Tito Ortiz opened up about his legendary feud with Ken Shamrock – a rivalry that elevated the UFC’s popularity. Their animosity was real, and neither man held back when it came to voicing their opinions about each other.
Ortiz and Shamrock fought three times in the octagon, but their first encounter at UFC 40: Vendetta was the most impactful. The bout generated mainstream attention for the UFC, pulling in 100,000 pay-per-view buys at a time when the promotion was struggling financially.
Though they’re now on good terms, Ortiz credited Shamrock with bringing the best out of him.
“Shamrock [pushed me to be better] for sure because he had such a big name and so many people were afraid of him – he was The World’s Most Dangerous Man.” Ortiz said during his appearance on ‘HJR Podcast’. “That was the guy who was honestly a person that I disliked… I just didn’t like the guy at that time, but as years went by and times we fought, and the last fight we had, I respect him because he stepped up and he wanted to fight… He never said no.”
Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock Took Their Feud to ‘The Ultimate Fighter’
Ortiz and Shamrock’s animosity reached a breaking point on the third season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’. They served as opposing coaches and had many tense moments, including one that was close to getting physical.
Ortiz’s team found more success, leading Shamrock to fire up his fighters. The former Superfight champion proceeded to confront The Huntington Beach Bad Boy and a verbal altercation ensued.
When Shamrock went after Ortiz, the former light heavyweight champion clapped back, reminding him of their first fight. Things escalated further after his response, prompting others to quickly step in and ensure the coaches didn’t get physical.
“We should not be happy right now. So, I as a coach got to figure out something that’s gonna get these guys fired up. If it’s getting in a fight with Tito, then fine, that’s cool with me,” Shamrock said following his exchange with Ortiz on ‘The Ultimate Fighter’. “Mental warfare. And that’s what this fighting game is about,” Ortiz when describing the situation that unfolded.
Despite losing their rematch at UFC 61: Bitter Rivals, Shamrock did get a win over Ortiz in the ‘TUF’ coaches’ challenge. He picked up a dominant win in a game of pool despite claiming he never plays.
Ken Shamrock Reveals He Fought Tito Ortiz to Save the UFC
In 2018, Shamrock told VIBE 105.5FM that his fight with Ortiz wasn’t just business – it was about saving the UFC.
Shamrock revealed he was confident the fight would be successful on pay-per-view and negotiated his contract accordingly. He said saving the UFC felt like a personal obligation because of his role in building the promotion.
“We went and we did the fight, and as everybody seen, it crushed. Quadrupled the numbers that they were normally doing,” Shamrock said. “I thought in my mind, this is an organization – the UFC – that is like my child, I have to protect it, I have to make sure that this thing stays alive because it’s in my DNA. I helped build it.”
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