It’s no secret to the mixed martial arts world that Tito Ortiz, the UFC light heavyweight champion from April 2000 to September 2003, is planning to leave the Octagon where he emerged as one of the sport’s biggest stars. With the looming inaugural of Affliction Banned, a mixed martial arts event co-promoted by the Affliction Clothing and Adrenaline MMA, word on the street is that Ortiz has been invited to join the slate.
Now, it’s official. Donald Trump, real estate tycoon and Affliction MMA investor confirmed during a press conference at Trump Tower in New York that he’s coming after the legendary UFC star.
“I’m going to ask Tito to come on board [with Affliction MMA],” Trump said of Ortiz, who allegedly forged a professional friendship with Trump as a result of his stint on Trump’s reality series The Apprentice.
As of this moment, there is no word yet if Ortiz will sign with Affliction MMA, which will take place on July 19 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, given that he has also expressed his interest to create his own mixed martial arts promotion.
Meanwhile, UFC president Dana White, who has endured a rocky relationship with Ortiz, has something colossal to reveal next week.
“There’s something no one else has heard. You have no idea some of the stuff that we have planned. I’m going to make an announcement next week that is going to blow people’s minds. That deal is done, but my employees don’t even know yet. I’m renting out a place next Thursday and I’m going to tell them. Then we’ll make the announcement later that day. It’s an indicator of where this business is going over the next five years,” he told ESPN.
UFC fans will just have to stay tuned to find out.
-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: ESPN, mmamania.com
(Image courtesy of mmamania.com)
Staff Writer, BuddyTV
