Noche UFC star Brian Ortega details how he almost fought Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018… 'I'd just ate a Junior's cheesecake'
12/09/2024 15:36
Popular featherweight contender and former title challenger Brian Ortega finally returns to action this weekend on the main card of UFC 306, aka Noche UFC, against surging prospect Diego Lopes.
Whilst 'T-City' has teased that he could be set for a long-awaited move up to lightweight after his fight with Diego Lopes this weekend at The Sphere, the popular submission specialist was once offered, and accepted, a matchup against the consensus greatest lightweight of all time.
Brian Ortega details how he almost fought Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018
Speaking to the media ahead of his UFC 306 main card clash with Brazilian Diego Lopes, Brian 'T-City' Ortega opened up about how he once almost stepped into the cage against the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Back in 2018, the promotion was struggling to find a suitable backup opponent after Tony Ferguson withdrew from his UFC 223 main event fight against 'The Eagle', with Ortega being one of a few athletes who the UFC called.
"That was in New York, yeah, I remember that. I was in the backyard when Dana White called me and said, 'Hey man' – I believe it was a short notice fight, I don't know how short, but he said, 'We need somebody to fight Khabib bro'.
"I was like 'Alright, let's go' and he was like 'For real?' and I was like 'Yeah' – I think he was shocked as well. That's a matchup that you know, the whole world's going to say that I'd get my ass whooped… Cool."
Aside from the possibility of catapulting himself into title contention at lightweight, Ortega noted that he was also tempted to take the bout so that he could put an end to the 'Sambo vs Jiu-Jitsu' debate.
"But as a martial artist, there's always been this whole Sambo vs Jiu-Jitsu or wrestling vs Jiu-Jitsu and at that time, I believed in merging [the martial] arts, they're against each other so let's see if I can be a good representative of being a good subject [for Jiu-Jitsu].
"At the bottom of a fight who can submit someone or make it dangerous for someone who's a well-known grappler, someone who's just known for holding you down and you can't do anything about it."
"That's what intrigued me about it but yeah it was a hard week," he admitted, explaining how after traveling across the country to attend UFC 223, he was informed that Max Holloway had also accepted the backup spot.
"I flew to New York, went over there and I was on standby the whole time; then I believe Max [Holloway] stepped in and then Max stepped out, so they called me."
Unfortunately, by the time the UFC called him back to state that Max Holloway wouldn't be able to step in to face Nurmagomedov, he'd already thrown away his weight-cut plan.
"I was like 'Bro, I just ate a Junior's Cheesecake, there's no way that I'm making weight'. I figured once Max was in it was over, like cool you lost your chance, oh well."
That fight offer eventually landed at Al Iaquinta's doorstep, both figuratively and literally for the New Yorker, with Nurmagomedov earning the then-vacant lightweight title via a unanimous decision.
"I've made peace with the fact that it's never going to happen, if anything I now just admire what he did and respect everything that he's done for the sport."
Holloway and Ortega would themselves fight for the featherweight title just a few months later, with 'Blessed' earning the finish in one of the most one-sided beatdowns in MMA history.
Brian Ortega vs Diego Lopes goes down September 14 live from The Sphere.
