Tito's a ****ing idiot. From what I understand: White used to manage Tito and Chuck before he became president of the UFC and before Zuffa purchased it. When White became President Tito started pulling his best "Jan Brady" impression and acting like an attention-deprived *****.
Well, White always has a 'beef' with the guys who make it to the point they are recognised outside of the UFC - the crossover, famous guys like Couture and Ortiz won't be bullied and put their lives on the line for the monkeyfeed most MMA fighters do.
Tito was a ***** who refused to fight Chuck when he was the champ. Chuck is the most famous fighter in the UFC.. and he doesn't seem to have a problem with Dana.
It seems Ortiz has that effect on alot of people. I dont think Couture, Liddell or Shamrock liked him too much either. I remember Ortiz bringing Couture a walking cain, and saying he was going to retire him. Coutre spanked Ortiz's ass during the fight to embarrass him. Tito and Shamrock really dont like each other. I doubt Liddell thinks too much of Ortiz either, they were getting into it before the fight.
Tito getting into Rashad Evans face during a UFC event, in the crowd. Recorded by a fan. Tito just has a way with people. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xq1bCjeNGg&feature=related
That because chuck is a yes man. "Yes sir anything you say sir." Thats the type of fighter Dana likes.
There's a lot of comments on this thread, but the truth hasn't come out yet. The problem came from Tito feeling like he wasn't being offered enough money to defend his belt against Chuck. Liddell was the legitimate contender and it was a true super fight in the making. Even the most meager of super fights in boxing manages to pull in at least a million dollar payday for the fighters. Contrast this with what Tito Ortiz was making. Ortiz was the number one draw in mixed-martial-arts and the UFC brand at the time. HIs fights with both Shamrock brothers helped propel him to superstardom at the MMA level. Ortiz' contract guaranteed him forty thousand to defend his belt - with a bonus of thirty thousand more if he wins. So, basically, you're talking about Tito making no more than seventy thousand for a super fight match up against the number one contender. It's a literal attempt at outright extortion on the part of Dana White, the Fertitas, and the UFC. Contrast this with the contract given to returning UFC fighter Tank Abbott. Although Abbott had a losing record in the UFC, he did have a considerable fan base - but not on the level of his former protege who had long since surpassed him in terms of skill and accomplishments - Tito Ortiz. The UFC gave Tank Abbott a three fight contract with a guarantee of one hundred thousand paid to Tank for each fight. So, Dana White felt that a three fight deal with Tank Abbott for a total of three hundred thousand dollars - win, lose, or draw, was worth more than a fight between Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell. So Tito did not fight in the UFC for a long time, leading to Randy Couture's acension as champion - and Ortiz' eventual return. So, it all came from a dispute over money and if you ask me, Tito was right to hold out for more money. These UFC guys haven't learned from the hard lessons of boxing promotions. They aren't getting paid a fraction of what they should be.
