Tonight, Tito Ortiz returns to the Octagon for the first time since his December 30th loss to Chuck Liddell. It's been a controversial road back for "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy," one filled with personal shots back and forth with UFC President Dana White, including a scheduled boxing match between the two that Tito pulled out of, citing his girlfriend Jenna Jameson's points about how much money UFC would make from the deal, without cutting Tito in for a piece of the action.

Ah, yes. Jenna. The world's most famous adult film superstar. Jenna has been most controversial herself, from her shocking weight loss, which she blames on the stress of her divorce; to her behavior on an international flight to Vienna (THE NEW YORK POST ALLEGES TITO ORTIZ'S GIRLFRIEND JENNA JAMESON RE-JOINED "THE MILE HIGH CLUB" ON AN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT). Jenna has been right up there with Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan in terms of gossip-item-per-minute.

The Canadian Press covered the UFC 73 press conference this week, and the headline told the entire story: Sex And Violence: Ortiz and Jameson Steal Show At Pre-Fight News Conference.

Neil Davidson reported the following:

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CP) - MMA fighter Tito Ortiz and porn star Jenna Jameson make quite a pair and Ortiz knows exactly why.

"Nothing sells better than sex and violence. That's what we both bring," Ortiz said Thursday with a smile. Sex is taking a back seat to violence this week as the Huntington Beach Bad Boy takes on unbeaten light-heavyweight Rashad Evans at UFC 73 on Saturday night at Arco Arena (available on pay-per-view).

There are two championship fights on the card - Nate Marquardt challenges middleweight title-holder Anderson Silva and lightweight Sean Sherk defends against Hermes Franca - and a host of other marquee matchups but Ortiz-Evans has grabbed much of the attention.

Ortiz has helped build the fight in his own special way, engaging in a shoving match with Evans in the crowd at UFC 69 in April in Houston. An Internet forum post in which he called Evans a "nappy headed ho" - the slur that cost radio host Don Imus his job - helped heat up the rivalry.

Ortiz later said he was just making a joke. Evans, who is black, didn't see the humour, calling it offensive. Evans' uncle was even more irate.

"My uncle called me and he was like 'Boy, you better whoop that boy's ass, you've got to whoop him for all of the years of slavery,"' Evans recalled on a conference call last week.

The two fighters have also insulted each other's records, with Evans suggesting Ortiz didn't merit his win over Forrest Griffin while Ortiz ridiculed Evans for only managing a split decision over Sam Hogar.

The two baited each other some more Thursday at the pre-fight news conference, with Evans (15-0) opening up in front of microphone by snarling like a dog.

"That's what it's going to be like, Tito. All day, all day baby," Evan said as he looked over at Ortiz.

"I hope you talk as good as your game, because you talked a lot of shit."

Ortiz, dressed like a young Fortune 500 executive in a smart black suit, glared back.

"Yeah I talk shit and I back it up," Ortiz said during his time in front of the microphone. "I finally got someone who can talk as much smack as me. Let's see if he can back it up."

Warming up to his task, Ortiz said the UFC had "hand-fed" Evans his most recent opponents and advised his opponent to move down to 185 pounds.

"Tito is a showman," Jameson said later in an interview. "That's what this is all about. Muhammad Ali made boxing what it is and I think Tito is kind of paving the way for what the UFC is going to be.

Jameson, who makes a supermodel look chubby, can put on a show too. On Thursday, she was dressed in knee-high boots with white socks poking out, short shorts, a tank top and floral patterned hat. Accessories including a collection of bling and at least two dogs each only slightly bigger than a stapler.

Ortiz (16-5) is coming off a Dec. 30 loss to Chuck (The Iceman) Liddell, one of only two men he has lost to over the last eight years. The other was Randy (The Natural) Couture.

Jameson has been watching Ortiz train for the Evans fight at his US$2-million compound in Big Bear, Calif., recently purchased from boxer Oscar De La Hoya. She says this is a new Tito Ortiz.

"He's really progressed as a fighter over the past year," she explained. "I think he had a few doubts going into the Chuck Liddell fight. As anybody would. When you fight Chuck Liddell, there's going to be some worries. He had lost to him before and I think that he grew after that,

"He's been up in Big Bear for the past two months and he's been training so hard. I've never seen anybody do what he does. He just seems more centred this fight. He knows he's going to beat him. He can see the fear in Rashad's eyes and I think we all can."

Evans, who says he sees a clown when he looks at Ortiz, says he usually doesn't indulge in trash-talking. But with Ortiz, it's hard to hold back.

Ortiz, for his part, says he feeds off emotions.

"I need something to fuel me and with Rashad Evans, he fuels it," Ortiz said.

Offering nothing but respect for your opponent is boring both for the fighters and fans, Ortiz suggested.

"The good thing with Rashad, he has a big mouth. I'm happy for it, because it just gives that much intrigue to the fight itself."

Greg Jackson, who trains both Evans and Marquardt, says the verbal sparring is out of his hands.

"You always have to let a fighter be himself. . . . You want your fighter to be comfortable. The bottom line is you're here to sell tickets. And if you're a great fighter you can do that. And if you're a great fighter with a great personality, you can do that even better.

"So I don't have any problem with them going at it back and forth, that's just fine as long as Rashad stays true to himself and be who he wants to be,"

At 6-2 Ortiz is bigger than the 5-11 Evans, a former Michigan State wrestler and graduate of "The Ultimate Fighter" reality TV show. The key to the fight may be if Evans can resist the brawny Ortiz from taking him down and doing damage on the ground.

Evans can take care of himself. He knocked Sean Salmon out with a devastating kick to the head in his last fight. Still, Salmon is no Ortiz, whose five successful title defences equal the number of fights Evans has had in the UFC.

Evans, at 27 some five years young than Ortiz, likens Saturday's fight to a young lion challenging the leader of the pride.

"He is a legend in the sport, but that's where it stops."

Jackson, however, sees Ortiz as an opponent to fear.

"Tito is not past his prime. . . . He's an amazing fighter with an amazing record."

Here is the link to the story: 680News - ALL NEWS RADIO - Sex and violence. Ortiz and Jameson steal show at pre-fight news conference.

Don't forget, www.mmanewsdesk.com will have full coverage tonight of UFC 73, so check back in with us tonight for Arturo Collozo Jr.'s report from Sacramento, California.