Tito Ortiz Considers Himself "The People's Champion"

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz (16-9) will look to rebound from his most recent defeat versus Rashad Evans when he faces Antonio Rogerio Nogueira later this month at UFC 140. But he won't be doing it as the "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy," according to an interview with MMAWeekly.com.

“No longer the bad boy, positive from here on out," Ortiz told MMAWeekly Radio. "I’m now the ‘People’s Champ.'"

Once seen as one of the best trash-talkers and "bad boys" in the sport, Ortiz now wants to be considered a man who fights for something greater and more positive than that.

“I just want to change my whole outlook on life. Being the bad boy, talking smack to sell fights, I no longer need to do that,” said Ortiz. “I’ve got three boys who are growing up and I want to make sure I’m known as someone who has given back to MMA and been a positive role model to a lot of people’s
lives.”

Ortiz's perspective on being a positive role model reflects where he is at in his career. It wasn't too long ago that he was considered one fight away from being retired, and now he sits in the position of only having won one of his last seven fights. It's his positive outlook that keeps him going in a sport that is continuously evolving.

Ortiz fights for the fans, but it's more clear now than ever before going into his Dec. 10 bout with Nogueira.

“Being the ‘People’s Champ,’ the only other person I can think of who’s done the great things in their sport was Muhammad Ali," Ortiz continued. "If I could walk in one of those footsteps, then I’ve done my job as a fighter and a mixed martial artist."

Ortiz's lone victory since 2007 came against Ryan Bader in a matchup from earlier this year. He submitted the Ultimate Fighter winner in the first round. His losses include those versus Rashad Evans, Forrest Griffin, Lyoto Machida and Chuck Liddell.

"I believe so, it’s time to grow up, it’s time to mature as a man, as a father," Ortiz said. "I’ve done a lot in this sport. I know my road’s coming up short here where it’s really time to think about the future. I’ve been competing for almost 15 years; I think the longest UFC fighter in history, competing more than anybody else and for the longest record non-stop fighting in the UFC. I never fought anywhere else. No amateur status, nowhere else besides the UFC, that’s all I’ve fought and I just want to keep that positive attitude."

UFC 140 will be available on pay-per-view and will feature a five-fight main card, including bouts between current UFC light heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones and Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida, Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mark Hominick and Chan Sung Jung. Brian Ebersole will also be featured in a welterweight matchup against Claude Patrick.