Brian Ortega has Khabib Nurmagomedov on radar after Max Holloway

[La Paix]

Sometimes the best decisions are the ones made without thought. That strategy has worked out for Brian Ortega, anyway.

Ortega (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) stepped up on short notice and knocked out former champion Frankie Edgar (23-6-1 MMA, 17-6-1 UFC) to seize the No. 1 contender’s position at featherweight. And for a brief second, he nearly got himself a shot at the lightweight title in the chaos before UFC 223.

Ortega was one of several fighters who volunteered to step in when interim champ Tony Ferguson (23-3 MMA, 13-1 UFC) injured his knee and withdrewfrom a headliner against Khabib Nurmagoedov(26-0 MMA, 10-0 UFC) at the pay-per-view event earlier this month.

“I took the fight no matter what, but when you make a decision, you don’t fully think through it,” Ortega, who next meets featherweight champ Max Holloway (19-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) at UFC 226, told MMAjunkie. “When I started finally thinking through it, I got excited.”

Brian Ortega has Khabib Nurmagomedov on radar after Max Holloway

 

[Ted Williams' head]

Ortega's JJ will be challenging for Khabib. If he gets reckless on one of his shots, he could find himself in one of Ortega's expert guillotines.

 

[SCADA]

I love Ortega in that fight...the dude is so good on the ground and his stand up is getting even better every fight.

#cardiofordays

 

[Sheepdog]

Sigh.

 

[Filthy]

i don't think it's necessary to state my opinion.
i think you already know.

 

[Hwoarang]

Ortega wins comfortably imo.

 

[Yossarian]

T-city will wrap him up, or knock his face off. He's too versatile for Khalabib.

 

[ShakaSway]

Just gonna throw this out there, announcing that is usually a bad omen before you win the initial belt. Many a good fighters have fallen to this.

MMA Gods are funny like that.

 

[Limpy]

I’m an Ortega nuttlicker. I honestly think he is the best 145er and 155er on the planet.

Holloway, Mcgregor, Khabib, all of them lose to him.

His bjj is probably the best in mma right now and his striking gets better and better with each fight.

He’s also incredibly dedicated to the sport and reaching his goals. I don’t doubt the kid. I think he’s the best prospect since clean Jon Jones (if that ever existed) and that includes Conor.

 

[Joemacka]

T-city will wrap him up, or knock his face off. He's too versatile for Khalabib.

Ortega beats Khabib but i think he loses to Holloway.

 

[benjo0101]

He shouldnt be looking any further than this fight.

 

[Robbie Hart]

He shouldnt be looking any further than this fight.

Yeah.....that’s not an easy fight

 

[Dirty Harry Potter]

I've only seen him fight twice ! Barely saw Khabib in 3 years! .
Talking title trash is some premature encapsulation of his ambitions,
at this point, I think .

 

[Mix6APlix]

Be careful what you wish for Mr. Ortega, you might get it.

 

[1031]

Has he shown total domination on the ground of any fighters at the same level as Khabib?