Brian Ortega has accomplished everything at featherweight except for an undefeated UFC title run and now he has his sights set on new horizons.
Next Saturday, Ortega will face Diego Lopez in the co-main event of UFC 303 in Las Vegas. The bout was scheduled on short notice for both fighters after the top two bouts on the card (Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler and Jamahal Hill vs. Carlos Ulberg) were canceled. Ortega said he didn't expect his next fight to come so soon, or that it would be in the weight class he's competed in for the majority of his career.
Ortega was actually eyeing a lightweight bout at the Las Vegas Sphere in September.
“We talked about fighting at the Sphere on September 14th,” Ortega told MMA Junkie. “That was the only meaningful conversation they and I had. I said yes, they said yes, we were all excited and it worked out. They said there wasn't really anyone in my weight class that they wanted me to fight. They didn't want me to fight a contender, so I decided to move up to 155.”
Ortega, currently ranked No. 5 in the 145-pound division by MMA Fighting Global Rankings, is in limbo when it comes to championship contention after twice challenging for the UFC featherweight title, losing to Max Holloway at UFC 231 and Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 266.
Ortega has beaten several highly ranked contenders in his career, but his options at featherweight are unclear with current champion Ilia Topuria appearing to have the slot filled.
“There's no title fight anytime soon,” Ortega said.
“The way the fights are going,” he continued, “Max is guaranteed a title fight, and so is Volk. So if Topuria fights, it's going to be against Max. If Max wins, it'll be Max vs. Volk 4, and I'll have to wait until next year. If Topuria wins and it'll be Topuria vs. Volk 2, I'll have to wait until next year. So when I say the title fight won't come anytime soon, it's because of the favor they both did me. The leap and the risk they both took, Volk even had two weeks notice against Islam. [Makhachev]and to Max [Justin] I fought Gaethje for the BMF belt, even though Gaethje had a full camp. So it's tough for both of us. We've all been through a lot. So to say I'm here now and I deserve it, it's not true.
“Obviously, selfishly, I've always wanted to be a champion since I was a kid, but you have to accept reality. That's the reality of the game right now. That's the way it is and that's the direction we're heading. So why not enjoy your career?”
One of the issues that has plagued Ortega in recent years has been inactivity: Injuries have limited the 33-year-old to just four games since 2018, which he acknowledges is a result of his all-out style of play.
Ortega isn't targeting any particular opponent if he does go ahead with his plans to move up a weight class; he's simply looking to take advantage of a rare stretch of health for him.
“Islam at 155? I'm not even going after him,” Ortega said. “There's nothing in my weight class, so why not move up? Let me fight. I haven't been healthy for a while. I just want to fight, and at this point I've fought all the big names as a champion. I've beaten almost everyone I've faced except for two champions in their prime. I fought Max when he was Max, and Volk when he was Volk, and I came up short either time.
“Now it's time to carve my own path. If I continue to wait for them now, I'll either be living in their shadow or just waiting. I'm not waiting anymore. I have a beautiful life, a beautiful family, a beautiful home. I'm going to have a beautiful career. That's what it's all about for me.”
