Page 37 - Muscle & Fitness (February 2020)
P. 37
By Elizabeth Yun
ito Ortiz isn’t afraid to then to MMA training under The matchup came with
admit what drives him: the tutelage of coach Paul another level of drama for
“As a kid, I wished my Herrera, and eventually, to his the two veteran fighters. Ortiz
dad would just say, ‘Son, dedication to being a present explains, “People know I’m
C O U RT E S Y O F M O N E T H O S P R O C O N S U LT I N G ( 2 )
T I love you.’ I never had a and supportive father for his a huge supporter of Donald
father figure growing up. He own three sons. “You have to Trump, and when the idea of
chose drugs over me, and it take the time out of your day the wall came about, I was a
was sad,” the mixed martial to tell your kids, ‘I love you, I’m supporter of it, and Del Rio is
arts legend says. really proud of you.’ It’s really not a supporter of it. So Com-
F R O M L E F T : G E T T Y I M AG E S ; his parents were addicted BUILDING WALLS smack-dab on the border in
all they want to hear.”
bate Americas put this fight
During his childhood, both
Hidalgo, TX. We have different
to heroin and largely absent
His difficult upbringing also
political views, but neither of
from his life. It was his pursuit
us thinks the other is wrong,
instilled a fight in him
of acceptance that drove him—
that has made
first to his own methamphet-
amine addiction as a teenager,
Ortiz one of the
about it.”
original MMA and we have discussions
stars. He’s WORKHORSE BUSINESSMAN
most famous AND BRUISER
for his three Despite his demand-
fights with ing training schedule
fellow fighter and family life, Ortiz
Chuck “the Ice- still manages to run an
man” Liddell and apparel company, Pun-
for being the original ishment Athletics. He also
bad boy of the sport. And on produces and stars in his
Dec. 7, 2019, 22 years after his YouTube series, Tito Ortiz Un-
UFC debut, the 44-year-old caged. With the support of ath-
took to the Octagon once lete management company
again in a Combate Americas Mon Ethos, Ortiz has created a
fight against former WWE lasting brand that will endure
champ Alberto Del Rio, whom well past his MMA career.
he forced to tap out via rear “Out of every athlete I’ve ever
naked choke in the first round. worked with, no one works
harder or is more considerate
of his fans than Tito,” Mon
Ethos president and owner
David Whitaker says.
But Ortiz doesn’t plan on
leaving the Octagon anytime
soon. He’s committed to Com-
bate Americas for another two
years, and he is considering
challenging Ryan Bader—the
reigning light-heavyweight
and heavyweight champ
of Bellator MMA, whom he
submitted in 2011—for his
light-heavyweight title.
Summing up his current
state, Ortiz points to his walk-
out shirt he wore for his latest
fight: “Living the American
Dream.”
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