During an interview with AXS TV’s “Inside MMA,” Bellator Light Heavyweight Tito Ortiz explained why he feels UFC and Bellator should provide mental healthcare for fighters after their active fighting days are over.
Ortiz, who fights Stephan Bonnar at Bellator 131 next month, cited War Machine’s domestic abuse situation and Jason “Mayhem” Miller’s odd police standoff situation as two examples of fighters who have mental health issues that need addressed.
“Us fighters put our lives on the line to entertain the fans that watch,” Ortiz said. “Look at Jason “Mayhem” Miller [and] War Machine. I’m not defending anything they did. Everything they did was wrong in their own right, but a lot of these fighters take a lot of head trauma, head damage, as you see in professional football.”
Ortiz continued, “Maybe UFC and Bellator should take care of the fighters when their careers are done, as the NFL takes care of their players. Because they’re making so much money off us. It’s blood money. Going back to Mayhem, I think helping a guy like him is very needed.”
You can check out the Tito Ortiz interview from “Inside MMA” via the YouTube player at the top of the page.
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