Brian Ortega
T-City
USA
To fight Sterling at 153 pounds
Oretega's scheduled featherweight bout against Aljamain Sterling at UFC Shanghai on Saturday will now be contested at a catchweight of 153 pounds, according to the UFC official site.
ANALYSIS
Ortega seemingly had a tough weight cut, as he didn't look physically great in either his walk to the scales or during his face-off with Sterling. The weight cut appeared to be far less taxing for Sterling, who formerly competed a division lower at bantamweight. So far, bettors seem to agree with the bad body language from Ortega's side, as he began the week as roughly a (+230) betting underdog but now sits at approximately (+350).
Ortega seemingly had a tough weight cut, as he didn't look physically great in either his walk to the scales or during his face-off with Sterling. The weight cut appeared to be far less taxing for Sterling, who formerly competed a division lower at bantamweight. So far, bettors seem to agree with the bad body language from Ortega's side, as he began the week as roughly a (+230) betting underdog but now sits at approximately (+350).
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Aiming to bounce back vs. Sterling
Ortega will face Aljamain Sterling in a featherweight bout at UFC Shanghai on Aug. 23.
ANALYSIS
Ortega has been competing in the lightweight division of late, but he'll drop to featherweight in an effort to gain some much-needed momentum. He's just 1-3 in his past four fights and has recorded only one victory dating back to Oct. 2020.
Ortega has been competing in the lightweight division of late, but he'll drop to featherweight in an effort to gain some much-needed momentum. He's just 1-3 in his past four fights and has recorded only one victory dating back to Oct. 2020.
Routed by Diego Lopes
Ortega lost to Diego Lopes via unanimous decision (26-30, 27-30, 27-30) at UFC 306 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
It was a discouraging performance for Ortega on multiple fronts. Yes, he managed to see the final bell and remain somewhat competitive over the course of the final 10 minutes, but he dropped almost all the striking exchanges between the two men, and his massive struggles early on essentially torpedoed his chances of winning a decision. Ortega was unable to get his wrestling game going, partially because he absorbed so many leg kicks that he was unable to properly push off. "T-City" has said all along that his plan was to move up to lightweight, although he agreed to postpone the switch to take this fight. Set to turn 34 years of age next February, it's difficult to believe a move to an arguably deeper division is going to turn things around for Ortega. He's just 1-3 in his past four fights and has just a single victory dating back to October 2020.
It was a discouraging performance for Ortega on multiple fronts. Yes, he managed to see the final bell and remain somewhat competitive over the course of the final 10 minutes, but he dropped almost all the striking exchanges between the two men, and his massive struggles early on essentially torpedoed his chances of winning a decision. Ortega was unable to get his wrestling game going, partially because he absorbed so many leg kicks that he was unable to properly push off. "T-City" has said all along that his plan was to move up to lightweight, although he agreed to postpone the switch to take this fight. Set to turn 34 years of age next February, it's difficult to believe a move to an arguably deeper division is going to turn things around for Ortega. He's just 1-3 in his past four fights and has just a single victory dating back to October 2020.
Ready to face Diego Lopes
Ortega will take on Diego Lopes in a lightweight bout in UFC Noche at Sphere in Las Vegas on Sep. 14.
ANALYSIS
Ortega was a late scratch from UFC 303, where he was supposed to take on Lopes, but the event will happen either way, only that now will be in the lightweight division and on a night that will have all the eyes of the world watching. Ortega is one of the top-ranked fighters in his division and might have a physical advantage against an opponent that will move up a weight class for this event, but he can't take Lopes for granted, as the latter has won four fights in a row.
Ortega was a late scratch from UFC 303, where he was supposed to take on Lopes, but the event will happen either way, only that now will be in the lightweight division and on a night that will have all the eyes of the world watching. Ortega is one of the top-ranked fighters in his division and might have a physical advantage against an opponent that will move up a weight class for this event, but he can't take Lopes for granted, as the latter has won four fights in a row.
Late scratch from UFC 303 co-main
Ortega will no longer face Diego Lopes in the co-main event at UFC 303 on Saturday, according to the UFC 303 broadcast.
ANALYSIS
Apparently Ortega has been dealing with a fever of late, and despite staying optimistic he would be healthy enough to fight, the UFC announced his withdrawal at approximately 9:30 p.m. EST. Lopes will remain on the card, however, and will face Dan Ige in a catchweight bout.
Apparently Ortega has been dealing with a fever of late, and despite staying optimistic he would be healthy enough to fight, the UFC announced his withdrawal at approximately 9:30 p.m. EST. Lopes will remain on the card, however, and will face Dan Ige in a catchweight bout.
Lopes fight now lightweight
Ortega is competing against Diego Lopes in a lightweight fight at UFC 303 on Saturday, according to MMA reporter Ariel Helwani.
ANALYSIS
Before the Lopes fight, Ortega was bulking up to lightweight for a potential bout at UFC 306 in the new Las Vegas Sphere on Sept. 14. But when UFC 303's initial and co-main fights pretty much completely fell through, Ortega-Lopes was booked for then quite quickly. Yet because Ortega had been gearing up for a move to lightweight, fighting again at featherweight seemed unsafe and improbable by UFC 303. However, Lopes agreed on a move to lightweight himself, keeping Ortega-Lopes booked for Saturday, just at a higher weight class than what is usually expected from them.
Before the Lopes fight, Ortega was bulking up to lightweight for a potential bout at UFC 306 in the new Las Vegas Sphere on Sept. 14. But when UFC 303's initial and co-main fights pretty much completely fell through, Ortega-Lopes was booked for then quite quickly. Yet because Ortega had been gearing up for a move to lightweight, fighting again at featherweight seemed unsafe and improbable by UFC 303. However, Lopes agreed on a move to lightweight himself, keeping Ortega-Lopes booked for Saturday, just at a higher weight class than what is usually expected from them.