Bio
Tito Ortiz is an American mixed martial artist competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship who was the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, from April 14, 2000 to September 26, 2003.
Ortiz emerged as one of the sport's biggest stars, becoming the biggest pay-per-view draw of 2006 and appearing on the covers of various magazines.
Ortiz is the CEO of the Punishment Athletics clothing and mixed martial arts equipment line.
In 1997, still in college and an amateur, Tito competed for no money in his first mixed martial arts bout, subduing his opponent in the first round with a barrage of punches.
At 6'2" and 205 pounds, he quickly established a reputation as a scrappy and impudent competitor who grinds his opponents into total submission.
He quickly adopted a policy of donning t-shirts after each victory with insolent legends that insulted his opponents.
Following a bruising fight against legendary UFC competitor Guy Metzger, Ortiz donned a shirt that read "Gay Mezger Is My Bitch," then raised an insulting finger gesture at a cluster of his opponent's fans.
These colourful deeds were to become his trademark, adding to his popularity but also engendering loathing by the fans of his opponents.
In 1999 Ortiz battled the super-aggressive Wanderlei ("The Axe Murderer") Silva for the Ultimate Fighting Championship Light Heavyweight title and went on to defend the belt five times in the following three years, defeating all contenders, including his arch-rival, Ken ("Lion's Den") Shamrock, before he went on a hiatus from the UFC.
In the ensuing years Ortiz became a part of the professional wrestling scene when he signed with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a guest referee and helped promote several celebrated championship matches.
In addition to his mixed martial arts career Ortiz has had roles in several feature films, most notably Cradle 2 the Grave and the controversial Turkish film Valley of the Wolves: Iraq. He also has developed a clothing line he calls Team Punishment.
Ortiz has also attracted public attention recently for his romantic relationship with adult crossover star Jenna Jameson. The Boston Herald called them "the new power couple."
Jenna has helped him by modeling for the Team Punishment clothing line, appearing in print ads with Ortiz in nothing but camouflage.
He appeared as a contestant on The Celebrity Apprentice in 2008.