Friday, 05 June 2009

First I would like to introduce myself. I am Jeff Gallion from MMA-KO andwould like to thank you for this opportunity, it is an honor.

MMA-KO: UFC 73 your fight with Rashad Evans ended in a draw. Even with the point deduction, many feel you did enough to win that fight. Even here at MMA-KO.

TITO: I thought so too, and I see a lot of other people saying the same exact thing. It's just one of those things man, always trying to hold me down no matter what it is. And I guess from now on I've got to knock my opponents out and not just beat by points. The next one we do is going to be a rematch I'm going to try to do more. Try to choke 'em more and knock 'em out, cause I can't leave it to the judges as I can see it.

MMA-KO: He definitely had a lot to say there at what seemed like a round 4 there at the press conference. What do you think about that?

TITO: You know I guess I must have hit him really hard, it looked like he forgot everything that happened in the fight itself. It's just one of those things, he was trying to say that I was afraid to fight when the whole time it looked like he was the one backing up. I've only got to watch the fight once so have not been able to see what I did wrong, and what I can fix for next time. It's just one of those things, its time for homework again.

MMA-KO: Even with the fight ending in a draw, is it hard to get motivated for someone that you felt you've already beaten?

TITO: I know what it feels like now.  He's not that strong and he's not that fast, his take downs are not that good at all. He's pretty easy to take down so it's just one of those things now I've got to work hard. I've just got to make sure I can do the same thing again the last fight, but make sure I get my hand is raised no matter what. It's really frustrating but to me it's for my fans that's what I've always fought for and continue fighting for. That's who I'm fighting for this fight. Rashad knows what's going to happen, he's going to have his first lose, and in my eyes I see he's already lost, and he knows he's lost already. It's just time to make it on paper the right way.

MMA-KO: Quentin Rampage Jackson is the Light Heavyweight Champion now and also a really good friend of yours. Would you fight him if Dana came to you and wanted to set that fight up?

TITO: I don't think it would really come down to Dana, I think it would have to be between me and Rampage. Us being friends I don't want to take any food out of his families mouth and vice versa and he don't ant to do the same to me. So it would have to be something we would have to talk about. I think it would be an interesting fight, it would be and exciting fight the fans would love to watch. Just one of those things, what do I do next. I think the next fight for me is Rashad and I beat him and it puts me back in the Light Heavyweight picture.

MMA-KO: We want to see you fight the best.....

TITO: I've always wanted to fight the best and I think a lot of my fans deserve that no matter what. That's why I picked Rashad as my fight back after losing to Liddell. Him being undefeated and he showed he's a good fighter. Not just one of the blown over guys from the Ultimate Fighter itself. And next time I just have to put it to him a little harder.

MMA-KO: Who would you like to fight after your fight with Rashad?

TITO: After my fight with Rashad it really does not matter, Any of the top five in the world. I want to get someone really really tough, I want someone to take me to the next step. I can't look past Rashad as the last time we fought, the next fight will be better.

MMA-KO: What is your relationship with Dana at this point?

TITO: My relationship with Dana is strictly business no more then that. I don't let it get any farther then that, then it does get personal. I have one more fight with the UFC, then my contract negotiations will be happening in the next three to four months, and I don't think I will be working with Dana. I think I will be strictly working with Lorenzo. I worked really hard to get where I'm at right now and will continue cooking no matter what. And I look at it and go, do I go to another company?, and to me, I really don't want to. I really want to stick to the UFC, and stay with the UFC and just make it a great fight when I do fight.

MMA-KO: He still owes you that boxing match are you going to do that behind closed doors or something?

TITO: I think so, it's going to happen one way or another and maybe not make a big spectacle about it but there's a lot of fans that would love to see it. But yeah maybe behind closed doors and if at the next UFC you see him with a black eye you know where it came from.

MMA-KO: So with those two fights remaining on your contract you only have one left. This is your last fight on your contract.

TITO: I'm looking forward to the rematch and that will be the last fight with UFC contract. I will be looking to renew it if they want me to and if they don't I guess I'm going to look elsewhere. Until that time comes I'm just going to be trained getting ready for my next fight.

MMA-KO: Would you consider moving up in weight and doing a rematch with Randy Couture?

TITO: Me a heavyweight it really does not sit well with me because I walk around at about 215  and Randy's about 235 and most the other guys are 245 250S so there really bigger guys. But if it did come about and I had a chance to do it, Why Not. Why not give it a try I think a lot of fans would love to see me fight Heavyweight and maybe I would be a little stronger. I wouldn't have to cut the weight itself. I'm always willing to step in and make it entertaining no matter what.

MMA-KO: Tell us about your company Punishment Athletics.

TITO: You know my clothing company Punishment Athletics actually started in 1999. It just came about, a man came up to me after one of my fights and asked if I had a Tito Ortiz T-shirt and I was like no I don't. I went home after  that event and my brother came up to me and goes HEY you punished that guy and I was like what did you say? He said you punished that guy, and I was like wow. What if I put punishment on a shirt and make some cool design, I love a fist and always punish my guys. Finished the logo and put punishment on a shirt, put it on Tito Ortiz.com and all of a sudden I started doing that and put 500 dollars into the company and turned that money around and put it back into the company and kept doing it and all of a sudden it's a multi million dollar company. And everyone that goes to Punishment.com my clothing company and checks out all the gears we've got. We have clothes for the whole family. Girls clothing, kids clothing, guys clothing, all buyer that want to get really cool stuff. I turned it from a 500 dollar company into a multi million dollar company since 1999. I work really hard and am about 90% hands on work with the company, designs, logos and stuff like that to make it really cool stuff for the fans to buy and support me for all my fights. I have a lot of fighters that represent Punishment for the fights also.

MMA-KO: You guys are everywhere. Was it your goal to go everywhere across the US?

TITO: Yeah! my goal was across the world. which we do, we sell across the world. Now we sell in China, Japan, Thailand, Australia and Europe. Everywhere we possibly can, now our step is to get as many stores as we can. Retail store and the people who are listening now, just email us here at Punishment.com and we can get it to your store as soon as possible. I just want to say I'm just wanting to build a quality clothing company with quality clothing geared for the whole family.

MMA-KO: Is there anything you would like to say in closing?

TITO: In closing I just want to thank my fans for support, and no matter what I'm in there giving my heart to entertain my fans no matter what, thanks for supporting me and my clothing company Punishment.com. Check it on-line, and stay tuned for the next beating of my next opponent. 

On behalf of MMA-KO thank you for taking time out of your schedule for this interview, I appreciated it.

TITO: Thank you much I appreciate it and I will speak to you at another time.

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