This is gonna hurt: UFC serves Tito Ortiz with cease and desist for new book
by MMAmania.com on Jun 4, 2008 11:53 PM EDT
84 comments
The long arm of Zuffa law apparently extends to estranged former champions who write books and wear their belts on the covers.
Tito Ortiz -- who just satisfied the final fight on his contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) -- has been served with a cease and desist because his recently released autobiography, "This is Gonna Hurt," violates the intellectual property rights of the mixed martial arts promotion, according to MMAPayout.com.
"The Huntington Beach Bad Boy," according to the report, needed to get the stamp of approval from the UFC to sport the belt on the cover of the book. And he apparently did not get the green light or overlooked the clause in his contract.
Regardless, the move is just the latest salvo in an ongoing feud between the fighter an organization. Ortiz and UFC President Dana White have an epic, long-running distaste for one another.
This is certainly not going to help the situation.
Ortiz will soon be a free agent and has expressed his intentions of seeking greener pastures (literally) with an organization that can promote him properly, as well as be respectful and professional.
Even if he does it appears that Ortiz can't break free from the UFC's Kung Fu grip ... for now.
He defeated Wanderlei Silva via unanimous decision to earn the vacant light heavyweight title at UFC 25: "Ultimate Japan 3" back in 2000. Ortiz defended the 205-pound belt five times during a three-year span until he lost it to Randy Couture via unanimous decision at UFC 44: "Undisputed" in 2003.
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I don’t like Tito so I think this is funny, petty on the UFC’s part but funny none the less.
by Jigga4713 on Jun 5, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
LOL, but he’s really smart, so smart his contract says he can fight Dana, but he doesn’t, and says he needs permission to use the pictures of THEIR belt, he doesn’t get it! start reprinting covers at your cost you genious!!
by kevin on Jun 5, 2008 5:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
im glad you replied early on this post kev, it saves me alot of time. ditto!
by b.w. on Jun 5, 2008 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol, I honestly try to read all the way down, but John, vilolent mike and the other relevant guys, that I respect usually are towards the top! The comments sometimes get worse as you go down, or are the same. Some of these guys might as well cut and paste my comments onto their name!!
by kevin on Jun 5, 2008 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I try to keep my work towards the top of the thread since the bottom comments are often overlooked.
by the way, DREAM 5 just got even better because Akiyama is scheduled to appear on the card…no opponent has been named yet but he is HATED in Japan, so I expect them to match him up against a tough opponent because they want to see him loose in Japan.
Also can anyone tell me why Rampage had a training session at Extreme Couture? Forrest trains there so why would they accomodate Rampage? If you want to see the video for Rampage’s extreme couture training session, head over to dreamfighters.com
by john on Jun 5, 2008 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kevin, just so you know, I am a very smart guy….My girlfriend is also very smart… Did I mention how smart I was? lol
by john on Jun 5, 2008 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah, I know she is John, but she doesn’t yalk much when I’m in philly..lol
hey have a great birthday saturday!!
by kevin on Jun 5, 2008 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
wow. its a lovefest in here.
do you guys need a room together?
by OJR on Jun 5, 2008 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
this is just real petty on the part of the UFC.
by dakilla on Jun 5, 2008 12:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Well this was kind of stupid on Tito’s part. Nobody even remembers him as a UFC Champion, just a cry baby who couldn’t cut it in the UFC anymore.
It’s all good though, if the UFC sues his pants off he can always pimp his girl out to get some more bread.
by jimmy_dean on Jun 5, 2008 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why? If you actually love MMA, give me ONE, just ONE legitimate reason, why you hate him.
by chefdaddy on Jun 5, 2008 1:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
why do you have to like Dana to be an MMA fan? Is that a new rule?
by darlyn on Jun 5, 2008 3:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
At the very least you should respect what he’s done for the sport. And I notice you didn’t give me a reason.
by chefdaddy on Jun 5, 2008 8:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He didn’t do whatever it took to sign fedor and just in general lets his personality get in the way of contracts.
by Nick J on Jun 5, 2008 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
To sign Fedor? Are you serious? If you think that’s all Dana’s fault, then you missed out on all the facts.
