Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz has been banned from attending the UFC Expo at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, according to Cagewriter.com. The reason for the ban is due to his feud with UFC President Dana White.

Ortiz will instead be attending the Hooter’s Casino Hotel in Las Vegas today for an autograph signing session from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. PT.

Here is what Ortiz told ESPN Radio 1100 about being banned:

“UFC wouldn’t let me go to the Fan Expo. I feel very sorry for all my fans. I’m here for the fans, I’m going to support them no matter what.”

The UFC owes much of it’s early success to Ortiz as he was one of its top stars and a great draw to fans. To this day, he still holds the record for defending the UFC light heavyweight championship five times. It’s unfortunate that he is being treated this way by the UFC.

Ortiz will be looking to make a comeback sometime in late 2009, most likely for the Strikeforce promotion.

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