Anyone else disappointed Ortega turned down the fight with Stephens?

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Joemacka

Bisping is GOAT
Oct 19, 2015
5,060
8,846
I thought Ortega was the type of guy who puts it all on the line, not gonna lie its kinda rubbed me the wrong way.

Thoughts?
 

Enock-O-Lypse Now!

Underneath Denver International Airport
Jun 19, 2016
12,228
20,284
Not really -- Stephens is trying his hardest to stay relevant while Ortega has been on an upward swing climbing the ladder for years now ...

Ortega is at the summit ...no need to take a dirty but somewhat dangerous fight against a low level brawler that may take away all he has worked for.

Stephens has all to gain here ...a Win shoots him back to the top of "title contender" .....while a loss means nothing for Stephens because he's basically a journeyman fighter at this point of his career.

If Ortega looses it kills all that momentum he has built up -- a win over Stephens means nothing.


I'm perfectly fine with Ortega declining the fight.
 

FrankieNYC

"My balls was hot!"
Aug 13, 2017
3,959
6,706
When it looked like they might do it a month later? NO
now that it seems like a few months later (if ever)? A bit
 

Joemacka

Bisping is GOAT
Oct 19, 2015
5,060
8,846
Ortega could have fought Stephens for the Interim belt and won. We dont know how long Holloway is gonna be out for so hes just gonna sit on the sideline. What if for whatever reason Max ends up having to vacate. Ortega now has just wasted months and he is still gonna have to fight someone else for a belt.

If Stephens beats Aldo everyone is now talking about Stephens. You gotta keep relevant by fighting, how many times have we seen number1 contenders get passed up waiting.
 
Nov 21, 2015
9,248
12,502
Ortega could have fought Stephens for the Interim belt and won. We dont know how long Holloway is gonna be out for so hes just gonna sit on the sideline. What if for whatever reason Max ends up having to vacate. Ortega now has just wasted months and he is still gonna have to fight someone else for a belt.

If Stephens beats Aldo everyone is now talking about Stephens. You gotta keep relevant by fighting, how many times have we seen number1 contenders get passed up waiting.
Yeah seeing as it was for the Interim Belt I thought he shoulda took it.
That would have at least guaranteed him the unification bout. We all know
how vindictive Egg is too.

Don't be surprised if he finds a way to pass over Ortega for the next Title shot as payback
 

Enock-O-Lypse Now!

Underneath Denver International Airport
Jun 19, 2016
12,228
20,284
Ortega could have fought Stephens for the Interim belt and won. We dont know how long Holloway is gonna be out for so hes just gonna sit on the sideline. What if for whatever reason Max ends up having to vacate. Ortega now has just wasted months and he is still gonna have to fight someone else for a belt.

If Stephens beats Aldo everyone is now talking about Stephens. You gotta keep relevant by fighting, how many times have we seen number1 contenders get passed up waiting.

You ever play sports growing up?

Are you a long term thinker or a short term thinker?

Do you believe Pacific Islanders are Aliens?
 

Howard Moon

Posting Machine
Sep 6, 2015
1,158
2,398
Too many details I don't have for me to be making judgements about some others dude's life/career.

I'll just hope Max either gets better or makes way.

Edit: added the apostrophe, it was bugging me.
 
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Dick Niaz

Yearning for TMMAC days gone by
Jan 14, 2018
12,278
25,375
Stephens is peaking in his career right now, IMO. His 15-13 UFC record doesn’t tell the whole story.....or actually it does, but the story has been one of him finding the right weight class and evolving his style. He has always had thunder in his hands and a solid chin, but now he is fighting like the veteran he is. I would have had no problems with him (as the #5 ranked FW) getting an interim shot if Frankie wasn’t able/willing.
 