by chefdaddy on Jun 5, 2008 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
there are other reasons to hate the guy, he’s just an arrogant person who doesnt think anyone can compete with his organization. fact is he would much rather be involved with boxing than mma, but wont admit it. he got lucky that tuf and spike saved the ufc b/c if it wasnt for that show, the ufc wouldnt be around. dana just found rich friends and basically had nothing to lose b/c it wasnt his $$$ he was spending. he’s done great things for the sport but at some point u gotta be humble and not a total jackoff. he wants to be recognized as the face of the sport not his fighters, plain and simple.
by bobby o'shea on Jun 5, 2008 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
cause i’m sure this is all Dana, and not the Zuffa lawyers
by funkmunkee on Jun 5, 2008 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Isnt that the truth… lol. I really do think dana deep down inside cant live without tito. “im not in the tito business anymore” LAME!!! This is so ridiculously stupid for zuffa and dana king etc to file legal action over. Yes, mmazing… we know its zuffa whos taking legal action, “not dana” lol but i just cant help but think that dana had the lawyers working overtime to see if theres anything they can find to bring tito down with! And because we all know how dana king thinks, behaves and reacts to situtations by now, im sure most would agree probably agree that he had a hand in some of this… i wonder who he will find to be his nemesis now….
so the list goes on guys barnett, lindland, tito, randy, fedor, kimbo etc …how many guys must this dana king hold childlike grudges against???
by blah on Jun 5, 2008 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I will admit, the grudges are very unproffesional of Dana….Its a shame that the UFC didnt sign Barnett.
Barnett vs. Nogueira 3 would have been awesome.
by john on Jun 5, 2008 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I still don’t see many legit reasons. so he didn’t sign Fedor for a mil and a half… he’d be paying a guy who hasn’t had a top 10 fight in a while to risk losing right away and squanderring his marketability. You’ve gotta get this from a business perspective. How would Dana look if he started sending his toughest fighters to take on Affliction, EXC, Dream. He’d look like a bully. He has a stacked LW division, a stacked WW division, a stacked MW division and a chaotic LHW division. Then there is the WEC with the lightning fast Uriah and Torres. All of the guys who couldn’t quite cut it in the UFC are getting a chance to fight against lesser opponents in the WEC and make a come back to the UFC. Man that is good marketing. How does getting rid of a fighter like Ortiz hurt the business. Eventually Ortiz will get exposed and all he does is talk smack about how the UFC is, no matter what he isn’t happy. Wait till he goes over to Affliction and loses a fight or two, you’ll see he’ll be talking trash to the owners of Affliction. Randy is demanding more money than the guy who beat him down twice, the only other guy who was getting paid more than him. Then he was mad that Dana was unable to sign a guy who flaked on quite a few deals before he landed at Affliction. I think personally unless Dana paid Fedor his retirement fund for fighting Randy he wouldn’t have done it because of the risk of exposure to being shown as not the best anymore. There is an employee perspective (the fighters) and a owners perspective (Zuffa). I don’t mean to be a pain about it but please can someone stay and fight their point. Stop being an “elusive” blogger I’m here to knock out your perspective>KO
by Smokes on Jun 5, 2008 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i’m assuming it’s already been printed, otherwise just take off the belt and put a different cover on it.
by Phil Baloni on Jun 5, 2008 12:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
As long as they have the anonymity of the internet of course.
by Adam on Jun 5, 2008 3:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
hahaha.. everyone just hates EVERYONE!
hahaha.. everyone just hates EVERYONE!would be great to get a copy of that book!
by boardRIDER on Jun 5, 2008 12:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’ve got a copy of the book and it’s not all it’s hyped up to be. He tells of his screwed up childhood, but there’s nothing about the street fight where he allegedly was knocked out, or the problems between he and Chuck Liddell. I was disappointed.
