UFC fans were disappointed to learn that Brian Ortega had to pull out of the co-main event at UFC 303 just hours before he was scheduled to compete.
UFC 303 Aftermath: Diego Lopez Offered Mega Rematch at Sphere Event in Las Vegas
Rumors circulated on the day of the fight that Dan Ige would replace Ortega in the match against Diego Lopez, and the UFC 303 broadcast team confirmed it at the start of the PPV main card. Ige vs. Lopez was one of the shortest-announced fights in UFC history, with only hours' notice.
Fans have been wondering why Ortega wasn't on the card, and now they have the answer.
T-City finally broke their silence, releasing a statement on Instagram on July 3rd.
“Coming into fight week I was in a bad mood and not in great condition,” Ortega revealed. “When I accepted the fight 15 days ago I was weighing 178 pounds. I trained seven hours straight on Thursday night and still couldn't get under 151. I later found out I was battling a fever, which stalled me out and prevented me from breaking the last five pounds.”
Ortega went on to say that he was grateful that UFC decided to move him up to 155 pounds in light of his struggles, but that it wasn't enough as his struggles continued.
“Thankfully, I was able to get down to 155 pounds,” Ortega continued. “I still felt bad at the weigh-in, but I figured if I hydrated and ate, it would go away. I still felt bad later that night, broke out in a cold sweat, and couldn't sleep. I finally fell asleep at 6am on Saturday morning, and woke up at 1pm hoping to feel better. I couldn't keep any food or water in my mouth, and I couldn't get up to go to the bathroom.”
UFC 303 fighter reveals recovery photos after horrific fight injury
“The love of fighting led me to do something crazy,” Ortega said in discussing the cancellation. He concluded his statement by expressing his respect for Diego Lopez and saying he has spoken with UFC officials and will “make amends” with Lopez.
Ortega's ordeal is a stark reminder of the physical toll of fighting a bout on short notice.
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