EliteXC President Gary Shaw made it clear Thursday that he would like to bring former UFC light-heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz into EliteXC.
"I think I can reincarnate Ortiz," said Shaw. "He is a talented fighter and has all the mechanisms that you need to make someone a superstar."
Ortiz was the face of the UFC when Zuffa took over the company in 2001. But Ortiz's stock has fallen due to a pair of losses to Chuck Liddell. A draw against the emerging Rashad Evans last July didn't help Ortiz's cause either.
Ortiz, still under contract with the UFC, told NBCSports.com earlier this year that there is a "zero percent" chance he'll re-sign with the UFC as long as Dana White remains the President of the UFC.
Ortiz and White's feud almost came to blows in March 2007. The two former friends were scheduled for a sanctioned exhibition boxing bout, but Ortiz no-showed the weigh-ins because he wouldn't be getting paid for the fight.
If Ortiz stays true to his word, they'll be at least one promoter who will be more than happy to negotiate with him after his fight against Lyoto Machida on May 24 at UFC 84.
"Of all my years in the fight game," Shaw added. "I know one thing that I could see, touch, smell and feel, and that is a star and a superstar. Every time I see Tito Ortiz, he wreaks of stardom. I think I can even better his days in the UFC."
"I think I can reincarnate Ortiz," said Shaw. "He is a talented fighter and has all the mechanisms that you need to make someone a superstar."
Ortiz was the face of the UFC when Zuffa took over the company in 2001. But Ortiz's stock has fallen due to a pair of losses to Chuck Liddell. A draw against the emerging Rashad Evans last July didn't help Ortiz's cause either.
Ortiz, still under contract with the UFC, told NBCSports.com earlier this year that there is a "zero percent" chance he'll re-sign with the UFC as long as Dana White remains the President of the UFC.
Ortiz and White's feud almost came to blows in March 2007. The two former friends were scheduled for a sanctioned exhibition boxing bout, but Ortiz no-showed the weigh-ins because he wouldn't be getting paid for the fight.
If Ortiz stays true to his word, they'll be at least one promoter who will be more than happy to negotiate with him after his fight against Lyoto Machida on May 24 at UFC 84.
"Of all my years in the fight game," Shaw added. "I know one thing that I could see, touch, smell and feel, and that is a star and a superstar. Every time I see Tito Ortiz, he wreaks of stardom. I think I can even better his days in the UFC."
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