UFC President Dana White has responded to the ongoing feud with former fighter Tito Ortiz, stating that Ortiz's refusal to fight Chuck Liddell led to their fallout.
White appeared on the OutKick podcast, where he clarified the circumstances surrounding the UFC sale and Ortiz's influence on the process.
He explained that the UFC did not buy the company because of Ortiz and that they initially loved him as one of their fighters.
However, White revealed that Ortiz's refusal to fight Liddell escalated tensions and led to their eventual fallout.
White suggested that Ortiz avoided fighting Liddell because he knew he would lose, and that the beef between them actually helped build the UFC due to the storyline it created.
White also reflected on how his relationship with Ortiz fell apart over time, stating that Ortiz did 'dumb things' that destroyed their relationship.
When asked if mixing business with personal friendships was a mistake, White responded that it often leads to complications and is not a great idea.
