The Return of Brian 'T-City' Ortega

Before his highly anticipated bout with ‘The Korean Zombie’, Chan Sung Jung at UFC Fight Island 6, Brian Ortega had been written off by fans after a near 2 year lay-off. His last fight saw him take a 4-round beating from former champion Max Holloway, in which Holloway broke the record for the highest number of significant strikes landed in a fight and also the highest number of strikes landed in a single round. Given the damage he took in that fight, it is no shock that Ortega took the time off to recover, as well as requiring surgeries before he could return to the Octagon.

Ortega’s inactivity after the Holloway fight raised concerns about his ability to recapture the form he showed in the build-up to UFC 231. However, no such inactivity had been shown from his opponent Chan Sung Jung. After returning from compulsory military service in his native South Korea in 2017, The Korean Zombie had strung together a number of highlight-reel finishes over the likes of Dennis Bermudez, Renato Moicano and Frankie Edgar, and would have been next in line for a title shot with a victory over the returning Ortega.

The booking of this fight was one that delighted fans and analysts, with both fighters incorporating a very fan-friendly style that had the bout tipped as a fight of the year contender. Hype grew around the fight after an altercation between Ortega and Jay Park, a friend and interpreter of Jung’s, saw Ortega slap the K-Pop artist at UFC 248 after he allegedly claimed that the American fighter was ducking the fight with Jung. Ortega was forced to pull out of their scheduled bout for December with an injury to his ACL which prompted the statement from Park. 

After the two finally faced off nearly a year after the fight was first booked, the fans were not disappointed. Ortega, sporting a clean-shaven head, a far cry from his previous appearance, displayed a beautifully technical striking display, dismantling and nullifying The Korean Zombie’s attack. Setting the tone from the opening bell with a succession of powerful leg kicks, Ortega’s range control became the story of the fight, utilising his reach with a stinging jab.

The biggest moment in the fight came in round 2, where Ortega landed a clean spinning elbow that sat Jung down and had the round continued, may have seen Ortega get the finish. Landing more than double the significant strikes of Jung at a 60% clip, as well as scoring 3 takedowns, Ortega cruised to a unanimous decision, with all 3 judges scoring it 50-45 in his favour. 

The dominance of this display has earned Ortega the next shot at Alexander Volkanovski’s Featherweight title, confirmed by Dana White immediately after the final bell. This newly sharpened skill set from Ortega could cause serious problems for the champ, as his crisp striking and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Rener Gracie makes Ortega one of the most dangerous all-round fighters in the division. Speaking at the post-fight press conference in answer to questions about a rematch with Max Holloway, Ortega reiterated that the two will meet again, a prospect that excites every fan of MMA, but for now we can look forward to his second title shot, and a real opportunity for ‘T-City’ to show his class once again.

~ James Eakin

Image credits: [Centre] "Brian Ortega shines in return to action with decision over Korean Zombie", Brent Brookhouse. Available at: https://www.cbssports.com/mma/news/ufc-fight-night-results-highlights-brian-ortega-shines-in-return-to-action-with-decision-over-korean-zombie/live/ [Accessed: Nov' 20].