In a video interview we recently posted with Tito Ortiz shot this past weekend in Pittsburgh, "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" said that he is set to start his own organization, Punishment Fighting Championships, in association with Strikeforce."I'm starting my own organization also with Strikeforce called "Punishment Fighting Championships," Ortiz said. "So, you know, just not as a promoter, I'll be competing also, and bringing some other guys around and trying to create superstars."
However, when Fanhouse contacted Strikeforce director of communications Mike Afromowitz Tuesday, he made it pretty clear that no agreement is in place with Ortiz.
"I don't know anything about it," Afromowitz said.
Afromowitz doesn't strike me as the kind of person who would say one thing publicly while something completely different was going on behind the scenes. When he said that this was the first time he had ever heard of Strikeforce working with Punishment Fighting Championships, I genuinely believed him.
So why did Ortiz say this? Well, unfortunately, since leaving the UFC in May 2008, Ortiz has said a lot of things. He once said that he was close to signing with Affliction; then EliteXC; now Strikeforce. The sad thing is that, if true, this would be pretty big news, however, the MMA blogosphere didn't really pick up on it. I suppose everybody's numb to Ortiz's proclamations at this point.
Ortiz is one of the very few fighters not under contract with the UFC that can actually sell pay-per-views or spike ratings on his own. But until he is ready to resume his fighting career, I wish he would just keep his grandiose future plans for himself. I mean, we all know he's going to re-sign with the UFC anyways, right?
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Why does this guy keep trying to convince people Ortiz is going back to the UFC?
Not one other MMA site I've visited thinks when Tito fights again it'll be in the UFC, and yet when a topic about him here comes up this Helwani says he resigning with the UFC.
Either he's delusional or has information no one else does including Ortiz himself.
I've read interviews and seen press conferences with Scott Coker talking about Ortiz and how much he wants him and I think if Tito fights again it'll be in Strikeforce and I think they should spend enough to get Ortiz, and Bobby Lashley as well. If the want to expand their fanbase like they say then they need to make a splash and sign a couple big names.
https://www.punishmentathletics.com/shop/product/accessories-punishment-fight-gloves/1903?eCOMid=fbkf5qmmkc240pi677rod2v9v6
That is a pic from Tito's clothing line website of MMA gloves that say PFC on them or in other words Punishment Fighting Championship....maybe Strikeforce is keeping this under raps for now....
I think that's more a spoof of the UFC logo - note the identical font - than any real sign of a forthcoming promotion.
can this guy just sign somewhere already, this guy is so pathetic
LOL @ WHAT a joke Tito has become. Its bad enough your baby's momma is a porn star . Its funny watching him and jenna talk about how they are great business people though and then reading this and LOLing. Guess you shouldn't have bit the hand that feeds you huh tito?
"Its bad enough your baby's momma is a porn star"
What the heck does that have to do with anything? Are porn stars - or former porn stars - not entitled to have families now or something? This is a stupid comment.
But Tito does need to put up or shut up. He's talked a lot but not actually done a single thing except some colour commentary that wasn't even that good.
I doubt he'll re-sign with the UFC though. a) He hates Dana White, b) White won't pay Ortiz anywhere close to what he thinks he's worth (pretty sure the UFC is doing just fine right now) and c) he's not even a feasible competitor anymore, let alone top ten.
Oh, and don't Palace Fighting Championship already have PFC? Time for a new acronym, buddy.
http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=9087&zoneid=2
Sorry to break it to you Helwani.
Uh, sorry to break it to YOU but that's Tito talking a lot more crap without anything to back it up.
Back up what?
Do you think he's not in negotiations with Strikeforce?
Do you think that CBS isn't pushing Strikeforce hard to get a deal done because they want to get back into MMA and want Tito on a CBS event.
If you think everything he's saying is all made up and he's not in negotiations you're completely gone and just think no one cares because you obviously don't.
Oh and I'm glad you used all CAPS when spelling you I never would've known you were referring to my comments.
"If you think everything he's saying is all made up and he's not in negotiations you're completely gone and just think no one cares because you obviously don't."
Tito has been talking himself up for well over a year now - first the Affliction thing, then Elite XC, then fighting for Strikeforce, then running his own promotion jointly with Strikeforce. Strikeforce themselves are obviously bamboozled by the latest claim of a joint Strikeforce/PFC/Tito promotion, which suggests that not a whole lot is going on in that area.
You posted that link as some kind of gotcha, to prove that Tito's got something going on...but if Strikeforce themselves say "uh, what?" rather than confirming the talk or even saying "no comment at this time", it's just more of Tito being a windbag. There's no independent verification of his claims. It means nothing.
I don't have any interest in guessing as to what negotiations are in progress, but when Strikeforce themselves have no clue what Tito is talking about with his latest venture
Tito should keep his mouth shut until he has something signed. Otherwise, the emperor is still naked.
Do you think Strikeforce is going to come out publicly with details of a contract that isn't finalized?
Of course they're not,and why should Tito keep his my shut every time a story surfaces about his possible future destination it stirs interest (even from the people who claim they don't care but take the time to comment)and thats good for Tito. It shows whether people admit it or not when he does fight again they'll be watching.
For you to say "I don't have any interest in guessing as to what negotiations are in progress" seems rather odd because you sure are posting enough comments about it. You're not going to see me post comments on Brock Lesnar topics because I really don't care so I'm not going to waste time on a subject that is rather meaningless to me, but I'm not a hypocrite either.