Ep.53 - Tito Ortiz on Chuck Liddell, the UFC, Dana White and fish

An icon of MMA and keystone to the success of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Tito Ortiz overcame a tough upbringing to not only hold a UFC belt, but build business after business through hard work and dedication.

Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/Ixs6ovUUmxg

Born to drug addicted parents, Tito Ortiz began life living in motels, cars, and other people’s garages. He started hanging out with gangs before his conscience kicked in. He ditched the life of crime to earn money fishing. 

It didn’t take long at school for physicality to get his attention. A successful school wrestling record saw him starting out as a wrestling partner for UFC fighter Tank Abbott. At the time because of his education, if Tito got paid to fight, he’d lose his scholarship. So he fought for free, twice in one night at UFC 13, beating one Wes Albritton in under a minute, before getting caught in a submission by Guy Mezger in the finals.

Tito Ortiz’s career saw him win a world title after one year of competition, before he held on to it for over four years, fighting to defend it five times.

Tito’s mixed martial arts record is a list of UFC royalty and more. With wins over Wanderlei Silva, Ken Shamrock, Vitor Belford, Forrest Griffin, Ryan Bader and more, he knows what it takes to succeed through dedication and commitment. Now set to take on Chuck Liddell, who came out of retirement to challenge Tito, he’ll have one last chance at redemption.

Away from the Octagon, Tito started Punishment Athletics clothing company in 1999. He’s also heading up Primetime 360, a fighter management company that’s doing right by athletes, with a roster including 20-1 women’s featherweight champion, Cris Cyborg.

Away from the sport, TO Auto Group – a wholesale car business, is another passion of the UFC legend’s. His goal is to change the stereotype of a used car salesman.

As if that wasn’t enough, Tito is also enthusiastic about pursuing a career in acting.

It’s dedication that’s seen him do right by himself and others, diversifying what he sets his mind to but keeping the commitment level high at all times, whether in or out of the cage.

 

Episode Highlights :

• How instinct kicks in for anyone to survive, whether that’s in a fight or making money in business. With Tito, his start was selling fish on the pier, aged nine years old.
• The importance of picking the right road when you’re faced with options. For Tito, the choices were prison, death, or where he is today.
• While passion is priority, it’s important to have an exit plan.
• How priorities and aims change, particularly when you become a parent.
• Find your metaphor for motivation, whether it’s something that happened in your past or an experience of someone else you can draw from.

  

Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with UFC light heavyweight and entrepreneur, Tito Ortiz…