At the beginning of last night’s edition of Inside MMA on AXS TV, it was announced that Tito Ortiz is stepping down as the manager of current Invicta FC champion Cris “Cyborg” Justino.
Ortiz released a statement to the weekly MMA news program about stepping down as Justino’s manager, which comes one day after UFC President Dana White made comments about Ortiz being her manager.
“I can live with Dana not liking me but what I can’t live with is Dana using me to hurt someone else. I’ve taken abuse and maybe I deserved some of it but Cris is a beautiful person and great athlete and doesn’t deserve to be insulted like this.
I don’t understand how Dana lets his hatred towards me hurt the UFC and the fans by not making this fight.
He accuses her of still using banned substances and say that she isn’t worthy of fighting Ronda yet a year ago he personally called me to make the fight happen.
I never said she would die if she made 135- we just repeated what the Dr said that Cris shouldn’t make a career at 135- we offered a 3 fight deal they said no 7 fights or no deal.
Regardless – I won’t stand in the way from the fans getting a fight they want and I won’t hold Cris Back. So I’m stepping down as Cris’ manager
Now he can’t hold that against her-
I’m also tired of Dana accusing Cris of using banned substances. I challenge you to put up or shut up- Test her or stop lying about her- Cris is a beautiful woman inside and out- don’t insult her on her looks- she may be tough as nails but she still has feelings.
I know people are going to say there goes Tito making this about him again- but it’s not -it’s about Cris Cyborg- the baddest woman on the earth – soon to be multi-sport world champion.”
Justino has not made any public comments about Ortiz stepping down as her manager, but she did make a comment to BJPenn.com on the comments made by White. Justino told the website that “sticks and Stones might break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”
With Ortiz no longer managing the current Invicta FC featherweight champions, it’s unknown if this could open the door for a potential fight between Justino and current UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.