Ortiz a man with grand plan

Tito Ortiz says it all was part of a grand plan.

One of the biggest stars in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the 34-year-old did his best to make it clear that he wanted no part of the organization he helped build after his fight in May 2008.

The insults hurled at former friend and manager and current UFC president Dana White? The shots at the company's pay structure? The joke about Chuck Liddell's speech? Even the shirt with a derogatory term about White that Ortiz wore to the weigh-ins before his most recent fight?

All part of the plan.

"(You) have to understand, it's all negotiations. It's all a tactic. I'm slick, man. I'm smooth. I know what I'm doing. I've been doing this a long time. I'm smart," Ortiz said. "I went to college and got educated. I understand negotiations. I understand what you've got to do to make your brand better. That's why I'm Tito Ortiz. There's no one like me."

Ortiz was one of the biggest free agents in mixed martial arts when his contract with the UFC ran out, but in the end, he decided to come back to the league that made him a star by signing a six-fight deal in July.

He will make his return against Forrest Griffin, whom he beat in a controversial split decision in April 2006, in the main event of UFC 106 on Saturday at Mandalay Bay.

Ortiz, who admits to only about "2 percent" of himself feeling like he would sign anywhere else, said he is excited to work for White again.

"It hurt to say the things I did say and to do the things that I did, and, you know, I (missed) Dana as a friend," Ortiz said. "You know me and him, we got along very, very well, so it's really cool to be able to pick up the phone and just talk to someone who was always my friend."

White said his issues with Ortiz are in the past. "We squashed this thing, and it's definitely squashed. It's behind me," he said. "I literally don't think about it at all, and it's business as usual. There's no hard feelings, no nothing between us."

Ortiz said his loyalty to the company can be seen more in his actions than any harsh words he might have spoken.

"I've always been here for the UFC. I've never fought for any other company. Yes, I've talked a lot of bad smack over the last two years, but the 10 years before that I've never said no to interviews, I've never said no to autographs, I've never said no to radio interviews," he said. "I've been there for the UFC. I'm a company man."

It's for some of those same reasons that Ortiz has been one of the biggest pay-per-view draws in MMA throughout his career and still is the longest reigning champion in company history.

He didn't appear to be the same fighter after losing his belt to Randy Couture in 2003, however, and Ortiz is 5-4-1 in his past 10 fights.

He said there is a reason for that. Ortiz claims he had been fighting at about 80 percent of his ability for six years because of lingering back problems. He had spinal fusion surgery in September 2008.

"It's nice to have leg strength and back strength again," he said. "... It's nice to wake up in the morning and feel muscle soreness instead of back pain."

The former champion has not won a fight since October 2006, but the two losses came to former champion Liddell and current champion Lyoto Machida. There also was a draw with former champion Rashad Evans between those two bouts.

Ortiz said Griffin will be in trouble if he prepares for the same fighter he saw in their first matchup.

"At that time, I wasn't even close to what I am today," Ortiz said. "I've gotten a lot better, I think, just physically."

• NOTE -- Karo Parisyan pulled out of UFC 106 for undisclosed reasons. The welterweight was to return from a nine-month suspension imposed by the Nevada Athletic Commission because he tested positive for two painkillers after his most recent fight.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.