Brian Ortega put himself back in the title discussion on Saturday when he avenged his loss to Yair Rodriguez in their UFC Fight Night 237 rematch.
After their first fight in July 2022 ended with Ortega (16-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) suffering an arm injury in the first round, Rodriguez (15-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) could not repeat the result. Ortega got his hand raised by third-round submission in the featherweight co-headliner, which took place at Mexico City Arena in Mexico City.
Check below for the top X (formerly Twitter) reactions to Ortega’s victory over Rodriguez at UFC Fight Night 237.
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MMA Junkie
Co-main event time at #UFCMexico!
Full coverage: https://t.co/66G45E8Iwj pic.twitter.com/odkyUHSeZB
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) February 25, 2024
UFC
Ready for the return 🔥@BrianTCity | #UFCMexico pic.twitter.com/v1XENq49Pp
— UFC (@ufc) February 25, 2024
ESPN MMA
Yair Rodriguez’s #UFCMexico entrance ⚡🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/OibvAUlLRl
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) February 25, 2024
Caposa
Ortega just injured himself during the intro holy shit
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) February 25, 2024
Matthew Wells
Was that Ortega trying to shake out a leg issue during Buffer's introduction? #UFCMexico
— Matthew Wells (@MrMWells) February 25, 2024
Terrance McKinney
Oh hell nah y’all peep Brodie twist his ankle 👀
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) February 25, 2024
Derek Brunson
Did Ortega just hurt himself warming up 😱
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) February 25, 2024
UFC
Hora de la verdad ❗️ #UFCMexico pic.twitter.com/X2v2lBpQZF
— UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) February 25, 2024
Bloody Elbow
Ortega marching forward early, trying to walk Yair down. Both men throwing with intent from the jump. #UFCMexico
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) February 25, 2024
Cageside Press
Yair throwing HEAT, but Brian lands on him too!
NASTY LEFT HAND ROCKS BRIAN!!!! BRIAN IN ON A SINGLE AND HE'S EATING HAMMERS!!!! YAIR AVOIDS THE TAKEDOWN FOR NOW!!!! BIG KNE FOR YAIR!!! BIG SHOTS FROM YAIR!!!! #UFCMexicoCity
— Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) February 25, 2024
Derek Brunson
Ortega might have the roughest first rounds in the history of mma . Dude is just too tough !
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) February 25, 2024
Caposa
Ortega's chin is ridiculous
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) February 25, 2024
Kevin Iole
Rodriguez drops him again and then lands two big shots from the top.
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) February 25, 2024
Megan Anderson
Brian Ortega hasn't fought in over a year and a half, comes back in a 5 round co-main against Yair Rodriguez at elevation..
Much respect 👏🏻 #UFCMexicoCity
— Megan Anderson (@MeganAnderson) February 25, 2024
Jared Gordon
Great first rd
— Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) February 25, 2024
Michael Carroll
Ortega unofficially goes -37 in significant strike differential in R1. Has Yair right where he wants him. #UFCMexico
— Michael Carroll (@MJCflipdascript) February 25, 2024
Aaron Bronsteter
10-9 Rodriguez.
On the cusp of a 10-8, but I think Ortega may have done enough to avoid it.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) February 25, 2024
Kenny Florian
Rodriguez on that Amanda Lemos decision making vibe.
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) February 25, 2024
Mookie Alexander
Worth noting that Yair lost the 3rd round in two of his other Mexico City fights and the other Mexico City fight was the Stephens eye poke in 15 seconds.
And of course, he was on his way to losing in Denver vs. TKZ before… you know…
— Mookie Alexander (@mookiealexander) February 25, 2024
Peter Caroll
Man, the longer this goes the more Yair is going regret not making Ortega stand up in the first.
— Peter Carroll (@PetesyCarroll) February 25, 2024
Derek Brunson
Ortega about to do it ! There’s a drastic difference in the grappling !
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) February 25, 2024
Kevin Iole
Yair cut by right eye from Ortega GNP
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) February 25, 2024
Aaron Bronsteter
19-19 heading into the third.
Great bounce back round for Ortega
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) February 25, 2024
Spinnin Backfist
19-19 after 2 rounds IMO.
could somewhat make the case for 10-8 both rounds LOL. #UFCMexico
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) February 25, 2024
Kenny Florian
10-8 Yair, round 1. 10-9 Ortega round 2. Yair is fading here. Ortega coming back strong.
