Tito Ortiz has once again spoken candidly about his long and contentious relationship with UFC president Dana White. The former UFC light heavyweight champion recently stated that he believes the promotion is deliberately distancing itself from him because he spent years publicly advocating for better fighter compensation. Ortiz made these remarks during an interview with Greta’s Wire ahead of the UFC White House event scheduled for June 14.
Ortiz’s Hopes for Invitation Dashed
Ortiz admitted that he had hoped to receive an invitation to the historic UFC card, given his role in helping build the company during its early years. However, after not hearing from the UFC, the Hall of Famer said he was not surprised. According to Ortiz, his outspoken views on fighter salaries damaged his relationship with White many years ago. Speaking openly during the interview, Ortiz said, “They just don’t invite me because I was one of the outspoken guys that, at the time when I competed, thought fighters should get paid a little bit more money.”
Roots of the Disagreement
Ortiz explained that his disagreements with Dana White began when he started questioning fighter contracts during his championship run. Over time, Ortiz even took to managing himself during negotiations, which reportedly created additional friction between the two parties. White had previously claimed that Ortiz demanded more money than agreed upon in his contract and sometimes threatened to pull out of fights.
Despite the ongoing tension, Ortiz still believes his role in UFC history cannot be overlooked. During the interview, he said, “UFC can’t erase me, but at the same time, I don’t want to be erased. I worked so hard to make the sport almost what it is.” Ortiz also highlighted the UFC’s financial growth while discussing fighter pay. He mentioned the company’s multibillion-dollar deals and argued that longtime fighters should not face financial struggles after retirement. Ortiz emphasized that fighters give their bodies and health to the sport for years and deserve long-term support.
Anderson Silva Joins the Fray
The situation escalated further when former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva also responded to Dana White this week. In an interview with Rolling Stone, White claimed that some retired fighters become resentful toward him after leaving the promotion. He included Silva among those names and alleged that the Brazilian ended his UFC run on an “eight or nine fight losing streak.”
Silva quickly fired back on Instagram, writing in Portuguese, “I’ve been out of the organization for many years already, but apparently neither the current fighters nor the bald guy himself can forget my accomplishments.” The UFC legend also corrected White’s statement about his record, pointing out that he actually lost seven of his last nine UFC fights, not eight or nine. Silva added, “Deep down, the bald guy knows that with me there was no whining, everybody got beat up, and I saved the promotion more than once.”
Frustration Lingers
Even years after retiring, both Ortiz and Silva clearly still feel frustrated about how their UFC careers and legacies are discussed publicly. Their recent comments underscore the ongoing tensions between the promotion and its former stars, particularly regarding fighter pay and respect for their contributions.
