UFC fighter Brian Ortega recently lost to Diego Lopes in the UFC 306 bout. However, the fighter is eager to pick up himself and move forward.
The bout ended with a unanimous decision victory for Lopes, who started the match strong. Ortega suffered a couple of injuries after the beatdown,n but he is undeterred by them.
“Thank you guys for all the messages. Face is a little bit swollen, lip is a little bit swollen. Obviously, the eye was crying for a bit, but it is what it is. I’ll be crying blood for a bit. Leg is swollen. I’m putting some cream on it with the machine. We’re good mentally and physically. Nothing is broken. Like I said, the prayer for me was just get me out of this fight without any surgery or things like that.
“We’re doing good. I did have some time to reflect, obviously. I’ve got to make some moves to get better. That’s it. But I’m very thankful for you guys. The amount of love and support and messages. Thank you, guys, for real. To guys like me, it means a lot,” Ortega said on his Instagram story.”
Notwithstanding the physical injuries, Ortega has continued with his training and is bent on improving himself. Before the bout with Lopes, the fighter had plans of moving up to lightweight.
Despite this change, Ortega is still intent on moving up in the weight division, although he has been rebooked for a bout.
“1000 percent (lightweight is the goal). Because you got Topuria and Max fighting in October, then after that, you have whatever date they decide on next year to fight. So, it’s like a line to fight for the belt, and depending on how this fight goes this weekend, it’s gonna determine whether the fans believe that I deserve another shot or not. Either or, my goal is to stay busy, and if there’s nothing for me in the Featherweight division, then I’ll move up,” Ortega said at UFC 306 media day.”
Ortega, 33, falls to 1-3 in his most recent four outings after a 15-1 start to his professional career. He’s challenged for UFC gold on two occasions, coming up short against Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski.
