Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz found himself back in the spotlight recently when an old interview clip began making rounds across social media platforms. The resurfaced footage showed Ortiz completely disregarding the basic rules of a simple question about his MMA Mount Rushmore picks.
During a 2023 interview with DJ Vlad, Ortiz was presented with what seemed like a straightforward task: name his four greatest mixed martial arts competitors of all time for an imaginary Mount Rushmore. The interviewer established one clear parameter – Ortiz couldn’t include himself among the selections.
However, the Huntington Beach native proceeded to break that rule immediately and without hesitation.
“Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Randy Couture and myself,” Ortiz declared confidently, seemingly oblivious to the constraint that had just been established moments earlier.
The clip has since generated considerable discussion online, with fans and critics alike weighing in on both Ortiz’s self-inclusion and his overall selections.
Some of the comments were as follows:
While his picks of Gracie, Shamrock, and Couture represent legitimate pioneers and legends of the sport, his decision to place himself alongside them despite explicit instructions not to do so has become the primary talking point.
Ortiz’s relationship with Ken Shamrock, represents one of the most significant rivalries in UFC history. The two former champions engaged in a legendary feud that helped elevate the promotion during its early financial struggles. Their initial encounter at UFC 40: Vendetta generated mainstream attention and pulled in 100,000 pay-per-view purchases at a time when the organization desperately needed revenue.
“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 explained during an appearance on The 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.”
Their animosity extended beyond the octagon, reaching a boiling point during the third season of the TUF reality show, where they served as opposing coaches. The tension between them created compelling television and demonstrated the genuine nature of their rivalry.
Shamrock himself later revealed the significance of their rivalry, explaining to VIBE 105.5FM in 2018 that their bout wasn’t merely about personal competition. “We went and we did the fight, and as everybody seen, it crushed. Quadrupled the numbers that they were normally doing,” Shamrock noted.
“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.”
