UFC: Tito Ortiz's Future

For three more days, Tito Ortiz is a UFC Light Heavyweight. On this Saturday, Tito will be in the cage for the final fight of his contract with the UFC.

After that? Free Agency, and with a win over Lyoto Machida, Tito will have the leverage and bargaining power.

And if Tito is successful, don't be surprised if EliteXC's President Gary Shaw is there with a contract.

Shaw, stated that he believes EliteXC can make Tito an even bigger star than he was in the UFC.

"Of all my years in the fight game, I know one thing that I could see, touch, smell and feel, and that is a star and a superstar," Shaw said during a Thursday media call. "Every time I see Tito Ortiz, he wreaks of stardom. I think I can even better his days in the UFC. I think I can reincarnate Ortiz. He is a talented fighter, and he has all the mechanisms that you need to make someone a superstar."

In 2007, Tito discussed the possibility of re-signing with the UFC but said he'd only negotiate with UFC owners Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta.

During the UFC's own media call on Thursday, UFC President Dana White took some parting shots.

"Tito is a f***ing idiot," White said. "He's one of the dumbest human beings I've ever met. Everything that comes out of his mouth makes no sense. ... I put up with his s*** when he was a good fighter (but) he's not anymore."

"I have no interest whatsoever in being in the Tito Ortiz business," White said.

White and the UFC letting Tito go on his own may be EliteXC's profit.

CBS and Showtime both have EliteXC and Strikeforce. EliteXC could potentially offer Tito tons of exposure. Furthermore, Tito will go where the money and exposure are.

Don't look for Shaw and EliteXC to go all out for Tito though. Although they didn't do it for Fedor with a solid win over Machida, Tito's stock skyrockets back up and that's a definate plus if EliteXC signs him.

EliteXC has talent but not Tito Ortiz talent in the light-heavyweight division. Tito would run roughshed over the lightheavies.

"Sometimes deals cannot be made because people are not realistic," Shaw said. "People need to be realistic in order to put fights on. When Fedor wants to fight just anybody for $2 million, that is not realistic for my company."

Shaw, though, remains optimistic about Tito and fantasized about a potential event bout with EliteXC's prized heavyweight, Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson.

"Can you imagine Tito Ortiz and Kimbo in the cage together one day?" Shaw asked. "My door is open. I hope that he's able to negotiate one day because I would never interfere with a contract. I hope he's sitting right next to me, not across from my desk, but right with me."

Finally, If Tito doesn't make his fight on Saturday night, none of this will matter. Tito will have no pull or leverage in marketing. Fans have watched Tito get decisioned against Forrest(while injured), Ken Shamrock(3x), Tko'd by Chuck Liddell, and Rashad Evans(Draw).

The young brass Tito of old wouldv'e dismantled Forrest like he did in the first round of their fight. Rashad isn't on the same level as the Tito either. However, over the past 18 months Tito hasn't come in with the killer instinct that made him so great.

One thing is for sure all the questions will be answered on Saturday night!