Tito Ortiz has been more than a bit tentative in his dealings over the last year, contemplating an imminent back surgery and anticipating the best possible business decision for him to make based on the courting organizations interested in his services. On more than one occasion after leaving the UFC, Tito's come close to signing with two organizations outside of the Zuffa empire's holding. Surprisingly, until now, no deal has been finalized.

It's been a busy year for Tito Ortiz, no question about it. The more time goes by, the more a life for Tito outside of the octagon seems to develop. With a back surgry procedure similar to the one TUF veteran and current UFC middleweight Nate Quarry underwent now behind him, Tito only has one small hurdle to overcome after what could be a very paced and mathodical rehabilitation period: a set of twins with his current love interest Jenna Jameson, due next year.

Michael David Smith of AOL’s FanHouse reports that Tito Ortiz recently granted a television interview to Rumble in the Park in Frenso, and indicated yet again that he's deeply involved with a major organization in talks to solidify a contract agreement.

According to Smith, the word is “It’s either going to be with the UFC or it’s going to be with Affliction, but guaranteed, you guys will see me fight — no matter what — by July.”

We've been here before with Ortiz. For him to indicate Affliction again suggest thats talks the first time around perhaps didn't yield amicability on both sides, but as well may not have burned any bridges. Yet, after not signing with Affliction, Tito went on to not sign with Elite XC after appearing on a Pay Per View with announcers rattling on about him being close to inking a deal with them. FiveOuncesOfPain.com reported that Ortiz met several times over the course of the weeks leading up to Elite XC's October 4th event. Sources obbserved that CBS execs came away impressed with Ortiz, also suggesting a deal was “all but signed.”

It'd be unfair to go without mentioning the distractions real-life has thrown at Ortiz over the course of his time outside of the UFC, having achieved such celebrity status through his years as a UFC light-heavyweight champion. Even beyond his contract with Zuffa, with his long-term appearance on The Celebrity Apprentice which fostered a relationship between him Donald Trump, and multiple celebrity appearances in the crowds of events put on by rival promotions, Tito's done well for himself to stay in the spotlight just enough despite not fighting in the cage. Time will tell whether all of his time outside of the UFC has been his way of trying to leverage a better contract, or if his ploy to leave the organization was really an outward look, upward and onward.

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