Tito Ortiz has regrets about the state of relationship with UFC CEO Dana White.
UFC Hall of Famer Ortiz and his former manager and promoter White have arguably the most notable beef in the history of MMA. In addition to decades of bad blood in the form of a fractured friendship, hostile contract negotiations and countless derogatory remarks through interviews and elsewhere, they were even scheduled to face each other in a boxing match in in March 2007.
Years later, the rivalry is largely one-sided. White appears to take great joy in taking verbal shots at Ortiz whenever the opportunity comes up, while the former UFC light heavyweight champ is largely mute. Ortiz opened up about never-ending saga during a Wednesday interview on "The Ariel Helwani
Show," and admitted he feels a lot of the blame about where things stand.
"I think about it, yeah," Ortiz told Helwani. "I've tried to reach out a few times. I've tried to do interviews and apologize and say I'm sorry for what I did. Saying the things I said about him a few times. I shouldn't have went over and above, but at the time I was a young kid and I didn't understand. Negotiations tactics that I learned from him, and I tried to use his own negotiation tactics on himself, which I shouldn't have done that. I was a man at that time that was influenced by others that I shouldn't have been influenced by. I should've just automatically done what was right. I made some bad decisions." I think wearing the t-shirt that I wore before the (Lyoto) Machida fight, I probably shouldn't have done that. A few interviews that I said some things. I probably shouldn't have done that.
"At the time I was just trying to fight for my future as a fighter. I know I'm not going to be able to compete for the rest of my life and I knew this company was going to be as big as it is now. So I was just trying to get paid a little more money. That was one of the big things that Dana always said, was, 'Don't talk bout money to the public. You shouldn't talk about money.' But to me I just want to take care of my family forever. I'm a blue collar guy now. I've got to get up and I've still got to work. I've got a little bit of an advantage of course of being Tito Ortiz and I have some amazing fans that still respect me and come to my restaurant. I still do public appearances. I still do motivational speaking. I do these things that help out because of the name of Tito Ortiz and because the UFC has given me that opportunity. But at the end of the day, I shouldn't have to do these things. I shouldn't have to worry about my bills being paid because I fought my ass for 16 years for the UFC and helped them get on the track of where they are right now."
Ortiz, 51, said he is at peace with the past. He said he never receives invitations to UFC events and was denied a single ticket request for April's UFC 327 event in Miami. Although Ortiz would jump on the chances to mend fences with White and put their difficult history to rest, it's not something he is actively pursuing or expecting to happen at any point in the future.
"I'm thankful for the opportunities they gave me throughout my career, but it's a double edged sword," Ortiz said. "I messed up. It is part of the deal. If that bridge can ever be hashed back together between me and Dana, I would love it. But I know Dana, he's not that type of guy. I know what type of guy he is, and he's not that type of guy. And it's hurtful, but it's OK. I'm thankful for my fans. My fans have never forgotten who I am, and I'm thankful for it."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Tito Ortiz wants to make peace with Dana White: 'I messed up'
