What it all boils down to is respect. Tito has this huge fucking chip on his shoulder and he can't get past this feud with White. I think it has more to do with that than it does any money. He's very outspoken about how the other fighters are treated as well as himself. People can dog Tito all they want but he does give a damn about other fighters too.
As for his drawing power, there's a reason why Chuck Liddell is such a big draw, he beat Tito and took his place as #1 in the company as far as star power. That feud between Tito and Chuck was WHITE HOT and people were flocking to those events and ordering those PPVS. Chuck ambarassed Tito both times, I understand that but even losing, Tito was a draw.
As for him not being the same guy anymore, I don't see how anyone can say that. He may not be the guy who had the belt for 3 years but I hear all kinds of people saying oh he can't finish anyone anymore, he fights close fights with TUF guys blah, blah blah. Yet those SAME people are on Machida's nuts and Machida hasn't finished a guy in 4 years with the exception of the SOKO fight. And those TUF guys that Tito barely beat and had a draw with, well Forrest is the #1 contender in the division and Rashad is undefeated and is lining himself up to get a shot within the next year too if he keeps winning. And that draw was bullshit. How many times in the last 5 years have you ever seen a point taken for a guy grabbing the fence twice. 1 time and that was Tito.
I think there is one scenario that is enticing enough for Tito to stay despite how disrespected he feels. July 6, 2008, if Forrest Griffin wakes up as the next LHW champ, don't be surprised if Tito's phone rings and it's Joe Silva with a rematch with Forrest for the title. It would be a HUGE DRAW and a chance for a rematch that ended a little tooi closely for anyone's comfort the last time. That's IF he beats Machida.
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