I’m surprised at these comments, everyone acts like they don’t know this book has been out for awhile now.
by Brian on Jun 5, 2008 7:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for the insight. I was thinking about buying it but now I am not so sure…
by OJR on Jun 5, 2008 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah man definetly, I actually didn’t know it had been out for awhile. Sounds like Tito is good at spin control. He’ll protect his image but will trash everyone elses in the process. Thats too bad he can’t be straight about his past. I am sure though that Dana would do the same thing with his own biography. I think Tito and Dana are way to similar I just like Dana more.
by Smokes on Jun 5, 2008 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can the ufc just not respect what Tito has done for them
by dana's my bitch on Jun 5, 2008 1:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Is that ORTIZ08BABY!!!! Has someone changed their name??
by Nick J on Jun 5, 2008 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
LOL! What has he done for the UFC. The last time I checked it was all about what could the UFC do for him. You can’t even call Tito 1 dimensional anymore because the last time I checked the last person that he put some vicious ground and pound on was a forty something year old Shamrock. He will end up at Elite XC with all of the other clowns.
by jimmy_dean on Jun 5, 2008 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t like Tito, but after all he’s done for the UFC, they won’t let their image on his book…
..absolutely disgraceful.
by Jedi-Guard on Jun 5, 2008 1:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Mma is about fighting not writing books.. ;]
by Mma Fighter on Jun 5, 2008 1:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE IN ROLLING STONE it sheds much light on DANA WHITE AND his evil ways both dana and tito did not have fathers and dana’s mom will not talk to dan for over 4-6 years cuz she thinks he’s a prick!!!!
so says rolling stone that dana is more interested in his brand, (ufc) 3 letters needed to spell F.U.C.K.) than he is in growing /supporting the sport of mma.
DANA needs to grow up he’s tearing himself down
by GORANDY on Jun 5, 2008 1:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
dude i seriuosly think you are mark david chapman to dana’s john lennon. someone should inform the fbi about you. i read the WHOLE article, it puts a positive spin on dana, but did show he’s not perfect.
by b.w. on Jun 5, 2008 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I get such a kick out of this guy. I think it’s Gary Shaw, and he thinks with the name gorandy, he may be able to sign him. No one here has ever bashed elite or anyone else any more than the UFC! This is the same tool who said mania is just trying to make money off of us. How? I’m on here every day, and I think John is the only guy that would buy a dvd off of mania. My accounts are all in order, so how are they taking my money? I think you’re from cali right? I’ll challenge you to a Kimbo style beat down, loser leaves the site…no response is what I’ll get!!
by kevin on Jun 5, 2008 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So effin’ petty, sadly that’s exactly what I expect out Dana though.
by Scott on Jun 5, 2008 1:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Tito’s gonna tell more lies and try to instigate arguments again. He always tries to bring in other fighters into his arguments to make it seem like he’s right. I hate this guy. He needs to shut up and try to start his own fight promotion. Then he’ll see he can’t pay all his fighters a million bucks a fight and show that Dana’s right. He’ll find out fast it’s not an easy job.
by RiverHorror on Jun 5, 2008 2:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
ok riverhorror, just stop.. Tito is telling the truth and everybody knows that, dont try to come and say something else… and this whole thing is ridiculous they are showing no respect to Tito at all, and the whole zuffa thing is starting to get embarrasing!
by RoB on Jun 5, 2008 3:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just like when everyone assumed Couture was telling the truth and all fault fell to Dana and the UFC?
by chefdaddy on Jun 5, 2008 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Look what the UFC is doing to Couture and he is one of the most liked and respected guys around. What did Tito think was gonna happen when he wears Dana is my bitch shirt and talks shit on the UFC and on Dana, etc, etc////
Tito talking about starting a rival company and going neck to neck with the UFC. WTF is wrong with Ortiz? He doesnt realize that the UFC and the Fertitta’s have the money and Dana has the drive to fuck up Tito’s shit for a long, long time. It is going to be funny to see what Tito got himself into. He wants to go head to head….He better think about a little more before he loses his ass in a battle with the UFC for years
by fightfan on Jun 5, 2008 2:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i agree w/ your jacob assessment, but randy did it to himself.
by b.w. on Jun 5, 2008 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
YO ((adamg))!!!!!
Are you “BJ PENN MMA” from Sherdog?
by pUniSHment on Jun 5, 2008 3:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Freedom of Speech has nothing to do with Tito wearing the “UFC’s belt” around his waist. It is theri belt and therfore theri product.
Granted, it is petty but they are looking to hurt Tito in anyway they can because of him running his mouth.
Now as far as Dana goes, all of you must be stupid if you don’t realize that Dana can’t file a lawsuit as Zuffa unless he gets the brothers ok…it is their company and he needs the ok for lawsuits.
