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Tito Ortiz Sued Over MMA Trash Talk

Posted Jun 5th 2009 7:19PM by TMZ Staff

Tito Ortiz is on the receiving end of a serious legal attack -- one that started after the UFC legend bashed "Rampage" Jackson's former trainer to the media.

The guy filing the lawsuit is Juanito Ibarra -- a fighting expert who claims he's trained more than 15 world champs and several Olympic Gold Medal winners. Ibarra's pissed over an interview Tito gave to a website back in 2008, in which the fighter ripped Ibarra as a "thief" who had financially "taken advantage of Rampage."

In the lawsuit, filed today in L.A. County Superior Court, Ibarra claims Tito's statements are all false and "highly offensive" -- and things got worse when scores of sports websites began publishing follow-up stories, repeating Tito's comments.

Ibarra is suing Tito and all the blogs and publications that ran Tito's interview for defamation, invasion of privacy and emotional distress.

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Tags: boxing, fighting, jenna jameson, JennaJameson, john ibarra, JohnIbarra, juanito ibarra, JuanitoIbarra, lawsuit, mma, toti ortiz, TotiOrtiz, ufc, ultimate fighting, UltimateFighting

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16. TITO I BELIEVE . MANY DONT.IM IN THE MMA WORLD AND THINK ALOT OF TRAINERS ARE OUT TO COME UP AND FLEEE AS SOON AS THINGS GO SOUTH.HE PRETTY MUCH SAYS WHATEVER HE BELIEVES AND THE UFC IS WORSE THAN THE BOOKIE BECAUSE THERE OUT THERE SAYING PAY ME BIG BUCKS FOR NOTHING.PEOPLE GET UPSET AND PISSED BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES IN THE CAGE PUTTING THERE LIVES ON THE LINE NOT SOME PROMOTOR.NOW YOU HAVE GUYS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RETIRED BUT CANT BECAUSE SOME DOUCHE BAG STOLE ALL HIS MONEY KINDA LIKE DON-KING.TITO IS RIGHT HE BROUGHT IN MILLIONS AND THEY GAVE HIM NICKELS.HES CALLING OUT THAT DOUCHE BECAUSE HE CAN AND ITS TRUE THE GUY DID RAMPAGE WRONG.SO NOW HES CRYING FOR SOME MONEY AND HE MIGHT GET IT.NOW EVERYONE WILL LOOK TWICE BEFORE THEY SIGN AND TITO LET IT BE KNOWN ALL THAT GLITTERS AINT GOLD!

Posted at 8:56AM on Jun 6th 2009 by David

17. I can tell you that we are also prepared to help fight these absurd allegations filed against Tito.

He was always there from the beginning. I can tell you that no other fighter nor ANY other MMA outfits can generate what Tito HAS. The UFC owes a great debt to Tito for pioneering this new world sport!

I wish him and his family all the best.

Truly,
Dana White
CFO
UFC

Posted at 3:30PM on Jun 6th 2009 by Dana White

18. First of all, Yeti, let's indeed talk about getting facts straight...Tito didn't LEAVE the UFC. His contract was up for renewal and Dana White cleary stated he wasn't interested because (I'm paraphrasing but it's not hard to find Dana's actual words) "Tito is the most dishonest person I've ever met and if someone else offers him a contract we won't match it". Which leads me to the phony Dana White post here. You obviously are not Dana and I hope Dana sees this post and sues you for using his name. Tito is one of the most overrated fighters ever and his fans are generally Long Beach/Huntington Beach wanna-be gangsters who are basically only good at running their mouths....just like their hero.

Posted at 11:29PM on Jun 7th 2009 by That MMA Guy

19. Good. It's about time someone gave him more than an ass whooping.

Posted at 1:36AM on Jun 8th 2009 by Robert

20. You guyr are characters. Tito has been out healing his back. He is getting ready to step back into the cage. As for Tito not holding a candle to anyone, he pushed Rashad Evans to his limits. Tito would have won if Tito didn't grab the cage. Machiada wouldn't even engage Tito. When he did Tito got him in the triangle. It show's how much most of you actually pay attention to what is going on. As far as Tito and Ken being the only one's to compete against each other. Funny, seeing how Tito ran through him the last two times. Who cares what Jenna did, she was young when she got into the business and has been out of a film since the new decade had started. She runs her own company still involved but has not been in a film. It's funny how some of you get on her to bash on somebody and his baby's momma when in fact most guys, would do porn. And, if some of you could fight I am sure you'd fight also. You guys are some characters. Team Punishment for life.

Posted at 3:12AM on Jun 11th 2009 by Zack

21. He is going to have a really hard time with this lawsuit if they consider him a public figure. The standard for libel is extremely high for public figures and if(more like when) Ibarra is classified as a public figure his case is going straight to the dump.

Posted at 2:50AM on Jul 13th 2009 by Muay Thai

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