With a new contract, his back feeling better than it has in years, and his dispute with Dana White a thing of the past, Tito Ortiz is looking to get back into the octagon. First though, he’s got to rebuild his fitness level to where it once was.

For the next nine weeks he’ll be working with Freddie Roach at the Wild Club Boxing Club in Las Angeles, as the first step in preparing for his unofficial bout with Mark Coleman.

“It feels nice to train with no soreness,” Ortiz said outside the gym. “For the first month now I’ll be doing two-a-days.”

Roach is encouraged by what he saw Wednesday after nine rounds with the mitts.

“He’s a hard worker,” said the famed trainer of boxer Manny Pacquiao. “The first time I did that 30-minute drill with Oscar De La Hoya, he only made it two. Tito finished, so I was happy about that.”

At the bell, Ortiz leaned over the ropes and heaved. Baby steps.

Ortiz talked with MMAWeekly.com, watch their video interview by clicking HERE where he talks about his return to the UFC, facing Mark Coleman, and the training he has done and will do for that future fight.