Tito Ortiz recently discussed his ongoing contract negotiations in an interview with Inside MMA on HD Net. He’s fielding a number of offers including ones from EliteXC, Affliction and the UFC. Here’s an excerpt of the interview courtesy of MMA Junkie.

“I’ve got to make sure I make the right business decision for my future,” Ortiz said of the negotiations. “I’ve been doing this for 11 years now. And I still have five or six years ahead of me to compete. And I want to make sure that it’s going to be a company that’s going to back me, that’s going to support me.” Ortiz said that both Affliction and EliteXC were “possibilities” as future employers. And despite years of strained negotiations between Ortiz and UFC President Dana White, Ortiz did not rule out a return to the organization. “UFC?” Ortiz asked. “(There is) a small chance of that happening. Things between me and Dana White? I’m shoving it off and I’m going on with my life. And I’m going to wash my hands and make sure that my future is going to be very, very great.”

“Inside MMA” hosts Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten asked Ortiz specifically about his negotiations with EliteXC as part of a larger discussion on the financial stability of the organization. Ortiz seemed to be impressed by EliteXC’s pitch.

“EliteXC, they’re not really worried about the brand itself,” Ortiz said. “They want to start making superstars. When you have CBS, Showtime and these other networks that are going to back you, you can’t do wrong.

“So it’s just a factor of them signing a big name — like myself. Guys will follow. Once guys follow and see that the company wants to take care of them — not worry about their brand, but worry about making superstars as EliteXC is trying to do — that will be the next step for all of us.”

Ortiz said that negotiations were still in the early stages with EliteXC, and that he felt he was at “about a two” on a scale of one to 10 in progress. But “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” felt his services would be beneficial to the overall success of the EliteXC brand.

“You never know who they sign with,” Ortiz said of EliteXC. “If they sign a Tito Ortiz they’re going to be in business for the rest of their careers.”

His mega deal with Affliction fell through, apparently Tito wanted a lot more money than they were offering. No specific numbers were discussed but I’d have to assume it’s much higher than the money Tim Sylvia and Fedor Emelianenko earned for headlining Affliction’s first PPV. Chances are we won’t see Tito Ortiz back in a ring or cage any time soon. The longer the better, I say. Fuck that overhyped windbag.

The last impressive performance he had was in 2001, since then he’s barely remained relevant going 6-4-1 over his last 11 fights including 3 wins over Ken Shamrock. His other 3 wins… narrow decision victories over Patrick Cote, Vitor Belfort and Forrest Griffin, plus the draw with Rashad Evans. Of his 4 losses, 2 were TKO/KO losses to Chuck Liddell and decision losses to Randy Couture and Lyoto Machida.