Brian Ortega headlines this Saturday’s UFC on ABC 3 card against Yair Rodriguez. It's a stage he welcomes and hopes will increase MMA's popularity.
“This is a great platform to shine on,” Ortega (15–2, 1 NC) says. “We can bring new eyes to the sport.”
Fighting on ABC is a great opportunity for Ortega, and a matchup against Rodriguez (13–3, 1 NC) should be captivating. But Ortega’s original goal wasn’t to be in this fight. He appeared to be on the verge of winning the UFC featherweight title last September, locking in two different submission attempts on Alexander Volkanovski. Yet Volkanovski broke free from the submission specialist’s grasp, and the performance instantly became one of the defining moments in his career — and a learning experience for Ortega.