Standard featherweight contender and former title challenger Brian Ortega lastly returns to motion this weekend on the primary card of UFC 306, aka Noche UFC, in opposition to surging prospect Diego Lopes.
While ‘T-Metropolis’ has teased that he may very well be set for a long-awaited move up to lightweight after his battle with Diego Lopes this weekend at The Sphere, the favored submission specialist was as soon as provided, and accepted, a matchup in opposition to the consensus biggest light-weight of all time.
Brian Ortega particulars how he nearly fought Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018
Talking to the media forward of his UFC 306 major card conflict with Brazilian Diego Lopes, Brian ‘T-City’ Ortega opened up about how he as soon as nearly stepped into the cage in opposition to the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Again in 2018, the promotion was struggling to discover a appropriate backup opponent after Tony Ferguson withdrew from his UFC 223 major occasion battle in opposition to ‘The Eagle’, with Ortega being one of some athletes who the UFC known as.
“That was in New York, yeah, I do not forget that. I used to be within the yard when Dana White known as me and mentioned, ‘Hey man’ – I imagine it was a brief discover battle, I don’t know the way brief, however he mentioned, ‘We want any person to battle Khabib bro’.
“I used to be like ‘Alright, let’s go’ and he was like ‘For actual?’ and I used to be like ‘Yeah’ – I feel he was shocked as nicely. That’s a matchup that you understand, the entire world’s going to say that I’d get my ass whooped… Cool.”
Apart from the opportunity of catapulting himself into title competition at light-weight, Ortega famous that he was additionally tempted to take the bout in order that he may put an finish to the ‘Sambo vs Jiu-Jitsu’ debate.
“However as a martial artist, there’s at all times been this complete Sambo vs Jiu-Jitsu or wrestling vs Jiu-Jitsu and at the moment, I believed in merging [the martial] arts, they’re in opposition to one another so let’s see if I generally is a good consultant of being a great topic [for Jiu-Jitsu].
“On the backside of a battle who can submit somebody or make it harmful for somebody who’s a well known grappler, somebody who’s simply identified for holding you down and you may’t do something about it.”
“That’s what intrigued me about it however yeah it was a tough week,” he admitted, explaining how after touring throughout the nation to attend UFC 223, he was knowledgeable that Max Holloway had additionally accepted the backup spot.
“I flew to New York, went over there and I used to be on standby the entire time; then I imagine Max [Holloway] stepped in after which Max stepped out, so that they known as me.”
Sadly, by the point the UFC known as him again to state that Max Holloway wouldn’t be capable of step in to face Nurmagomedov, he’d already thrown away his weight-cut plan.
“I used to be like ‘Bro, I simply ate a Junior’s Cheesecake, there’s no manner that I’m making weight’. I figured as soon as Max was in it was over, like cool you misplaced your likelihood, oh nicely.”
That battle provide finally landed at Al Iaquinta’s doorstep, each figuratively and actually for the New Yorker, with Nurmagomedov incomes the then-vacant light-weight title by way of a unanimous resolution.
“I’ve made peace with the truth that it’s by no means going to occur, if something I now simply admire what he did and respect every part that he’s accomplished for the game.”
Holloway and Ortega would themselves battle for the featherweight title just some months later, with ‘Blessed’ incomes the end in some of the one-sided beatdowns in MMA historical past.
Brian Ortega vs Diego Lopes goes down September 14 reside from The Sphere.
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