Will Tito Ortiz Spearhead a UFC Invasion of Mexico?

by Kid Nate on Jul 31, 2009 6:22 PM EDT in MMA News

3776345198_ea47d2ed3b_medium Among the many ~~consolation prizes~~ items announced on today's Dana White press call, was the much telegraphed news that Tito Oritz would be coming back to the UFC. He'll likely face Mark Coleman at UFC 105.

MMA Mania summarizes the wanderings of the UFC's prodigal son:

He spent his time on the sidelines "searching for a record contract" while flirting with a variety of promotions, including Elite XC, Strikeforce and Affliction MMA, where he did a guest commentating spot at January’s "Day of Reckoning."

While he speaks highly of Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, Ortiz told the media that his decision to return to the UFC was based on the level of competition — something he didn’t feel Renato Sobral or Frank Shamrock offered him in San Jose.

More importantly, Tito might be the man to headline the UFC's first-ever live event to be held in Mexico. I've blogged recently about the UFC's plans for the Mexican market and this UFC press release talks up the success of UFC 100 on Mexican free TV:

UFC 100’s broadcast on Channel 9 garnered a peak IPOBE rating of 13.30, which surpassed that of a boxing event and soccer match also airing at the same time.

"We definitely knew that the Mexican people were hungry for the UFC," said Lorenzo Fertitta, Chairman and CEO of UFC. "We paved the way with the WEC, which was getting a great response in Mexico, and we knew that once you put this program on free TV, it would work."

It would be very fitting if Tito Ortiz, the fighter who carried the UFC on his back during the "dark ages" when they couldn't even get on PPV and who headlined many of the key events on their road to popularity from 2003 to 2006 were to spearhead their efforts in a new international market. Viva Tito!

Tweet Comment 26 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Does this mean Tito will finally learn to speak Spanish? I wonder if his Spanish would be as compelling to listen to as his English.

Make it happen, Tito!

I specializes in grammar fail.

by a tommy point on Jul 31, 2009 6:16 PM EDT reply actions

How would he pronounce Fee-yoh-dohr in Spanish? Cuz we learned that he sure as hell can’t pronounce it in English?

by argyle on Jul 31, 2009 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Ortiz is as Mexican as Taco Bell

by mthel on Jul 31, 2009 6:17 PM EDT reply actions

Miguel Torres would be a better “spearhead”. ehh

by FredPancake on Jul 31, 2009 6:24 PM EDT reply actions

Roger Huerta

'Ello G'vnor!

by IHateMMA on Jul 31, 2009 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions

True

If he actually wanted to fight anymore.

by FredPancake on Jul 31, 2009 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Cain Velasquez

The UFC can put a lot of fighters of Mexican decent in the card. Maybe a few Mexican MMA fighters. Mexicans don’t regard American – Mexicans as part of their own, though. So you’ll have to make them happy by putting some of their own against some Americans.

'Ello G'vnor!

by IHateMMA on Jul 31, 2009 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions

See:

JCC vs DLH

BOOSH

by Farthammer on Jul 31, 2009 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Don’t forget about Escudero.

When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift

by Derek Suboticki on Jul 31, 2009 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Like this?

We paved the way with the WEC

-Lorenzo Fertitta

Shameless self-promotion! http://twitter.com/scb0212
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by Scott C. Broussard on Jul 31, 2009 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Efrain Esqudero(spelling?) would be another.

by FredPancake on Jul 31, 2009 6:33 PM EDT reply actions

He's actually Mexican.

'Ello G'vnor!

by IHateMMA on Jul 31, 2009 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Love him or Hate him

Tito Ortiz was the face of the UFC when i got back into ultimate fighting many years ago. He was a dominating force in his division. Alot of new fans who only know the post Liddell Tito, i am sure will fill this comments section with alot of hate but the man has always proven himself to be a charismatic and game opponent.

Bloody Elbow Pound-for-Pound the Best in Ultimate Fighting (UFC) Commentary, News and Community

by ronniebonnie on Jul 31, 2009 6:52 PM EDT reply actions

mexican mma

Won’t be as compelling without huerta. With tito, cain, efrain, and Roger that would be 4 fights that could break the bank in Mexico.

Huerta would be stupid to stop with the ufc. He is very marketable and has lots of potential. Imagine If he beats maynard and won 1 or 2 more fights and Diego won the lw title? Mexican ppv Diego vs Huerts.

"What do you want from me?..... A Slap?"

by xtremecouture on Jul 31, 2009 7:00 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

That’s probably why he’s leaving, after he got dominated by Florian he realized a) the UFC was done babying him and b) he can’t beat the best in the division. I think it was Kid Nate who said he saw Huerta heading to Bellator and that makes perfect sense in that he could still make good money and not have to face nearly as good competition.

I don’t think they’re actually going to let him kill me... And if he does kills me, book sales will really go up. Boom…win-win, bitch.- Forrest Griffin on Anderson Silva

by ufc4 on Jul 31, 2009 7:45 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

and c) he didn’t want to fuck that pretty, Hollywood ready face up.

When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift

by Derek Suboticki on Jul 31, 2009 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions

A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.

by iiowyn on Jul 31, 2009 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Just wondering, how many viewers does 13.30 rating equal too?

by bigislandboi808 on Jul 31, 2009 7:01 PM EDT reply actions

Don’t know, but people here said the UFC raked in 25 million viewers. So taht might be it.

'Ello G'vnor!

by IHateMMA on Jul 31, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m really happy that Tito is back. If you click on my name and look at my profile I have this under my About Me section.

Tito Ortiz is the 1st fighter to make me feel like MMA was just as big and exciting as Boxing. Love him or hate him IMO he raised MMA to another level. Major props to him for that.

It’s just the truth. Sure there’s this thing with Mexicans not accepting ODLH and all that but when it got down to it those people still ordered the fights. My uncles first hated on him but would always order De La Hoyas fights. Tito, Huerta (hopefully), Cain, Diego, Buentello, Efrain Escudero are just a few names that could be on the first ever UFC PPV in Mexico. I wouldn’t be surprised if UFC picked up several guys from Bellator as well. MMA has been beating boxing in ratings over in Mexico lately which is awesome. I hope they go crazy for MMA just like us.

Believe it or not Lesnar is huge in Mexico. Mexicans love them some WWE! Who knows maybe Cain and Brock eventually meet and they do it over there.

GSP: I pulled my groin.

Greg Jackson: I don't care Georges! HIT HIM WITH YOUR GROIN!

by xFenixKnightx on Jul 31, 2009 7:36 PM EDT reply actions