Granted, Dana can be a dick but so can Tito and Dana has done quite a bit for mma.
by StayDown on Jun 5, 2008 7:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Although he probably consulted with the Fertitas, as CEO, he can file the lawsuit.
by chefdaddy on Jun 5, 2008 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He WON the belt, its his….whats the big deal? The UFC just needs to let this one go…Tito wearing the belt big F***in deal…
by Chadx23 on Jun 5, 2008 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have never really like Tito not just because of his arrogant ways, but I was not a fan of his fighting style. But he has definately helped in making the UFC what it is today and he has generated a lot of money for them. He has earned the right to wear that belt on the cover of hi book, he fought hard for it. Tito is an @sshole, but Dana is a bigger one. That really is petty. This is just another reason for me to want another organization to be able to compete with the UFC. Not only would it be good for MMA fans who get a chance to see decent fighters who do not want bend over and touch there toes for the UFC, but it also means that the UFC will not have such a tight grip on the balls of some of these fighters.It just aint right.
by Ade on Jun 5, 2008 5:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It wouldn’t be a big deal if the book wasn’t already printed and out. He’s already doing book signings for the thing. I don’t hate Dana—but this is about as weak as it gets. What’s the argument here? So the UFC gets even more exposure.
by chuckjbt on Jun 5, 2008 8:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tito should of known better..with his years under the UFC banner to do a stunt like he did..I say " Who cares "..there is enough to go around..this publicly can hurt Zuffa and Dana then it will hurt Tito. It’s Danaism.
by PhilQNY on Jun 5, 2008 7:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He is such a putz, what an ass, he knew the clause, he didnt care, he was thinking that everyone who seen the cover would think he was the champ, wtf I don’t think that he really know’s how many fan’s are out there that know, what is what. I hate his gut’s, he’s a dumb ass, he’s like a baby in boxing short’s if you ask me. Blue back ground on his book, what is he trying to be like Chuck, give it up Tito you will never be like Chuck, he’s all heart and your all mouth. And I enjoyed every second of Chuck kicking your white trash ass, you could see the anger in his eye’s, I loved it. :)
by bisnatch on Jun 5, 2008 8:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Chuck kicking Tito’s “white trash ass”. Er wrong way round me thinks.
by Nick J on Jun 5, 2008 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that pic is old. that’s when he was a UFC champ back then as you can see the old UFC belt he’s wearin.
by Ro on Jun 5, 2008 8:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Tito is so trying to be like Chuck doing this it’s not even funny, blue back ground on the cover, screw his book I wouldnt read it if you paid me too, I’d fall asleep for all of the whining in it. What Tito need’s is a wipie for his potty mouth, and a crying towel to boot! I enjoyed every second of Chuck kicking his ass! What was better was the look on Chuck’s face pounding him, Tito was lucky there was a reff there to stop Chuck and the zone. LMAO.
As for him wearing the belt, let people that don’t know of the sport think that he’s the champ, who care’s we all know who is what in this. And Tito doesnt care about rules, what baby does, he is a toddler in a grown man’s body! I say give him time out! LMAO
by bisnatch on Jun 5, 2008 8:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I have to agree with you…I think the best moment in MMA for me was seeing Chuck vs. Tito I where Chuck went into “the ZONE” and fired of about 20 shots on Tito’s face….Why could’nt he do that to Rampage? I’ve never seen Chuck go at somebody like that EVER except on Tito…
by Chadx23 on Jun 5, 2008 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I say kudos to Zuffa and its lawyers. Tito is always talking about how he’s a “business man,” but a business man should have realized that he couldn’t exploit the UFC’s property without permission—especially if it was in his contract. The “business man” should have gotten a lawyer himself. The man can’t even put together two coherent sentences in a row when speaking on television (he fills the dead space by saying “and so forth”). And this isn’t Dana, by the way. Dana runs the UFC; it sounds like the cease and desist is from Zuffa.
