Tito will be be going back to the Middle East for a third time to visit our troops. This is something that is very important for Tito. He said “This is an honorable opportunity for me to support those who are fighting for our country”

Grand Opening Friday January 30th. Only at Hooters Casino, Las Vegas.

Since the Randy Couture fight I have had a lower back problems. Each fight it got worse. I have made it though the last 8 fight by physical therapy, methylprednisolone pills, and spinal injections for last 3 fights. I fought injured time and time again for the fans. After the Rashad fight I told the fight doctor I was having excruciating back pain. It was so bad that my security had to carry me from the octagon to my dressing room to the press conference and back. This continued for the next 4 months. If anyone has had back pain you know the pain I deal with, it got to be so bad that I was barely able to get up off the couch or drive for longer than 20 minutes. Now try to imagine training for 8 hours a day and having to fight formidable opponents like Rashad, and Machida. From November of 07 to May of 08 I did 2 separate injections and worked my ass off in physical therapy so I was able to fight Machida. During the second round of the fight I felt the same pain as I did in the Rashad fight. After the fight, I told the fight doctor I was having back pain. It never got better. I didn’t want to fall into the terrible life of having to take painkillers in order to be capable of making it through training. I simply refuse to fall into that trap. I started to look into other ways to help my back pain. I have done everything from rehab to injections to make it better and nothing has succeeded.

I was made aware that Nate Quarry had the same problem as me and got surgery. He fought 9 months after surgery and did it with power and quickness. I started to look for doctors to see how they could help me. I researched 4 different back doctors and all of their techniques seemed brutal and risky. I saw that Nate was operated on by NuVasive out of San Diego. I spent a day at the office going over all the positives and negatives. All the positives out weighed the negatives. The doctor that I went with was Dr. William Smith.

The kicker to this whole story is that the UFC denied my claim for coverage of my debilitating back injury OBVIOUSLY acquired in the octagon.

This was the last kick in the gut made by the UFC. After all of the battling, and allegiance I pledged to them, they now have stooped so low as to not give me the medical care I so desperately needed. I am not surprised at there last effort to hurt me, so I took it upon myself to get myself my surgery in hopes that my fight career will jump back on track and I will be back to the explosive monster I always have been.

On October 6th 2008 my extensive back surgery was performed in Las Vegas by Dr. Smith. It lasted 3 hours, due to the doctors careful hand and my densely muscled core that had to be separated in order to get to my spine.

My doctor was impressed with my quick recovery, and an hour after surgery I was on my feet and walking to the car.

This is now the beginning of a new era. There will never be a question again about where my heart lies… and that is with my fans. I am focused on a quick recovery, and I will be back in the cage with a renewed outlook on fighting. I am a new Tito Ortiz… one with a bright fight future…one ready to power through the light heavyweight class and get the belt around my waist again. Mark my words… the best is yet to come.

Tito “The Huntington Beach Badboy” Ortiz

July 29, 2008 - Scottsdale, AZ – Mixed martial arts champ Tito Ortiz put the headlock on Arizona blood shortages this past weekend when he hosted the Ultimate Blood Drive III at Metrocenter. Thanks to a great response from fight fans, enthusiastic blood donors and the media, more than 350 people from across Arizona and surrounding states volunteered to roll up their sleeves this past Saturday. Each donor was thanked in person by Ortiz and provided an autographed photo. Gabriel Ortiz (no relation), a high school physical education teacher and baseball coach from Yuma, was the lucky donor to win the raffle for lunch with the champ. Several other donors won apparel from his Punishment Athletics clothing line. But the ultimate winners were the Arizona hospital patients who will receive the 263 pints of blood donated at the event.

Ortiz may be known as “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy,” but much of his time and energy outside the fighting arena is dedicated to charitable activities. Through the “Ultimate Blood Drive III,” he helped United Blood Services knock out the traditional decline in donations during the toughest month of the summer to meet patient needs. Many regular donors take off for cooler destinations this time of year, reducing the available donor pool by as much as 25%. Ortiz challenged his fans to step up and save lives. “Some fans look up to me as a hero, but here’s a chance for everyone to be real heroes by giving blood,” he said. “Remember, if you fight Tito Ortiz, you lose. But we can all be winners for Arizona hospital patients!”

About Tito Ortiz
Jacob “Tito” Ortiz is a legendary MMA fighter. His career has been mostly within the Ultimate Fighting Championship organization where he was Light-Heavyweight champion and became one of the UFC’s shining stars. He is admired as both a colorful showman and talented athlete. Tito’s acting ability and charisma have earned him roles in several films and TV series, including NBC’s “The Celebrity Apprentice” and the CBS TV series “NUMB3RS.” Ortiz is also a passionate supporter of U.S. soldiers. He recently traveled to the Persian Gulf under the sponsorship of the USO to meet with troops on duty there. Additionally, he spends time giving motivational talks to high school students and works with teen groups. For more information, visit www.titoortiz.com.

About United Blood Services

United Blood Services has been Arizona’s non-profit community blood provider since 1943 and serves patients in 50 Arizona hospitals. The UBS network is one of the nation’s oldest and largest non-profit blood service organizations, and is a founding member of America’s Blood Centers and the American Association of Blood Banks. For more information on how to “Be a Hero,” please call 1-877-448-GIVE (4483) or visit www.UnitedBloodServices.org/Arizona.