Quotes by Tito Ortiz

Once someone watches me compete, I'm part of them forever.

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.

In the UFC, at first we were like a family, but then it turned corporate. In Bellator, we're family.

I have a great surgeon that put me together.

Scott Coker's been amazing to work with.

Retiring as the champion and being the only athlete to ever do that, I think goals like that are set in the mind. I want to make that happen.

After having my first surgery in 2003, having an ACL replacement, I never thought I'd be able to compete again.

Prepare for the worst so the best will happen.

My number one goal was to be the best fighter ever in the Octagon. I think I can hold hands with many who can stake that claim.

I'm invested in the UFC, but I'm invested in myself at the same time, showing everyone that I am one of the greatest.

When I get in that cage and fight, that's not me. It's somebody else. It's like a light switch that turns on.

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 don't have to prove anything else in this MMA world.

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.

My kids come first on all measures.

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 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.

I know who I am. I'm a former world champion.

If I wanted to do a fixed fight, I'd be doing WWE.

I'm an entertainer. I love to fight.

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.

At the end of the day, us fighters, all we have is respect.

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.

I've struggled to get respect and dignity for my profession, and I do it in the way I lead my life as a fighter and as a human being.

I don't wanna fight a street fighter.

They eat clean, they don't drink sodas, they don't have fast food. My kids eat like pro athletes.

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?'

Anything with Tito Ortiz's name on it will always involve a bit of controversy.

Fighting is my livelihood, and jeopardizing my body without a full understanding of conditions doesn't make any sense. No professional fighter will go into a risky match without a contract.

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 did what Jon 'Bones' Jones couldn't do, and that was finish Bader in a minute and fifty-six seconds.

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'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 was smart enough to save my money. I invest. The biggest thing you can invest is something they don't have a lot of, is land. I own a lot of it.

I'm a person that's been fueled on emotions. And any fan who's ever been around any of my fights, I'm the only fighter who'd go out on the concourse to sign autographs the day of the fight. Because I'm in love with my fans.

I fought with integrity and heart and determination like no fighter has ever done.

Wrestling encompasses hard work, dedication, sacrifice, and determination -- there's just nothing like it in any sport.

What I tell ya? Don't blink! It's just gonna be over quick.

Wrestling has always been a dominating force in UFC.

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 want to fight the top guys in the world. Guys who have names. Guys who I don't mind trying to make a mark off of me by them trying to win, which, they're gonna become losers.

Chuck Liddell's a puppet.

I punish the guy until the referee pulls me off or until he says 'no more,' and he taps. I don't want to leave any doubt in his mind that he had a chance.

Everybody wants to fight me so they can be a superstar.

I squeeze like an anaconda.

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.

At the end of the day, when I step in that cage, I'm there to fight for my name. It's not about money; it's not about who's gonna win or lose. It's about me winning. That's all that matters.

Why not be a man and fight like a man.

I love doing films, action films, anything I can get into that is produced at a high level, really use my skills.

The fight game and the commentary game are two different worlds.

It gets to the point where, by the time you're underneath the arena lights and you're staring at your opponent, that's the best time. That's the best feeling in the world, because all the other stuff goes away.

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.

I am one of the guys who really capitalized on the ground-and-pound game and am very vicious on the ground. I let go of a lot of elbows and cause a lot of damage.

Tito Ortiz vs. Chuck Liddell III, the fight that all the fans wanted to see for the longest time and never got a chance to. I never got a fair shake when I was with the UFC against Chuck, any of the times I ever fought against him.

I look at guys like -- guys like Floyd Mayweather making $42 million dollars for a pay-per-view -- what am I doing differently from what this guy's doing?

I'm inspired to inspire others.

Just believe, it will happen.

Life's too short to hate.

UFC, take me off your list. Take me off your Hall of Fame.

I found a wonderful woman, a great girl and I am excited to have her as a part of my life.

I want to show what hard work and dedication and sacrifice can achieve.

Michael Bisping is a really tough competitor and a hard worker.

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.

I did my job to make my name a household name.

The UFC makes about 99 percent of the money, and the rest goes to the fighters. That one percent ain't nothing compared to what they make on merchandising, on pay-per-view, and everything else they make around the world.

We are the modern day gladiators.

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.'

I've been through every surgery that any athlete has ever been through, and I've prevailed through it.

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.

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.

I'm a big juicer, and I believe in juicing most vegetables and fruit, which I do twice a day.

I cheated on my first wife, Kristin. I thought I was untouchable. How could I be that inconsiderate to someone?

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 was always a huge WWF wrestling fan, and Hulk Hogan was one of my biggest heroes.

I'm a Trump guy. I wasn't in the beginning, of course. I'm Mexican, when he said we need to take all the Mexicans out of United States... well, good luck on that one. They'll find a way to get back here anyways.

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'm really articulate when I do my thing -- when I speak on the mic, when I do interviews. I'm a colorful personality.