Tito: Time to stop being a bad boy to the UFC
Dana White called last Monday night while I was in bed, drinking a cold beverage, watching a movie. Dana got…
Dana White called last Monday night while I was in bed, drinking a cold beverage, watching a movie.
Dana got right to it and said: Phil Davis is out of the Rashad Evans fight. Do you want the fight against Rashad?
The fight is at UFC 133 on Aug. 6 in Philadelphia. I would have less than three weeks of camp to fight to No. 1 contender of the light heavyweight division.
I told Dana that I had a ton of business stuff to take care of with Punishment Athletics and my new Punishment Training Center and, after the Bader fight, really wanted to spend some family time.
Dana said he and the UFC really needed me to step up, but that he understood. We hung up and I went back to the movie and my beverage. But I couldn’t stop thinking about the opportunity Dana had just offered me.
The fight was still on my mind when I went to sleep and I had a dream about it. I woke up at 8 a.m. the next day, had some business to take care of, and as soon as I took care of that all I could think about was what I’d turned down the night before…
I spoke to my partner and we talked about what it meant for us as a family and for my business. Being a fighter means being selfish sometimes. When I am training, it has to be about ‘me, me, me.’ I hate being selfish when I have a family but the reality of fighting and of being a champion is that you have to put yourself first when you prepare for battle — because no one can do you a favor or help you once the Octagon door shuts. During the time preparing for a fight, training has to be top priority or you will suffer for it.
But I’ve got a great support system around me. They all supported me; so I called Dana back. He was a little surprised to hear from me. I asked if he’d managed to get another [replacement] for Rashad. He said no, and I said: I know you need me, and I’m in. I am stepping up to fight Rashad – I’m going to beat him.
My thought processes were pretty much ‘Dana and Lorenzo are the reason I’ve got my brand in the first place. Now they are asking me for a favor but, really, it isn’t a favor it is an opportunity they are offering me.’
For the last six years I’ve had problems with the UFC and now it is time for me to stop being the bad boy and help out when they need me. I’m really grateful to Dana, Lorenzo and also Rashad – because Rashad took this fight at just as short a notice as me and I appreciate him agreeing to the fight.