Affliction Needs Tito, Tito Needs Affliction

Tito Ortiz and Affliction need each other. Tito desires to be relevant in an organization again and have a big pay day.  Affliction needs another big name to add to their growing roster to help sell pay per views.  So why haven’t they gotten a deal done yet? Let’s look at the time line:

May 24, 2008: Tito loses a unanimous decision to Lyoto Machida and fights the last fight on his UFC contract.

August 5, 2008: Sports Illustrated runs a story titled Tito Ortiz Nears Deal With Affliction

In that story Tito proclaims (about Affliction):

“It will be a ground-breaking record contract for sure, without a doubt. There’s so much money to be made right now in mixed martial arts and it’s all about the fighters trying to make that money. It’s going to be a long-term deal where I put my heart and soul into the company and help build them. That’s something I’m interested in doing. They’re going to bring me on, not just as a fighter but also doing some of the back work also.”

He was said to be at news conference the next day to announce this.  He didn’t show.

August 13, 2008:  MMAWeekly runs a story titled Tito Ortiz Actively Negotiation With Affliction.

In the story Affliction vice president Tom Atencio says of Tito:

“We’ve got a contract, and it’s just not feasible,”

“It gets back to whatever I do in business, it’s always about dollars and sense,” Atencio continued. “With some fighters it’s not, with some fighters it is. There’s just so many variables

So here we are on August 14, 2008 with no deal.  I think they both need each other to stay afloat and this deal will happen.  Here’s why:

Tito wants a boat load of money and keys to the castle.  Keep in mind he hasn’t won a fight since Ken Shamrock in October 10, 2006.  Affliction wants big names for cheap and Tito’s name is towards the top of the list.  Affliction is a start up fighting promoter who hasn’t made any money yet but has Donald Trump as an owner and possible backer.

Affliction saw a lot of buzz for their first show and had a great fight card but still lost money.  They can’t afford to pay record breaking contracts anymore (like Tim Sylvia’s $800,000 purse) but they may not be able to pass on Ortiz.  Ortiz still has a big fan base, even if they are dropping like flies because of his arrogance and lack of fights in the past 3 years.  He can still sell PPV’s and tickets.  He brings controversy but right now for Affliction that’s a good thing.  They both need each other.  I think they realize this but each has to be a little more flexible and meet in the middle.  I just hope this marriage ends better than Tito and Dana White’s.

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