing him and Shamrock go at it on Best Damn, and I hope he can rise up and get the title again, but he should've won that griffin fight, I see him beating chuck this time as well.

[GL Jeff]

Originally Posted by KnowledgeKnown

" I've always tried to help out guys like Matt Hughes, the dirtbag, and guys like that who just hate on me – probably because either they wanted to be like me or they can't achieve as much as I have."

I'm sorry I must have mis read this. What does that insinuate? There is no other way to read that statement. Did you skip that part of it?

And guys like that. Not him per say.I dont think he was saying Hughes wanted to be like him,but other people that used his road for their own needs. But I could see how he was saying Hughes also,I apologize.

[MickeyKnox]

People who think Tito is going to beat Chuck the 3rd time around are CRAZY. Tito is getting KO'd worse then the 1st or 2nd time he did.

[KnowledgeKnown]

Originally Posted by DayneFS

People who think Tito is going to beat Chuck the 3rd time around are CRAZY. Tito is getting KO'd worse then the 1st or 2nd time he did.

You might be right, but I wouldn't be surprised if Tito wins. Honestly I don't care about this fight. I think it's strange how the UFC is dabbling in the old timers sort of fights. Coleman and Randy, they wanted Tito and Coleman, Tito and Chuck, Hughes and Renzo. I know these guys aren't "old" per se but for the fight game they've all seemed to have lost a step, so they're pitting them against each other.

Is there really a fan interest in these fights. I honestly feel the Randy vs Coleman fight should be free on spike. It's the worst headliner i've seen in a long time. Maybe i'll get my grandma to fight my wife's grandma and put it on ppv.

Then again, maybe it's only me who has no desire to see this nonsense.