UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Brian Ortega is frequently reminded of what almost was.
As Alexander Volkanovski enters the pound-for-pound best debate, Ortega (15-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) reflects on how close he was to changing the course of history last September when he nearly submitted the featherweight champion. It was so close, yet so far away. Ortega ultimately lost a unanimous decision at UFC 266.
“I sat there, and I looked at that tape over and over again,” Ortega told MMA Junkie and other reporters during UFC on ABC 3 media day on Wednesday. “I said, ‘How the f*ck did this man get out of that choke?’ I was on top celebrating. I’ll be honest with you. I was in there, and I had him in that guillotine, and I was like, ‘I’m about to be a world champ.’ I swear. I was just waiting for the tap, and it never came.
