Brian Ortega wouldn’t fully embrace becoming UFC featherweight champion until he got another crack at Max Holloway.
Ortega (15-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) challenges Alexander Volkanovski for the 145-pound title March 27 at UFC 260, his second opportunity at UFC gold. The first time did not go his way.
In December 2018, a then-unbeaten Ortega had almost reached the pinnacle when he challenged Holloway in what turned out to be a big turning point in his career. Holloway battered a tough and resilient Ortega for four rounds until the doctor decided he had seen enough.
A few surgeries later, and Ortega was on the mend. He changed teams and geared up for a tough return after almost two years against Chan Sung Jung this past October, and he was able to rebound from his first-career loss in flawless fashion by dominating Jung.
While he’s happy to fight Volkanovski for the title, Ortega admits that the loss to Holloway (22-6 MMA, 18-6 UFC) still looms over him to this day.
“I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately,” Ortega told ESPN. “It’s like, OK, you win, you’re the champ, but this man beat you. I wouldn’t feel 100 percent the champ if I didn’t run it back. That man has that on his resume. He gave you your first loss, something you can never take from him. So now it’s like, well, we gotta make this right. So, yes, it would be amazing (to win the title) because there’s no credit taken from Alex Volkanovski. This man won twice over Max despite what everyone wants to talk about or say.”
He continued, “Obviously it would be amazing to be a champ and say mission accomplished. You told yourself you’re gonna get this belt, and you did it. Congratulations. Now f*ck this belt – Max. I’m a fighter, bro. I think he said it, ‘Bro, you beat me one time, I’m gonna want to fight you again. You beat me two times, I’m gonna want to fight you 80 times so I can beat you,’ and that’s the same mentality that I have. You f*ck me up 20 times, I’m gonna come back the 21st time. I still want something. I’m stubborn or a competitor, whatever you want to call it, but I have that fire in me, and that’s how I got better in the gym.”
Ortega insists that he’s not underestimating Volkanovski (22-1 MMA, 9-0 UFC). The champion has been able to outpoint every man he’s faced in the UFC, and Ortega knows he’s in for a tough stylistic matchup.
“I feel like he’s very technical,” Ortega said. “I feel like it’s gonna be somewhat of that type of fight. The man is a specimen when he goes in there and how he moves and how he creates his opportunities and how he goes and wins rounds and does what he does. Then when you try and push the pace and someone knows how to stop you, you also get respect. So he’s an interesting one. So now it’s time to go in there and decipher this puzzle. Who knows what it’s gonna take? I still have to get punched by him and feel what it has to take or share the octagon with him, but it’s something I look forward to.”
If Brian Ortega wins UFC title, he ‘wouldn’t feel 100 percent’ champ without Max Holloway rematch
