Tito Ortiz Talks “Mayhem Monkeys”, UFC 140, Canada & “The People’s Champ”
By Dave Carpinello
On his way to Las Vegas for 2011 Fighters Only World Mixed Martial Arts Award Show, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz took some time to talk to PDG about Mayhem Monkeys, UFC 140, the “People’s Champ” and fighting in Canada for the first time.
PDG: Let’s kick it off with the The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale taking place this weekend; what are your thoughts on the match-up between Michael Bisping and Jason “Mayhem” Miller?
Tito Ortiz: I think it will be a great fight, Bisping thinks he is going to walk through Mayhem but it isn’t going to happen like that. I know both fighters very well and Jason is a really good guy, one of the cool cats. I have known Bisping since season three of The Ultimate Fighter and know how much hard work and dedication that he puts into this sport. A lot of people hate him but a lot of people love him also and since I am now the “People’s Champ”, Bisping can assume the “Bad Boy” role. I don’t really have a favorite in the fight but I am definitely expecting a real good battle.
PDG: Mayhem Miller is a well known fighter among hardcore fight fans but despite his strong fight resume, a lot of the newer fans probably didn’t know that he is a top caliber fighter.
Tito Ortiz: Yeah, he was a part of Team Punishment before anyone even knew what that was and he has spent years putting in the hard work and I always told him that he needed to think outside of the box and use the different promotions to find a niche that works with his personality. Mayhem has definitely done that with his little monkey clan or whatever he calls it (Mayhem Monkeys). He has a huge fan following from his first stint in the UFC to Japan and then in Strikeforce. He has used all of his tools to become a great promoter and fighter. He is good on the ground, he is good in the stand-up game, he has good wrestling and above all he continues to improve. He is getting bigger and looks more like a man now than the kid I first met back when he was only 18. It was really good to see him use the same training and teaching as a coach on the The Ultimate Fighter that I used with him early on in his career.
PDG: Well Mayhem isn’t the only one with a big fight coming up; next weekend at UFC 140 you are fighting Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (Lil’ Nog). What are your thoughts on your opponent?
Tito Ortiz: He is a tough opponent, a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a Golden Gloves Boxing Champion. He has lost two tough fights in a row against Ryan Bader and Phil Davis and he showed problems defending against wrestling takedowns in both fights. I got Submission of the Night against Bader and Fight of the Night when I lost to Rashad Evans at UFC 133. I believe in my hands because of all the work I have put in with Jason Perillo and I will be looking for that Knockout of the Night award in this fight. I have nothing bad to say about Nogueira though because I have looked up to him and his brother Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira (Big Nog). They are great fighters and I am thankful to get the opportunity to fight him and I am looking to dominate next Saturday night in my third fight this year after coming back from two major surgeries and show people that you can come back from anything as long as your mindset is right and you set your goals high.
PDG: So how has that journey been; the surgeries, the recovery time, the losses, the doubters and everything else you have gone through the past couple of years?
Tito Ortiz: I think that the Bader fight really solidified everything for me. I have always believed in myself from when I had the neck surgery and when I lost to Matt Hamill in a fight where I just made too many mistakes including not finishing my punches. It comes down to timing and repetition in your preparation leading up a fight and that is why I am working harder than ever before to make sure that I am prepared.
There was just so much stress over the last year that was trying to keep me down and what it came down to was getting rid of the negative people in my life and surrounding myself with positive influences. I am not fighting to prove people wrong but to prove my supporters who have had my back all along right. The way I have made it through these past few years is by just being positive and that is why there is no more “Bad Boy” moniker, no more shit talking, no more attacking people just to sell a fight that my name can already sell. Now it all about fighting to the best of my abilities, respecting my opponents who are some of the best fighters in the world and reminding myself that as a UFC fighter I am also one of the best in the world.
After submitting Bader in under two minutes and coming as close as I did against Rashad, I think I am still in the mix in the UFC light heavyweight division. If anybody thinks I am past my prime, should have retired or that I am a pushover they are badly mistaken. I feel real confident with my stand-up, my wrestling and my jiu-jitsu and I have been competing in this sport for almost 15 years and nobody else has been fighting in the UFC for as long as me or has had more consecutive fights in the UFC.
PDG: How was your training camp leading up to this fight?
Tito Ortiz: Like I said earlier it all comes down to timing and repetition in your preparation leading up to a fight and that is why I working with Fabricio Werdum, Ricardo Demente and also Jason Perillo for my boxing. Werdum’s striking is almost identical to Nogueira’s, same style and combinations and he is a lot bigger at 250 pounds. So if I am able to take down Werdum with relative ease I don’t see taking down Nogueira as a problem. I have been able to stand and trade with Werdum and work the clinch with success, all of the stuff that got me to where I am at now in my career.
PDG: Before you defeated Ryan Bader at UFC 132, which was a win or go home fight for you; what was going through your head?
Tito Ortiz: I knew I was going to beat him, there was absolutely no doubt in my mind that I was going to win that fight. At all of the pre-fight interviews and press conferences I just kept telling everyone to wait until fight night and then watch how I was going to perform. I was thinking either a knockout or a submission or a long grueling fight that I would win by decision because I was ready and I was very confident. My back was against the wall and I was fighting for my family, I was fighting for my life and I was fighting for my fans. It was just one of those things in life that you overcome with hard work and determination and like I have said before, I have an angel on my shoulder and I believe that God has given me his blessing and I plan on rewarding that with even more hard work and determination. I never stopped believing in myself and I never thought that my career would end that night. I have so much support from my family, my friends and my fans, I just wanted to show them what I was capable of when my body was healthy.
PDG: Over the last couple of years the UFC has taken over PRIDE, the WEC and Strikeforce. As a long tenured employee of the Zuffa and the UFC what has stood out to you the most in regards to fighters who have come and gone and those that were able to make an impact in the UFC?
Tito Ortiz: I think the fact that the greatest fighters in the world are in the UFC and whether they came from PRIDE, Strikeforce or any other organization it gave the original UFC fighters a chance to see just how tough they really were. To see who the best fighters in the world are, and with the UFC picking up all these other companies the competition becomes that much tougher and you can see that with some of the guys who in PRIDE were very aggressive and overpowering but when they came to the UFC that changed for a lot of them. The UFC is a bigger stage than PRIDE was and it is completely different. The rules and regulations in the UFC are far different than those fighters were used to fighting back in Japan.
PDG: Were you disappointed at all about not getting the chance to fight on UFC 144 card next year in Japan?
Tito Ortiz: Not at all, I am very happy to be fighting in Toronto where I have a ton of fans. My clothing company Punishment Athletics gets immense support from the Canadian fans and so it is going to be a great opportunity for all of those fans to see me live. I won and defended my world title in Japan and I have never fought before in Canada, so I am very excited about this opportunity.
PDG: You saw how crazy those fans in Canada were when Georges St. Pierre fought Jake Shields. What kind of reaction are you expecting at UFC 140 which has a stacked card?
Tito Ortiz: I think it is going to be great with Jonny “Bones” Jones defending his world title against the former champion Lyoto Machida and like you said the whole card looks great. “Showdown Joe” Ferraro has done a great job at Rogers Sportsnet up in Canada promoting this event and I think the fans in attendance and those watching on pay-per-view are going to see a great show.
PDG: Always appreciate the time Tito; is there anything else you would like to add?
Tito Ortiz: Anytime! I just have to thank my family, my friends, my fans and everyone who helped me train for this fight and tune in next week to see a great fight!
After that interview I am a Tito fan for sure!
Awesome post.