Tito Ortiz to visit troops on 3rd USO tour

Mixed martial arts powerhouse Tito Ortiz will soon depart for the Persian Gulf on his third USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour. As part of the trip, Ortiz will visit with service members, sign autographs and participate in training exercises with service members. The Huntington Beach, CA, native is a big supporter of the U.S. military.

In 2007, Ortiz and Team Punishment teammate Justin McCully participated in two tours to the Persian Gulf, touching and enhancing the lives of more than 3,000 service members.

“The men and women who serve in the U.S. military are true fighters,” said Ortiz. “They are fighting to keep our country safe. I have a lot of respect for our troops and am grateful to the USO for giving me the opportunity to go out and bring a touch of home to troops.”

A former Light-Heavyweight champion, Ortiz began his mixed martial arts career as a high school wrestler. In 1997, Ortiz made his UFC debut at UFC 13, where he dominated the ring and took his opponent down within the first round.

Establishing him self as a talented showman and force to be reckoned with, Ortiz launched his own line of MMA gear and apparel. Never one to back down from a challenge, the seasoned fighter has tackled numerous projects outside of the ring.

He has made appearances in several films and TV series, including CBS’s hit series “NUMB3RS” and the major motion picture “Cradle 2 the Grave” with Jet Li. This tour continues the USO’s tradition of sending celebrity entertainers to troops serving far from home.

Whether signing autographs, performing concerts, leading clinics, or posing for photos, USO celebrity entertainers help service members and their families feel a little closer to home. For a list of USO tours, visit http://www.uso.org/whatwedo/entertainment. To learn more about the USO or to find out how to support the troops, visit http://www.uso.org.