Ortiz Looking at UFC Return

I’m still not quite amenable to using a person’s Twitter account to source a chunk of commentary, but this is the way of the world at the moment. And so we must pay attention to news out of Dana White’s Blackberry that he and perennial rival Tito Ortiz have apparently buried the hatchet. (Not in the other’s head, as both may have wished at one time, but figuratively speaking.)

“Yes tito and I made up,” White wrote. And later: “Doesn’t mean he’s back it means we aren’t smashing each other anymore and we don’t hate each other.”

I would be shocked if Ortiz didn’t eventually make his way back: The UFC has spent millions of dollars and years of their promotional life in Ortiz, and it makes no sense for him to port that reservoir of fame to another organization. They’ve invested too much in one another, and the alternatives can’t be too appealing -- for anyone.

Affliction: Ortiz signs a deal for major money -- if they can pay Andrei Arlovski seven figures, there’s no reason Ortiz would take less -- but has highly suspect job security.

Strikeforce: Can they shell out multimillions on the potential for Ortiz to stir up more business, and would it disrupt their (currently effective) approach of spending sensibly?

Japan: Ortiz has never been fond of competing internationally.

In 22 professional fights, Ortiz has only competed outside of the UFC once: a one-sided thrashing at a regional West Coast show in 1998. (A fight with Eugene Jackson may have taken place after, but isn’t reflected on his official record.) There’s a lot to be said for staying inside your comfort zone.