Tito Ortiz details conversation with Dana White after retirement bout in Bellator

Tito Ortiz and Dana White’s public feud has been well documented throughout the years, but the relationship has been better as of late. As the UFC Hall-of-Famer ended his career with a win over Chael Sonnen on Bellator 170, his former manager and promoter in White still made sure to send his regards after.

“(Dana) actually sent my girlfriend a text message, because she used to work for the UFC and they always talk back and forth,” Ortiz told ESPN. “When I first signed with Bellator, Dana sent me focus mitts with his face on it, saying ‘if this doesn’t motivate you, nothing will’. So I guess that’s our love-hate relationship we got towards each other.

“I guess thanks Dana for the text saying ‘That’s the way you should go out, on top,’” he said.

White and Ortiz had a long and rocky relationship for years, and in 2007, they were even scheduled to face off in a boxing match. As Ortiz’s fighting career comes to a close almost a decade later, things seem to have been patched up.

“I love the guy man, he’s my first manager,” Ortiz said. “I always just fought for what I wanted for my entire career. No hard feelings. I’ve grown up a lot in the last 4 years. I’ve done a lot of things business-wise looking for my future. I’ve made some mistakes before, and I’m never making those mistakes again.”