Brian Ortega showed off his toughness and heart on Saturday, December 8 against featherweight champion Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 231. Ortega was battered and beaten throughout four rounds before the doctor mercifully stepped in to stop the fight.
It was the first loss of Ortega’s professional career, and many were ready to see how he would respond after tasting defeat in such a brutal manner.
Well, we didn’t have to wait long.
Shortly after the fight, “T-City” took to social media to issue a statement on his loss and to detail the injuries suffered during the bout.
“Doctor stopped it and I agree. Broken nose and a broken thumb I was willing to die in there. Last night was Max’s night. I’ll be back,” Ortega wrote on Instagram along with a photo from his bloody war which earned a $50,000 bonus for Fight of the Night.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrLw9Qpnlah/
Ortega’s coach Rener Gracie also issued a statement on his fighter’s loss.
“When we arrived at the hospital, the first thing you said was ‘I’m sorry.’ My brother, you have nothing to be sorry about. You came from nothing and you competed on the highest level against one of the best p4p fighters in the world,” Gracie wrote.
“For four rounds, you took his best shots, but you never went down and you never stopped firing back. The heart you displayed last night could never be taught, and I’ve never been so proud to be your coach, your friend and your fan. You didn’t fail, Max prevailed. And if it was ever possible to win in defeat, you did it last night. I love you bro.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrLUrNih_vz/?utm_source=ig_embed
For now, Ortega will have to heal up from the injuries he suffered at UFC 231 before ultimately making his return to action.
UFC 231 Results
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrLKNmjjy_2/
Main card
- Max Holloway def. Brian Ortega via fourth-round TKO (5:00)
- Valentina Shevchenko def. Joanna Jedrzejczyk via unanimous decision
- Gunnar Nelson def. Alex Oliveira via submission (RNC) (R2, 4:17)
- Hakeem Dawodu def. Kyle Bochniak via SD (28-29, 30-27 x2)
- Thiago Santos def. Jimi Manuwa via second-round KO (0:41)
Undercard
- Nina Ansaroff def. Claudia Gadelha via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
- Gilbert Burns def. Olivier Aubin-Mercier via UD (30-27 x2, 29-28)
- Jessica Eye def. Katlyn Chookagian via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Elias Theodorou def. Eryk Anders via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Brad Katona def. Matthew Lopez via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
- Dhiego Lima def. Chad Laprise via first-round KO (1:37)
- Diego Ferreira def. Kyle Nelson via second-round TKO (1:23)
- Aleksandar Rakic def. Devin Clark via first-round TKO (4:05)