Report: Tito Ortiz No-Shows Affliction Press Conference
by Luke Thomas
on Aug 6, 2008 10:09 PM EDT
in News
Early reports (courtesy a SI article) were apparently a little premature:
Which is why most of the fight community tuned in to a news conference Wednesday in Las Vegas for the Oct. 11 Affliction 2 "Day of Reckoning" only to hear that the fighter would not only not be attending, but also that he has not yet been signed by the promotion.
SI.com reported Tuesday that the boisterous light heavyweight had become a free agent on Monday and was hours away from announcing a deal with Affliction, though the report was later updated to describe Ortiz’s signing as a possibility.
Legal counsel for Affliction Entertainment said Wednesday that Ortiz’s signing was only a "rumor," and that when he was released from his contractual obligations, the promotion would be interested in signing him.
So, I deserve some culpability for running with the story. But I do have to wonder what Tito and other sources told SI, which compelled them to run with it. I still believe Affliction is the best fit for Tito all things considered, but this is bizarre.
[UPDATE] by Nick Thomas:AFFLICTION PRESS CONFERENCE PART I (8/6)
AFFLICTION PRESS CONFERENCE PART II (8/6)
AFFLICTION VP TOM ATENCIO w/Cofield & Cokin (8/6)
HT: ESPN Radio 1100
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it's risky....
If tito goes to affliction and they still do bad ppv buys then his stock goes to the floor.
He’ll be worth less than half of what ufc is currently offering him.
And if that’s the case and affliction can’t get the buys by one of the most proven draws you would have to bet that affliction is done…
So unless tito get’s something astronomical upfront he would be dumb to accept it. Because he has guaranteed at least 5m plus with the UFC not to mention all the extra name recognition/ brand he would get for all his other endeavors.
Randy who?
My guess for the news story yesterday was probably tito trying to see what else he can get in the last hour from the bidders.
The best thing for the UFC would be offer him some crazy dollars but with so many stipulations he would never agree.
This way at least try to get affliction to pay even more than they anticipated.
by mmalogic on Aug 6, 2008 9:00 PM EDT 0 recs
Tito’s SAFEST bet would be to stay with the UFC. Who knows how long Affliction, Elite XC or any other org will survive. SO Far none of them have figured out how to master the business and make money. Granted Affliction has only had one show but from that show they allready lost money and need to figure ways to cut the fighter payroll and boost pay per views. Not an easy task. The UFC without a doubt has the best Light Heavyweight Divison and while Tito’s not a top LHW anymore, there are far more “BIG $” fights.
by asmiley420 on Aug 6, 2008 9:09 PM EDT 0 recs
I watched the last Affliction event and I remember hearing them saying that elbows are not allowed. Does anybody else remember that? What is Tito going to do if no elbows are allowed?
by steveoc24 on Aug 6, 2008 9:11 PM EDT 0 recs
Damn. I just had to use Tito and Affliction as an example in my Fanpost. These two entities hooking up makes so much sense. I can’t believe that SI would run with something they didn’t feel was pretty solid. I guess we’ll see. You never know with Tito.
by Cannon J on Aug 6, 2008 9:20 PM EDT 0 recs
Given Tito’s comments on the story I’d say its all but a done deal.
by smoogy on Aug 6, 2008 9:20 PM EDT 0 recs
He’s still considering other offers I’m sure. There was a story today that said he was fielding offers from Pro Elite too. There’s also the fact that the UFC has the right to match any offer. I think he’ll end up at Affliction, but who knows?
by Michael Rome on
Aug 6, 2008 9:40 PM EDT
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Hmm I looked at both of those links provided and neither appears to have the quote given by LT. Is that quote from the Wrestling Observor? If so, I would have to say its a bit curious, the SI article clearly states “as early as” the press conference they could announce it, so its not like he was ever actually scheduled to be there
by smoogy on Aug 6, 2008 9:51 PM EDT 0 recs
I still think Tito’s best bet is to get a good paycheck and get on CBS. He’ll be able to fight some easy dudes and get his name out there far more than he will at Affliction.
by Michael Rome on Aug 6, 2008 9:56 PM EDT 0 recs
True, but we’re talking about a guy who has been on the two biggest UFC PPVs ever. He is already pretty “out there” as far as most of the core buyers are concerned. I can see the logic in going to EXC, making a huge TV number and then parleying that into a big PPV, but if he goes to Affliction and pays off immediately, which he has the potential to do, he would have created an true PPV rival for the UFC overnight, and on paper I think that would be much more tempting for him.
by smoogy on
Aug 6, 2008 10:28 PM EDT
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Right, I see that, but I think he is going to hit a crushing reality when him vs. babalu doesn’t do any better than Fedor vs. Tim. To me, getting his name out there to a huge audience on CBS and then doing a PPV against Frank Shamrock makes a lot of sense because he can emerge from this whole thing as a very big name that won all of his fights. He is at a huge risk of losing to Babalu, who is not a big name and is not a PPV draw.
Whether he can pay off immediately…I don’t buy it if he’s fighting Babalu, and if it really is the biggest contract in MMA history (I highly doubt it). If it is, and he is making millions to fight, he’d have to draw 150,000-200,000 buys on his own to pay it off. I think he is tempted by competing with Dana though like you said.
by Michael Rome on
Aug 6, 2008 11:11 PM EDT
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It makes sense that Tito would play this out to the very end. You’ve got several promotions that are in uncertain positions. Playing desperate entities against one another may be the ticket for a blockbuster deal. Besides, Tito can use hard bargaining as way to further perpetuate the idea that he’s a savvy businessman.
by Cannon J on Aug 6, 2008 10:21 PM EDT 0 recs
He's already signed...
They just don’t want to get sued up the wazoo by the UFC by announcing a signing so soon after his contract expired.
by cyph on Aug 7, 2008 10:27 AM EDT 0 recs
If Tito does go to Affliction, he should move up to heavyweight and fight Fedor. That would bring in the ppv buys whether he wins or loses that fight it won’t hurt his career. He’d be safe either way it goes. Him fighting Babalu will not bring in the ppv buys.
by lovingmma25 on Aug 7, 2008 10:41 AM EDT 0 recs
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