Full interview here:
Tito Ortiz has been the champ before, but that isn't stopping him from helping another young fighter one day possibly reach the top.
The UFC veteran was in Edmonton yesterday coaching a four seminar for local young fighters to learn from one of mixed martial arts legends.
"I have been in this business for 10 years, but I want to come out and show these young guys how to get better," said Ortiz.
"The sport of MMA doesn't have a lot of ambassadors and I want to be one of them."
Ortiz didn't hold back for the 85 patrons who signed up for the seminar. He spent time teaching different fighting methods and techniques and he also opened up and talked about the good and bad parts of the business and how he was able to make it big. He talked about some of his previous fights as well as proper prepartion before a fight and proper nutrition.
"I want to see this sport grow and I want to see other champions. I am not going to hold onto the stuff I know."
Ortiz, 32, is a former UFC light-heavyweight champion, but lost his title to Randy Couture in 2003.
He hasn't been able to reach the pinnacle since then, but in fairness to Ortiz, he hasn't been given much of a chance from UFC president Dana White, who has almost outcast the former champ from ever getting a chance at the title.
"When I lost to Chuck Liddell I took a step down. When I fought Rashad (Evans) I thought I won the fight. It was supposed to happen again, but it ain't happening," said Ortiz, who holds a career 15-5-1 record.
"I looked at a thing on UFC.tv and it said the lightheavyweights are Rashad vs (Michael) Bisby and there were others that were contenders, but my picture wasn't on it."
"They are just trying to hold on and make sure the fighters don't get more powerful. I am going to work to get the right fights and that belt will be around my waist."
Ortiz hopes to be back in the octagon by February, hopefully taking on the winner of the Rashad, Bisby fight.
