For me, boxing's like checkers, and MMA's like chess - there are so many ways to win the match. It's not barbaric; it's boxing, kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, cardio and it's all reached such an amazing level. As fans learn more about the sport, they just fall in love with it.
Tito Ortiz
I've had two neck surgeries, a back surgery, three knee surgeries, eye surgery, but I keep bouncing back. I won't go away - kind of like a virus. I don't go away. I keep coming back stronger and stronger. I'm contagious.
I don't have to prove anything else in this MMA world.
Man's best friend - that's what dogs are. I have two dogs. I love and treat them like family.
Trust has always been a hard issue in my life, and when I was with the UFC, it was hard for me to trust people because it was like I was seeing lies, up to lies, up to lies.
I've been able to mature and improve my mixed martial arts game completely; I just never stop learning, and whenever I think I know enough, I just keep working and do more.
The 'Apprentice' was tough, tough work. It was all for charity, so I was thankful for the money Donald Trump gave me when I was fired.
I was always a huge WWF wrestling fan, and Hulk Hogan was one of my biggest heroes.
From a kid who didn't come from much success growing up but watched Muhammad Ali and Hulk Hogan, to where I am today... I tell kids, 'You can achieve anything you want as long as you stick with it.'
UFC, take me off your list. Take me off your Hall of Fame.
We're fighters. We go out there, and we'll open a window of opportunity, and they're only open for so long, and we have to take advantage of that time right then. When I did it, I was 30-31 years old. Maybe it was a little too late that I should have did it, but I did it right. I was okay with the money that I got, the money that I made.
I'm really articulate when I do my thing - when I speak on the mic, when I do interviews. I'm a colorful personality.
Being outspoken was important... I helped make the UFC what it is today with Chuck Liddell, Royce Gracie, and Randy Couture. Some said I was outspoken in a bad way, but I was just trying to educate the fans what being a UFC fighter is all about.
The fight game and the commentary game are two different worlds.
Chuck Liddell's a puppet.
My kids come first on all measures.
I've tasted the dirt side. I've tasted being broke. I've been in the dumps, I've lived in motels as a kid. I want a different opportunity for my children. I never want them to see those things.
Once someone watches me compete, I'm part of them forever.
I remember from the very beginning when I walked out at UFC 40, when we had the big lights, the flames, everything. Fans want to see entertainment.
Back when the UFC first started, I wanted to see what MMA was all about; at the time, I was training with Tank Abbott, and so I went to see him fight. While at the fight, I saw this guy fighting that I just crushed in high school wrestling, and I thought, 'Hey, I'm a street fighter, and I have a wrestling background,' so I gave it a shot.
Every fight is won in the gym. The hard part of our job is getting in the gym every day, six days a week.
I'm a big juicer, and I believe in juicing most vegetables and fruit, which I do twice a day.
The whole bad-boy image was for the cage, and that's it. It wasn't an act because it came from a passion for fighting.
I did what Jon 'Bones' Jones couldn't do, and that was finish Bader in a minute and fifty-six seconds.
I'm not a young kid struggling to get to the top. I've been to the top. I gotta look out for my best interests as a businessman in this fight game. At the end of the day, it is a business. I've got children to take care of; I've got bills to pay.
I went through UFC with five title defenses. Jonny 'Bones' Jones beat my record, so I'm trying to beat his record. That's my goal. That's what I want to do.
I had my first fight at UFC 13, and it was just one of those things that become second nature to me.
There was a disc and two bone spurs pressing on my spinal cord. If anyone's had spinal cord problems or disc injuries in their neck, they'd understand what I went through.
At the end of the day, us fighters, all we have is respect.
A lot of guys who I fought, they beat guys who were No. 1 contenders, and that's why I fought them.
Anything with Tito Ortiz's name on it will always involve a bit of controversy.
My biggest enemy has been my surgeries.
I do charity work for St. Jude's Children's Hospital and the USO. I made all the money I'm ever going to need - all my family is every going to need - so I try to give back to the community.
Jon Jones is a great champion, but me in my prime, I was devastating. I was vicious. Nobody could stop me. Of course I could beat him in my prime.
Shlemenko wants to make his name off of Tito Ortiz. He's not the first person ever to do this. People have been trying to use my name ever since I was the champ.
I know what it feels like to be broke and alone, and I don't ever want my loved ones to see that or know what it's like.
I want to be remembered as a fighter with integrity. A fighter who did it this way, who has respect because he wanted to push the envelope for the fighters.
When you're winning, your confidence is through the roof, but when you're losing, that self-doubt is like, 'Am I doing the right thing?'
I cheated on my first wife, Kristin. I thought I was untouchable. How could I be that inconsiderate to someone?
I'm very thankful to Bellator.
I put my heart, soul, and body into this sport.
I know who I am. I'm a former world champion.
I had little problems during high school. It seemed like I was always getting into trouble in summer, going in and out of juvenile hall.
I fought with integrity and heart and determination like no fighter has ever done.
I made the wrong decision myself in my career. I tried to battle against the system. I should have never done that, but I didn't have anybody else who showed me how to do it before. I did everything on instinct.
I have a great surgeon that put me together.
After having my first surgery in 2003, having an ACL replacement, I never thought I'd be able to compete again.
Maybe UFC and Bellator should take care of the fighters when their careers are done, as the NFL takes care of their players. Because they're making so much money off us.
People don't understand what fighters at the top have to go through. You know what, even half the fighters don't understand what the guys on top are going through. You're being pulled in so many directions. Contract negotiations, business opportunities, people come out of the woodwork, and it all happens when you're so young.
In my mind, I know I'm one of the greatest. I know other people don't think that, but in my mind, I know I'm one of the greatest.
