Tito Ortiz Joins Affliction... As Commentator

by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 17, 2008 4:52 PM EST

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz has signed on with Affliction Entertainment, although not in the capacity that most expected. He will join the "Day of Reckoning" broadcast team that is already comprised of play-by-play announcer Sean Wheelock and color commentator Jimmy Smith, according to a report by Sherdog.com.

Sources over the weekend indicated that Ortiz revealed that he was headed to Affliction, but no one at the promotion, nor Ortiz would confirm or deny such an agreement when contacted by MMAWeekly.com. It appears that those sources were correct, to a point, as he now joins the Affliction broadcast team.

The announcement regarding Ortiz was made at a press conference on Wednesday in Los Angeles. Affliction is preparing for its sophomore effort, "Day of Reckoning," on Jan. 24 in Anaheim, Calif., which is where Ortiz will assume commentating duties.

Ortiz has been out of action since leaving the Ultimate Fighting Championship following a loss to Lyoto Machida in May. He underwent back surgery on Oct. 6 and doesn't plan to be back in the ring anytime soon.

I assumed that Tito Ortiz would have been doing the same thing for EliteXC if they didn't fold. Work for them as an announcer until he can be healthy enough to fight for them. Although, this is all speculating that he will sign with Affliction in the long run, which is no guarantee.

In addition to the article, Ortiz has previously mentioned that it would take around 6 months until he fights again, which would be around April-May of next year. Although, Atencio just stated that he wouldn't be ready to fight until July.

“But he can’t even fight until July [because of recent back surgery], so at this point it doesn’t really make sense for us to talk about anything.

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Oh boy a whole PPV of Tito self-promoting during other people’s fights. I’m wondering what the extent of his back surgery was that he will be ready to fight in July?

by who me on Dec 17, 2008 5:15 PM EST reply actions

I believe it was the same operation that Nate Quarry had and he fought 9 months after his surgery.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 17, 2008 5:26 PM EST up reply actions

"I have a bulging disc between L4 and L5 and S1, so they’ve got to go in and fuse it," he said. "(It’s) the same thing that Nate Quarry got. So I get it done, and I’ll be able to wrestle the way I used to wrestle."

by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 17, 2008 5:27 PM EST up reply actions

Didn’t Nate Quarry take 15 months?

by Michael Rome on Dec 17, 2008 5:50 PM EST up reply actions

nevermind, just checked, 9 months, you’re right. Still consider me…suspicious. Do you think Tito will fight at UFC 100 in July or Affliction?

by Michael Rome on Dec 17, 2008 5:51 PM EST up reply actions

Tito will go where the money i$ at.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 17, 2008 8:44 PM EST up reply actions

Do they really think people actually want to pay to hear Tito talk? maybe he could team up with junie as well; might as well get all the dbags in there….

by Beren on Dec 18, 2008 12:00 AM EST up reply actions