After nearly two years away from the UFC, Brian Ortega overcame an awkward landing on his ankle during his introduction to secure a third-round submission win against Yair Rodriguez, reestablishing himself as a top contender in the featherweight division.
Brian Ortega’s return to the UFC was almost over before it started. It had been nearly two years since he last competed. His co-main event with Yair Rodriguez was nearly cut short before he could even throw a punch.
At UFC Mexico City, Ortega had a misstep during his introduction by Bruce Buffer. He jumped, landed awkwardly on his ankle, and was visibly hurt. The broadcast team didn’t miss it.
Despite the odd injury, Ortega managed to bounce back. He even survived a near-finish by Rodriguez in the first round. In the third round, he secured a submission win. But he confessed that his comeback almost ended abruptly.
Ortega recalled his thoughts during the introduction. He remembered thinking, “Oh shoot, this is bad.” His coach, however, encouraged him to stay focused. He tried to flex his ankle, hoping it wouldn’t fail him during the five-round co-main event.
The first round was tough. Ortega ended up in the mount on Rodriguez just before the final horn. He then dominated the second round with his grappling game, putting Rodriguez on the back foot.
The third round barely started when Ortega secured another takedown. He ended the fight with a nasty arm-triangle choke, forcing Rodriguez to tap out. Looking back, Ortega realized his ankle injury could have cost him the fight.
“It was hurting,” Ortega admitted. He found it hard to focus on the fight while dealing with the pain. He felt like an idiot for rolling his ankle in front of 22,000 spectators. He had to fight some inner demons.
In the end, Ortega got the job done. His win over Rodriguez reestablished him as a top contender in the featherweight division. This happened just a week after a new champion was crowned.
Ilia Topuria took the 145-pound title with a knockout of Alexander Volkanovski in the UFC 298 main event. UFC CEO Dana White hopes to give Topuria a homecoming fight in Spain in 2024. Volkanovski has called for a rematch.
Ortega agreed that Volkanovski deserved recognition after his impressive run. But if Volkanovski needs a break, Ortega is ready to challenge Topuria. He finds it disrespectful to kick Volkanovski when he’s down.
Ortega hopes to avoid another war like the one with Rodriguez. He knows it’s nearly impossible to walk away unscathed at this level of the sport. He can’t predict how a fight with Topuria or anyone else would unfold, but he’s proven his resilience throughout his UFC career.
“There’s no easy fights, no easy wins here,” Ortega said. He’s been in nothing but main events and five-round fights since 2017. He’s fought the best of the best, and he’s always ready for the next challenge.