Tito Ortiz recalls ‘manhandling’ Dana White during midair fist fight

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz provides a new facet to the midair fist fight he had with Dana White, one where he was “manhandling” the current UFC president.

It was only a matter of time before former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz and promotion president Dana White’s peace treaty ended up in tatters. The two have been warring on and off for more than a decade, and even came close to a televised boxing match that was called off at the last minute.

Then, word came from Dana White last week that the two had a midair collision several years ago during a trip to Japan. White claimed that he and Ortiz were horsing around, but the artist formerly known as the “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” had taken things too far, forcing him to fight back.

Now, Ortiz has come forward, essentially confirming the veracity of the story—somewhat. In an interview with MMA Junkie, Tito offered up a comment of his own, and it doesn’t quite follow along with El Presidente’s recounting of the incident:

“Yes, of him (saying) stop, stop Tito!” Ortiz recalled the altercation “I was manhandling him, but it was fun.”

Ortiz had two runs in the UFC, but finished out his career in Bellator just two months ago with his retirement fight seeing a big submission victory over Chael Sonnen. The 42-year-old California native said that White had even texted him a congratulatory message via his girlfriend following the fight, but unfortunately, the olive branch withered upon the tree just weeks after. Maybe one day the two will be able to patch up their friendship. We’ll keep our fingers crossed.

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz provides a new facet to the midair fist fight he had with Dana White, one where he was “manhandling” the current UFC president.

It was only a matter of time before former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz and promotion president Dana White’s peace treaty ended up in tatters. The two have been warring on and off for more than a decade, and even came close to a televised boxing match that was called off at the last minute.

Then, word came from Dana White last week that the two had a midair collision several years ago during a trip to Japan. White claimed that he and Ortiz were horsing around, but the artist formerly known as the “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” had taken things too far, forcing him to fight back.

Now, Ortiz has come forward, essentially confirming the veracity of the story—somewhat. In an interview with MMA Junkie, Tito offered up a comment of his own, and it doesn’t quite follow along with El Presidente’s recounting of the incident:

“Yes, of him (saying) stop, stop Tito!” Ortiz recalled the altercation “I was manhandling him, but it was fun.”

Ortiz had two runs in the UFC, but finished out his career in Bellator just two months ago with his retirement fight seeing a big submission victory over Chael Sonnen. The 42-year-old California native said that White had even texted him a congratulatory message via his girlfriend following the fight, but unfortunately, the olive branch withered upon the tree just weeks after. Maybe one day the two will be able to patch up their friendship. We’ll keep our fingers crossed.