UFC President Dana White has publicly stated that he actively rooted against former UFC champions Tito Ortiz and Randy Couture due to past disputes with them, particularly over pay and contract issues, leading to strained relationships and their subsequent exclusion from the promotion.
UFC President Dana White has been involved in numerous public disputes over the years, the most notable of which involve former UFC champions Tito Ortiz and Randy Couture. These two fighters are known to have fallen out with White in different ways, warranting their names being scratched off White’s metaphorical “Christmas card list”. Ortiz, famous for his exploits in the octagon, frequently demanded better pay in the early 2000s, a turbulent period for the UFC. Couture, meanwhile, left the promotion and relinquished the heavyweight title in 2007 due to a contract disagreement.
White still seems to hold a grudge over these past confrontations. When recently questioned about any fighters he’s ever actively disliked, Ortiz was the name that immediately came to mind. Recalling the time when Ortiz and Chuck Liddell had a match, White admitted how he had been eagerly hoping for a Liddell victory. White felt that at a crucial time for both the growth of UFC and the sport, both Ortiz and Couture posed a significant risk to the company through their disruptive behaviour.
Ortiz and Couture, despite their strained relationships with White, eventually became significant figures in the UFC’s history due to their matches with Liddell. However, their disagreements over remuneration and other issues took a severe toll on their rapport with White. Presently, both fighters, who are members of the UFC Hall of Fame’s Pioneer Wing, are practically disregarded by the UFC. There was even a time when White and Ortiz were scheduled to have a boxing match, which never came to fruition due to reasons blamed on both sides. In present times, White reserves harsh criticism when Ortiz’s name is brought up.
White goes on to say, “Here’s the problem with Tito, Tito’s just a really dumb human being. He’s not intelligent at all…” He then recalled that Ortiz would pull stunts like demanding extra pay short before a fight. He went on to say that Ortiz was always ready to go for short-term gains, totally oblivious to potential long-term losses. Despite once having a close relationship, White feels that Ortiz ruined the opportunity to have a lifelong bond over trivial matters.