Joemacka

Bisping is GOAT
Oct 19, 2015
5,060
8,846
Stephens is peaking in his career right now, IMO. His 15-13 UFC record doesn’t tell the whole story.....or actually it does, but the story has been one of him finding the right weight class and evolving his style. He has always had thunder in his hands and a solid chin, but now he is fighting like the veteran he is. I would have had no problems with him (as the #5 ranked FW) getting an interim shot if Frankie wasn’t able/willing.
Spot on. Dominant performances over his last three opponents in Melendez, Choi and Emmett.
 

KWingJitsu

ยาเม็ดสีแดงหรือสีฟ้ายา?
Nov 15, 2015
10,311
12,689
No.

Because UFC pays way less when you fight a replacement.

See DC vs. ANDERSON SILVA.
Dcs pay was cut in half.
 
M

member 3289

Guest
No.

Because UFC pays way less when you fight a replacement.

See DC vs. ANDERSON SILVA.
Dcs pay was cut in half.
That's only because his fight was changed to a non-title bout.

As long as Ortega was still fighting for a title (interim or otherwise), his pay would have been the same.
 

Pitbull9

Daddy
Jan 28, 2015
9,832
14,090
I wouldve taken that fight if i was Brian. Stephens is tough as fuck and you will have to fight him at some point, do it now on short notice where he may gas, dont give him a full camp or he can change your life, ask Emmit.
 

GSPTrainingInAPool

Man on the silver mountain
Dec 1, 2015
2,995
3,821
Too many details I don't have for me to be making judgements about some others dude's life/career.

I'll just hope Max either gets better or makes way.

Edit: added the apostrophe, it was bugging me.
I'd to know when Max started showing concussion symptoms. If he wasn't showing them when the fight was signed then how the hell is he training??

Before understanding more about Max's condition and how it started/worsened i can't be any more disappointed than missing out on a good fight. i don't hold anyone responsible to take a replacement.
 
T

The Big Guy

Guest
Not really -- Stephens is trying his hardest to stay relevant while Ortega has been on an upward swing climbing the ladder for years now ...

Ortega is at the summit ...no need to take a dirty but somewhat dangerous fight against a low level brawler that may take away all he has worked for.

Stephens has all to gain here ...a Win shoots him back to the top of "title contender" .....while a loss means nothing for Stephens because he's basically a journeyman fighter at this point of his career.

If Ortega looses it kills all that momentum he has built up -- a win over Stephens means nothing.


I'm perfectly fine with Ortega declining the fight.
Ortega loses nearly every round until he wins expect for the frankie fight. Ortega is way overhyped and has gotten lucky twice recently. Rewatch his fight with moicano and guida both 3rd rd gift finishes in fights he was losing

Ortega will never be champ unless dana gives him the belt

Plus stephens is on a run and is only a win or two from a title shot and he would probably ktfo ortega
 

SCADA

Posting Machine
Oct 10, 2016
4,021
4,254
It would be nice to here the whole story...

But the risk has to be worth the reward....if it's not, then why do it.
 

Andrewsimar Palhardass

Women, dinosaurs, and the violence of the octagon.
Jan 8, 2016
5,234
6,806
It's not Brian's fault the fight fell through. We are asking a lot of guys as it is.

In my opinion, we should celebrate the fighters who take the short notice fights, but we shouldn't hold it against fighters when they don't. It's not our career, and we don't feel the consequences.
 

delightone

Insert Crown here
First 100
Jan 14, 2015
3,438
4,263
Nope there is absolutly no gain for him to fight Jeremy, and it actually would be pretty stupid on a few days notice while you were supposed to fight for the belt.

Just ask Frankie Edgar.
 
Nov 21, 2015
9,248
12,502
Nope there is absolutly no gain for him to fight Jeremy, and it actually would be pretty stupid on a few days notice while you were supposed to fight for the belt.

Just ask Frankie Edgar.
The thing is it was for the Interim belt and Ortega at least had a full camp
and Jeremy hasn't.

I just think you gotta take those shots. I think he just fucked himself
with Dana. They've been putting a lot of dollars and marketing into him
and they expect to be paid back those favors in spades...

He will soon regret crossing Dana here
 
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