Tito Ortiz Opens up About Long-Running Feud with Dana White
Tito Ortiz has reflected on one of the most notable rivalries from his UFC career, admitting he still regrets how his relationship with Dana White deteriorated.
Tito Ortiz and Dana White once had a close relationship, with White working as Ortiz’s manager before eventually becoming one of the most powerful figures in the UFC. Their relationship later fell apart through contract disputes, public criticism, and a series of bitter exchanges that lasted for years.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Ortiz looked back on that period and accepted responsibility for some of his actions. The former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion said he has attempted to apologize for things he said and did while fighting for better financial terms during his career.
Tito Ortiz Regrets How He Handled His UFC Relationship
Ortiz acknowledged that he was young and influenced by people around him when his relationship with White began to deteriorate.
He said he borrowed some of White’s own negotiation tactics while trying to secure better pay and later realized that some of the things he said publicly went too far. Ortiz specifically pointed to wearing a controversial shirt before his fight with Lyoto Machida and several interviews in which he criticized White.
"If that bridge can ever be hashed back together between me and Dana, I would love it.”
Despite everything that happened, Ortiz said he remains grateful for the opportunities the UFC provided during his 16-year run with the promotion. He also revealed that he has tried to reach out and would welcome the chance to repair the relationship, although he does not expect White to make the first move.
Tito Ortiz Is Still Dealing With the Effects of a Serious Accident
The discussion also turned to a much more personal chapter of Ortiz’s life. Ortiz detailed the March boating accident that left him unconscious in the water after he was thrown from a moving boat. He said he suffered a concussion that lasted more than three months and later experienced severe headaches, memory problems and difficulty speaking.
Ortiz explained that there were periods when he attended events or drove to his restaurant but could not remember doing so afterward. He eventually underwent surgery for a bulging disc and said he's still dealing with some pain while working to recover.
The former champion described the experience as traumatic and said he is simply thankful to have survived.
“I’m just lucky to be alive.”
Ortiz’s comments about White show a former UFC star willing to confront past mistakes, while his account of the accident reveals the very different battle he continues to face outside the cage.
