Tito Ortiz: Like Rome, 'cookie cutter' UFC will crumble from the inside

2015 has been a pretty good year, financially, for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

But the world's largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion has taken a few hits with popularity among ex-fighters, bitter employees stuck in purgatory, and even with some of its top talent.

According to Tito Ortiz, former friend of UFC President Dana White, the company will eventually crumble, thanks to all of the negative backlash the organiztion has received due to the Reebok deal and the more recent firing of Jacob "Stitch" Duran.

He offered up his thoughts to MMA Fighting:

"It's just a matter of time. Rome crumbles from inside and that's what they're going to do. They're going to crumble from inside. They're their worst enemies. I could just sit back and nobody is gonna talk trash about Dana, talk trash about the UFC. I'll let them do their own damage."

As far as Duran's firing, Ortiz wasn't really surprised, as he says it's pretty much standard protocol to get thrown to the wolves if you dare to speak out against UFC.

"It's sad for 'Stitch' Duran. He's a guy that's been in this business since day one and he's done a lot of great things, not only in mixed martial arts, but in professional boxing. He should be respected. It just shows, you say something against the company that's trying to monopolize everything, you get thrown to the wolves -- as I did, as many other fighters did. And that's why they left."

For Ortiz, the problems all go back to its partnership with Reebok. As the "Huntington Beach Bad Boy" sees it, his ex-employer is now a cookie cutter organization that doesn't give fans the spectacle they want to see.

He elaborates.

"I really think UFC has made it boring for MMA. You just see the same stuff. It's cookie cutter. The same stuff over and over. Now that Reebok has been a part of their sponsorship, it's cookie cutter. Bellator has taken a step forward in giving the fans what they want to see and that's exciting fights, not only in mixed martial arts and now kickboxing. They want to see the spectacle. I remember from the very beginning when I walked out at UFC 140 when we had the big lights, the flames, everything. Fans want to see entertainment. That's why they tune into professional wrestling. You get the reality with professional fighting. That's what Scott Coker is bringing with Bellator."

UFC 189 would beg to differ.

It's no surprise to hear Ortiz talk down his ex-bosses, as his rocky relationship with White has been well-publicized over the years. Putting personal feelings aside, is the former UFC light heavyweight champion on to something?

Or is this just same old, same old?