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) February 25, 2024
Cageside Press
R3 – BIG shots from Yair! Head kick! Another! Brian in on a shot already!!!!
Annnnd the takedown for Brian. Brian on top! MOUNT!
ARM TRIANGLE!!!!!!!!!! CAN HE FINISH IT?!?!
TAP TAP TAPPITY TAP TAP!!!!!!!!!!
BRIAN ORTEGA!!!!!!! #UFCMexicoCity
— Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) February 25, 2024
Derek Brunson
Ortega what a ******* g DOG . Heart he always shows !
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) February 25, 2024
Marc Raimondi
Holy cow @BrianTcity
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) February 25, 2024
Terrance McKinney
Twisted his ankle at opening bell and still finished in the third against Yair what a savage #UFCMexico
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) February 25, 2024
Megan Anderson
T City gets it done in Mexico City 👏🏻👏🏻
All he needed to do was get the fight to the ground, and it was just a matter of time.. #UFCMexicoCity
— Megan Anderson (@MeganAnderson) February 25, 2024
Spinnin Backfist
BRIAN ORTEGA THE COMEBACK KID GETS THE CHOKE OVER YAIR #UFCMexico pic.twitter.com/RyFuJ2FkRy
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) February 25, 2024
Dan Ige
Great heart by Brian Ortega battling through adversity against the always dangerous Yair! #UFCMexicoCity
— Dan Ige (@Dynamitedan808) February 25, 2024
MMA Junkie
Brian Ortega gets his redemption at #UFCMexico. pic.twitter.com/bx2uzRDGQJ
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) February 25, 2024
Kenny Florian
Ortega showed insane grit coming back from a rough round 1 and perhaps an even rougher last couple years. Clean sub and superior conditioning. 👏
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) February 25, 2024
MMA Junkie
#UFCMexico results: Brian Ortega (@BrianTcity) def. Yair Rodriguez via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 3, 0:58
Full coverage: https://t.co/66G45E8Iwj pic.twitter.com/WoFOWxxjFb
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) February 25, 2024
Michael Carroll
MOST FEATHERWEIGHT FINISHES – UFC History
11 – Max Holloway
07 – Brian Ortega
07 – Ricardo LamasMOST FEATHERWEIGHT SUBMISSIONS – UFC History
6 – Charles Oliveira
4 – Brian Ortega
4 – Makwan Amirkhani
4 – Daniel Pineda
4 – Chas Skelly#UFCMexico— Michael Carroll (@MJCflipdascript) February 25, 2024
Terrance McKinney
Ortega is back 🫡
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) February 25, 2024
Aljamain Sterling
So much improvement in that wrestling department! Wow Ortega looked great!! #UFCMexicoCity
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) February 25, 2024
UFC
After #UFCMexico Brian Ortega is now tied for the second most finishes in featherweight history 🔥
11 – Max Holloway
07 – @BrianTCity
07 – Ricardo Lamas pic.twitter.com/vxMm8xh388— UFC (@ufc) February 25, 2024
UFC
MOST FEATHERWEIGHT SUBMISSIONS – @UFC History
6 – Charles Oliveira
4 – Brian Ortega (@BrianTCity)
4 – Makwan Amirkhani
4 – Daniel Pineda
4 – Chas SkellyAll #UFCMexico Fight Results ➡️: https://t.co/MR7CK0Mrhn
— UFC News (@UFCNews) February 25, 2024
Gina Carano
Aww so happy for you @BrianTcity God bless man, so well deserved, so tough. ❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/2hT42hs5DW
— Gina Carano 🕯 (@ginacarano) February 25, 2024
Haduuckan
Brian Ortega scared by Marc Goddard was one of the best things of the night hahaha. #UFCMexico #UFCMexicoCity pic.twitter.com/o2Is9xmLF9
— Haduucken (@Haduuuucken) February 25, 2024
Jalin Turner
Let’s go!!!!!!! @BrianTcity 🫡
— Jalin Turner (@JalinTurner) February 25, 2024
Rener Gracie
20 years. #UFCMexicoCity pic.twitter.com/eL2RWl8TGv
— Rener Gracie (@RenerGracie) February 25, 2024
