UFC's Tito Ortiz denies wrongdoing, accuses Jenna Jameson of OxyContin abuse
by Steven Marrocco on Apr 27, 2010 at 2:00 am ET
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz called a press conference in North Hollywood, Calif., Monday night and said an alleged domestic abuse incident with longtime girlfriend Jenna Jameson was prompted by Jameson's addiction to the prescription opiate OxyContin.
"Unfortunately, Jenna relapsed this morning and suffered the consequences of that," Chip Matthews, Ortiz's personal lawyer, said at the press conference. "We're here because Tito was trying to help her."
Ortiz denied harming Jameson during the incident, which allegedly took place Monday morning at the couple's home in Huntington Beach, Calif. Nevertheless, Ortiz was arrested by Huntington Beach Police at 11:34 a.m. on suspicion of domestic abuse after Jameson's father called them to the residence. Ortiz posted a $25,000 bond around 4:30 p.m. He has not been formally charged with a crime.
Ortiz struggled to hold back tears during the press conference.
"My parents have gone through an addiction, and I've seen a mirror again, and I'm not going to let my family go through that," he said. "I speak from the heart, and as I say ... I hold everything dear to my heart that Jenna will be OK."
Jameson spoke to KCAL-TV News outside her home on late Monday and said she suffered a torn rotator cuff in the alleged incident, though Ortiz did not strike her.
"He didn't beat me," Jameson said. "We had an argument, and it escalated, and things got out of control ... the cops were called, and because there were visible marks on me, they took him to jail."
Jameson said she filed a temporary restraining order against Ortiz but spoke to him today. She was open to Ortiz undergoing anger management and couples counseling.
"I know I did the right thing, and after watching what happened to Rihanna, I knew that I had to call the police." Jameson said. "I'm just going to work on my relationship with him, and hope it works out."
Rihanna, a popular R&B recording artist, was involved in a high-profile domestic violence case with then-boyfriend and fellow singer Chris Brown.
Orange County District Attorney spokesperson Farrah Emami told MMAjunkie.com (
www.mmajunkie.com) the DA's office has until the date of Ortiz's arraignment (a court appearance to answer charges) to make a decision whether to file formal charges. HBPD lieutenant and spokesperson Russell Reinhart said an arraignment date has not been set.
Jameson and Ortiz have one-year-old twins together. Ortiz also has a son from a previous marriage.
A report Monday afternoon from FoxNews.com said Ortiz in 1998 plead guilty to "battery with serious bodily injury" and was sentenced to three years probation, 29 days in jail and 232 hours of community service.
Ortiz, 35, is currently on TV screens as a coach of "The Ultimate Fighter 11" opposite former light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell. However, he is widely expected to exit the show and be replaced by former middleweight champion Rich Franklin.
The UFC earlier this month announced Liddell will face Franklin at UFC 115 on June 12 – which all but confirmed Ortiz's exodus from the show. The reality show's traditional format dictates a fight between coaches at the conclusion of each season.
In his most recent octagon appearance, Ortiz (15-7 MMA, 14-7 UFC) lost a split decision to former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin at UFC 106.