It’s just so funny how many people say that this is just a silly “petty” move by the UFC. Just wait until you have occasion to take legal action to protect YOUR OWN rights—I guarantee you won’t think it’s petty then.
by MMAzing on Jun 5, 2008 8:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
good call MMAzing, hit the nail on the head!
everyone assumes Dana runs everything in the UFC, he’s a figurehead in a major corporation, nonetheless backed by several wealthy investors.
by funkmunkee on Jun 5, 2008 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am going to go see Tito tonight in Cincinnati for his book signing. Pretty low by UFC.
by "Mr. NC-17" on Jun 5, 2008 8:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
This is the ufc last dying chance to use tito to help there dying company…lol..what are they gonna do without him..i thought dana wanted him gone?Thats right just hold on as long as you can dana cause when tito is gone the ufc will not be far behind…this is great I KNEW THE UFC WANTED HIM and this is because tito turned down a contract from the ‘f’ brothers…long live team punishment!
by ORTIZ!!!!!!08....BABY! on Jun 5, 2008 9:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Man, it must be a Bizzaro world you live in.
by chefdaddy on Jun 5, 2008 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Where can I get some of what you’re smoking?
by RiverHorror on Jun 5, 2008 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
UNLESS TITO ORTIZ IS A COW, I DON’T THINK HE’S “LITERALLY” SEEKING GREENER PASTURES.
by Lance @ FilmDrunk on Jun 5, 2008 9:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
LOLOL. Maybe that is the secret to having a giant head.
by ViolentMike on Jun 5, 2008 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think they airbrushed his head to look smaller in that pic.
by RiverHorror on Jun 5, 2008 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
LOL. Funny comments!
Why is Tito trying to pose as a champ? Everybody knows he is not even close to any kind of championship.
Tito signs with Affliction. I’m calling it.
by bostonmmajunkie on Jun 5, 2008 10:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The book should have been titled: “I love Tito by Tito Ortiz”
Does anyone even care about this guy anymore?
This site needs to be renamed TitoMania.com
by DubNub on Jun 5, 2008 10:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I could not agree with you more,cause he is the only fighter worth typing about,ufc will miss him ,ppv will fall close shop by years end 2010!,only if dana white is still running everyone worth watching out.
by ORTIZ!!!!!!08....BABY! on Jun 5, 2008 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m surprised Jenna wasn’t on the cover! lol
by chefdaddy on Jun 5, 2008 11:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
me too! im sure she wrote the foreword, could you imagine.
by b.w. on Jun 5, 2008 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is pretty generic business stuff guys. The logo and belt are IP of the UFC. You can use them on your book, just need approval.
It has nothing to do with Tito or Dana for fuck’s sake this is BUSINESS 101, PROTECT YOUR BRAND. If you don’t enforce your IP rights then you can lose them (look at how baseball went against fantasy websites for using their stats and stuff, they waited forever to take action and they lost in the court.)
Jens Pulver’s books have no belt on them, Chuck Liddell’s book, Randy’s books, Frank Shamrock, anybody I could think of. Michael Jordan’s books have no bulls or championship rings, Larry Bird – same thing…
basic biz shit.
by Btay on Jun 5, 2008 11:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You got it right Btay, I can’t see how people don’t understand this! Must not be too many business majors/owners on here.
by chefdaddy on Jun 5, 2008 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Contracts are made to be enforced! I wish I had the UFC’s lawyers. They’re awesome!!!!
To all the Dana haters, He has no responsibility to do anything more then maximize his profit for Zuffa. Get over it you stupid idiots. Quit trying to push stuff on him that he isn’t responsible for. He’s done more for the sport then anyone in history.
by nablur on Jun 5, 2008 11:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Dam, Big Brother just yanked on Tito’s chain again.
by Ktown on Jun 5, 2008 12:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
New update posted about the story but I don’t know if I’m allowed to post it here so I emailed it to the mmamania staff to check out.
Spelled out completely in the contracts.
by Btay on Jun 5, 2008 3:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Dana is bad ass if you ask me.. He took that sinking ship and made it into something worth watching. He’s a great business man and deserves all he gets. How could you not respect that? But there is always going to be jealousy no matter what your dealing with. This is business and no one makes it being nice..Tito’s just pissy and think he deserves everything. well tough titty my friend
by SS8 10 on Jun 5, 2008 6:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
where is the post Btay give us all a link
this is dana white’s bull s.
he said,dana that we both prob need to see a therapist apparently not!!!
DAna said tito and him would sit down and talk total danan bs
by GORANDY on Jun 5, 2008 6:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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