Tito Ortiz Accused of Domestic Violence: Innocent Until Proven Guilty

The celebrity news website TMZ broke the story that “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (15-7-1) had been arrested for domestic violence just before noon yesterday at the couple’s home in Huntington Beach. As websites push to cover the story, many seem to forget a simple saying: Innocent until proven guilty.

As websites push to discuss how Tito has given the sport of mixed martial arts a black eye, Fighters.com wonders why no one is objectively reporting the case and doing as the legal system intended to do. A person arrested for a crime is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty but I guess that does not apply to MMA media. Let’s look at the facts and rumors of this story before we go any further.

The first report that TMZ put out to the public was:
“TMZ has learned Tito Ortiz was just arrested for felony domestic violence at the home he shares with Jenna Jameson.

We’re told when cops arrived at the couple’s home in Huntington Beach, CA — Jenna Jameson had “visible injuries.”

We’re told someone called 911 today at 9:53 AM and reported a “disturbance.”

Tito is currently in custody and on his way to a Huntington Beach jail in Orange County, CA.

Tito and Jenna are not married — but they have twin boys together.

Story developing …”

Dana White wasted no time stating that next to going on a killing spree, this is the worst thing you could do and that he will wait to see the police report before deciding if he will cut Tito from the UFC roster. I believe that basing Tito’s future with the company off a police report is highly irresponsible. With all due respect to the police, the reports are not the clear cut facts in the case but rather what the officers on the scene noticed and dealt with.

Now as a new day dawns on the case, many new allegations are coming from both Tito and Jenna. As of this article Tito was out on bail in the amount of $25,000 and no charges had been filed.Here is where the story gets confusing as statements are starting to be made.  “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.”

Tito also made a statement in the press conference, he stated “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.” “I speak from the heart, and as I say … I hold everything dear to my heart that Jenna will be OK.”

Jenna denied that Tito beat her by stating “He didn’t beat me, “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.” She goes on to further claim that during an argument Monday morning she, “said something very hurtful to his ego.” She alleges that Tito then grabbed her and, “threw me into the bathtub and tore two ligaments in my shoulder.” Tito’s attorney denied that to TMZ saying  “He did not put his hands on her, he did not hit her, he did not do anything to her.”

Matthews claims Tito found pills in Jenna’s pants pocket and that when Tito confronted her she had an “emotional meltdown.” Rumors indicate that the pills were the popular narcotic oxycontin.

Jenna says Tito’s addiction allegation is, “completely false” and “the last nail in the coffin” for their relationship.

I think it is clear that there is much left to be heard about this case and any rash judgment on behalf of Dana White, the UFC, fans of MMA and/or major media news outlets goes against everything the judicial system in this country was founded upon. I do not condone the abuse of any woman or significant other for that matter but I also hate to see anyone ruined due to a rush of judgment. My MMA Gospel Radio co-host, Gary Friedman pointed out that before crucifying Tito, we should all wait and see what truth comes out of all this. After already witnessing the national sports media burning the players from the Duke lacrosse team at the stake only to find out they were in fact innocent, is this a road we want to travel?

Is Tito being on TMZ bad for the sport of MMA? I have no idea what impact it will have on the sport but I do know the NFL, NBA and MLB all have players that are in the news for these events regularly it seems. I doubt this will have any real effect on the sport but will have more of an effect on the career and reputation of Tito Ortiz.

Stay tuned to Fighters.com and MMA Gospel Radio as we keep you updated on this story while keeping in mind that Tito is in fact innocent until proven guilty.