Ortiz arrested in alleged domestic dispute
Ultimate Fighting Championship star Tito Ortiz was arrested for suspicion of domestic violence Monday morning at his California home, according to the Huntington Beach Police Department.
Police received a call at 9:53 a.m. about a disturbance at the residence, and Ortiz was arrested nearly two hours later.
Ortiz, who is coaching Season 11 of “The Ultimate Fighter” on Spike TV, posted the $25,000 bail and was released shortly after 4 p.m.
In a late Monday night news conference, Ortiz told The Associated Press his ex-porn star girlfriend is addicted to Oxycontin, and he blames Jenna Jameson’s drug use for his arrest.
”Jenna Jameson has been fighting an ugly battle with an addiction to Oxycontin for well over a year, and (Monday) morning, she had a relapse,” attorney Chip Matthews said. “We’re here because Tito was trying to help her. Tito Ortiz never laid a hand on Jenna.”
Ortiz wept openly at the hastily arranged news conference at an Italian restaurant in North Hollywood, saying the support of his family and Jameson’s father “just means the world to me.”
“My parents have gone through an addiction, and I’m seeing a mirror of that,” Ortiz said. “I hold everything dear to my heart that Jenna will be OK.”
Matthews said the 35-year-old Ortiz found drugs in their home Monday morning, leading to the confrontation that ended with Ortiz’s arrest. Matthews also claimed the 36-year-old Jameson has made 911 calls threatening suicide over the past year, but Ortiz stuck with his partner of four years in hopes of salvaging their relationship.
The AP’s calls to Jameson’s representatives went unanswered late Monday night. Jameson posted one message on her Twitter account Monday, saying she planned to quit Twitter.
“I cant take any more abuse from ANYONE.. To my sweet fans…thank you,” the message read.
The former adult film actress, who grew up in Las Vegas, was wearing a brace on her right elbow as she spoke to paparazzi outside her home earlier in the day.
The police are expected to forward their findings to the Orange County District Attorney’s office to determine whether charges should be filed.
Ortiz, 35, was one of the earliest stars in the UFC, but went through a lengthy dispute with the organization and its president Dana White in 2008.
The former light heavyweight champion re-signed with the company and fought Forrest Griffin in November, losing by split decision. He has three losses and a draw in his last four fights and has not won since October 2006, a stretch that includes an 18-month layoff due to major back surgery.
■ TUF 11 FINALE — Matt Hamill will meet Keith Jardine in the main event of “The Ultimate Fighter 11” finale at the Palms on June 19, the UFC and Spike TV announced Monday.
Jardine has lost three straight fights and four of five, but the losses have come largely to top-flight competition.
Hamill has won three in a row, though the last win came when he was dominated by Jon Jones before Jones was disqualified for landing illegal elbows.
The Season 11 middleweight tournament champion also will be determined on the card.
■ UFC TO SALT LAKE CITY — A rumored UFC pay per view in Utah will not happen, but the state will get its first visit from the organization in August. UFC on Versus 2 is scheduled for Aug. 1 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City.
No bouts for the card have been set.
The event originally was announced by a Versus executive for Oakland, Calif., which is now the likely site of UFC 117 on Aug. 7.
Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.
