Review and Summary of MMA Superstar Tito Ortiz's New Book

MMA superstar Tito Ortiz wrote an autobiography that was released two weeks ago.  The book is entitled:  "This is Gonna Hurt: The Life of a Mixed Martial Arts Champion."

It took a little over an hour for me to finish the 224 pages in this book.  The book starts off with Tito talking about his childhood living in Southern California.  He had a rough upbringing as his parents were both heavy drug users and heroin addicts.  He said his mom was a "lady of the evening" who would hang out with men at nights and then would pick up Tito after she was done. 

He said his dad did not have a problem with his wife hanging out with other men because they needed the money to support their drug habit.  Tito has made peace with his mom but he does not have a current relationship with his father.

Tito also dabbled into drugs and was even a drug dealer at one time.  He loved to sniff glue and hang out with his juvenile delinquent buddies.  He joined a dangerous gang called "F Troop" at an early age.  The F Troop liked to beat people up, steal car stereos and wallets, and start fights with rival gangs.  Tito was the quintessential teen punk.

He started to get into wrestling in high school.  Tito has always said in interviews that if it wasn't for wrestling, he would probably be dead or in jail.  Being on the wrestling team was good for Tito and helped him mature.  He was motivated to get good grades in order to stay eligible to wrestle.  Once wrestling season was over, Tito would go back to his teen punk ways and create trouble in the streets.

Tito also discusses how he lost his virginity at 16.  He later on met a girl  named Kristin who came from a good background  who later became his wife. Kristin was drawn to Tito because she liked bad boys.  They would later have a son together.

Tito cheated on Kristin many times.  He said it was merely to boost his ego and also for the sexual gratification.  He mainly cheated on Kristin with a stripper named Heather. Tito recalls the time when Kristin found a condom in Tito's suitcase.  They had an argument and Tito felt like punching Kristin, but he held back because he does not believe in hitting women.  Kristin and Tito divorced shortly after that.

Ortiz also writes about how nervous he was when he first met Jenna Jameson.  He really enjoys Jenna's company and knows that Jenna is not after his money since she has more money than him.

Ortiz says he doesn't like it when guys try to holler at Jenna.  Apparently, rapper Too Short tried to spit game to Jenna at a Playboy Mansion bash.  Too Short was drunk and apologized to Tito in Vegas a few weeks later.  Criss Angel and a member of Maroon 5 also tried to get with Jenna and Tito had to put a stop to it. Ortiz also mentions that he and Jenna's former husband do not have any problems with each other.  Jenna and Kristin have become friends.

Of course, the book also mentions UFC President Dana White.  White was Ortiz's manager, but left Ortiz to become the head man of the UFC.  White told Ortiz that a lawyer he knew would be Ortiz's manager since he could no longer do it. Ortiz was naive and assumed White had his best interests in mind. 

Ortiz talks about him holding out for more money and not wanting to fight his friend Chuck Liddell until the UFC paid them both more money.  He said that Liddell just wanted to be the champ and didn't care about their friendship or money because he just wants to live in San Luis Opispo for the rest of his life.

Ortiz tells us that he is not a role model but he hopes his story can inspire someone.  He says that he has been at the bottom and now he is at the top and feels that he is a true success story.  He is very happy with Jenna as his girlfriend and is also good friends with the mother of his son.

Other interesting stories in the book include the first time he got in a fight where an Asian kid hit him in the ear which caused enormous pain and how he used to work at an adult store where he had to chase guys out of the store who were masturbating to the videos. He also had to kick females out who were playing with the toys.

The book is very easy to read and enjoyable.  Some parts of the book drag and I got tired of reading about his juvenile exploits as a kid.

I wish Tito would would have talked more about his UFC days and his relationship with Chuck Liddell more in depth.

Overall, this was a good book and a must-read for all Tito Ortiz fans.  Love him or hate him, Ortiz is one of the top superstars in the MMA world.  He might be a greater showman than a fighter, but no one can discredit his great run as UFC lightweight champion a few years ago.

At age 32 and with a lot of wear and tear on his body, he could be past his prime as a championship fighter, or prehaps the best is yet to come  for Tito Ortiz. Only time will tell.