Split image of Chael Sonnen filming TUF 33 and Tito Ortiz at a press conference: Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC/Eric Espada/Getty Images

Chael Sonnen was furious when Tito Ortiz gave him the ultimate insult prior to callout… ‘I could feel my blood boil’

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By James Sweetnam | Last updated Sep 6, 2025 8:45 AM ET

Chael Sonnen was raging at Tito Ortiz when his rival gave him what he thought was a massive sign of disrespect.

The pair of trash-talkers have shared an immense feud. And it’s not over yet.

Sonnen has claimed he’s embarrassed that Ortiz beat him, and during an appearance at Real American Freestyle, ‘The Huntington Beach Bad Boy’ challenged his nemesis to a showdown.

However, it was what happened behind the scenes that really irritated the Oregon grappler.

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Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Chael Sonnen was furious that Tito Ortiz wouldn’t shake his hand

Chael Sonnen crossed paths with Tito Ortiz before their on-screen clash.

And ‘The American Gangster’ was livid when his nemesis supposedly refused a handshake.

In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, the 48-year-old raged: “I said, ‘Tito, hello’, and I had my hand out.

“He refuses to shake my hand. Now, that is, in this life, my thing, that’s the one where if you ever want to insult or upset me, that is my thing.

“He does this, and there’s not a lot of people around, but there are people around, I’m being guided to set, he’s being guided to the back. So, even if it’s just his guy and my guy, there are still people around.

“It’s a very rude thing to do. I could feel my blood boil in that moment.”