Brian Ortega did not hear a bell against BMF champion Max Holloway.
The #5-ranking UFC fever weight has been about to have a world title in his career twice. Unfortunately for Ortega he fought two of the largest featherweights of all time in Max Holloway and current undisputed champion Alexander Volkanovski.
Instead of taking an extensive break for a title Kans, Ortega decided to fight Diego Lopes in September on UFC 306, where he was almost eliminated for the first time.
Ortega is never really eliminated, but the former Challenger title was certainly on the ropes years ago.
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Brian Ortega wanted to keep fighting Max Holloway with two broken hands on UFC 231
Ortega's first title option arrived at UFC 231 on December 8, 2018 in Toronto, Canada.
Ortega was undefeated on 14-0 when he fought against Holloway and the grooming opportunities were close even for the fight with featherweight. However, the chances would not reflect the title fight, while Holloway imposed a striking clinic on Ortega over four rounds, even learn to box his opponent in the middle of the fight.
Between rounds 4 and 5, the doctor put an end to the match at the Cageside after he had seen how much damage Ortega had suffered. Ortega looked like a zombie with one of his eyes, all swollen.
“I was pissed off,” said Ortega about the Holloway Doctor stoppage on Chattin 'Pony Podcast.
“My coach Henry was like, hey, bro, I think we should stop. I was like, f – no. [what] The F—? Hell no, I know this hurts you now, but he's tired of beating me.
'There are five minutes [left in the fight]. He prepared me, Bro. What will he do that is worse? I am already f – up. Like, let's go.
“The doctor saw me, and he was just like, no, man. I had something like that, Bro. Come on …
“Of course I was sad about that. And then I want to say, maybe fifteen, twenty seconds or so, I looked down. I had a lot of pain in my hands, and I realized, like, both of my f – hands were broken. That was like, oh, s – I was like, okay …”
Max Holloway gave a cold message to Dustin Poirier prior to UFC 318
Ortega is one of the many names that Holloway has defeated in his 30-Fight career.
'Blessed' has defeated the will of Justin Gaethje, the Korean zombie, Yair Rodriguez, Frankie Edgar and more. A name Holloway fought twice, but was never able to beat, Dustin Poirier.
On July 19 on July 19, Holloway seems to avoid a three-peat, as he had against Alexander Volkanovski, in his trilogy fight with Poirier on UFC 318.
The BMF champion will put his title at stake while he seems to retire Poirier once and for all.
“He took my unbeaten record,” said Holloway about Poirier, who submitted him to his UFC debut in 2012.
“He took my 13-Vecht profit freak.
“July 19, I'm going to take on his pension fight,” said Holloway in a UFC 318 promo.
Poirier and Holloway crossed the last paths for the interim-light weight championship in 2019. Poirier won the Rematch in a heavily fought unanimous decision, which came in the vicinity of the Hawaiianian.