Brian Ortega facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brian Ortega |
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Ortega in 2018
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| Born | Brian Martin Ortega February 21, 1991 San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Nickname(s) | T-City |
| Nationality | American Mexican |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Weight | 145 lb (66 kg) |
| Division | Featherweight Lightweight |
| Reach | 69 in (175 cm) |
| Fighting out of | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Team | Black Belt Surfing Black House MMA (formerly) Gracie University HQ (2004–present) Huntington Beach Ultimate Training Center (2019–present) |
| Trainer | Rener Gracie |
| Rank | 1st degree BJJ black belt |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 21 |
| Wins | 16 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 8 |
| By decision | 5 |
| Losses | 4 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By decision | 2 |
| No contests | 1 |
Brian Martin Ortega (born February 21, 1991) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He is known for competing in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Ortega has been a professional fighter since 2010. He was also the Featherweight Champion in the RFA. As of July 28, 2025, he is ranked #4 in the UFC featherweight rankings.
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About Brian Ortega
Brian Ortega was born on February 21, 1991, in Los Angeles, California. His parents are from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, so Brian has both American and Mexican citizenship. He grew up in San Pedro, California.
When Brian was 13, his father enrolled him in the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Torrance, California. This is where he started learning Brazilian jiu-jitsu. His main coach, Rener Gracie, quickly saw that Brian had a lot of talent.
Brian's Fighting Career
Starting Out
At 17, Brian met boxing coach James Luhrsen. James helped him improve his striking skills, which went well with the ground fighting he learned from Gracie. Brian started his professional career fighting in smaller events in Southern California. He won his first championship by beating Carlos Garces. This made him the Respect in the Cage featherweight champion.
Brian built an amazing record of 8 wins and 0 losses before joining the UFC in April 2014. He often said that the support from James Luhrsen and Rener Gracie helped him succeed.
Fighting in the UFC
Brian Ortega was supposed to make his first UFC appearance on May 31, 2014. However, his opponent pulled out, so Brian's debut was delayed.
He finally fought in the UFC on July 26, 2014, against Mike De La Torre. The fight result was later changed to "No Contest".
Key UFC Fights
- On June 6, 2015, Brian faced Thiago Tavares at UFC Fight Night 68. He won the fight in the third round. Both fighters earned a Fight of the Night bonus for their exciting performance.
- Brian fought Diego Brandão on January 2, 2016, at UFC 195. Diego was a skilled Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. Brian won in the third round with a triangle choke.
- At UFC 199 on June 4, 2016, Brian defeated Clay Guida by knockout in the third round. He won with a flying knee late in the fight.
- On July 29, 2017, Brian faced Renato Moicano at UFC 214. He won by submission in the third round with a guillotine choke. Both fighters received a Fight of the Night bonus.
- Brian fought Cub Swanson on December 9, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 123. He won in the second round with a guillotine choke. This win earned him both Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night awards.
- On March 3, 2018, Brian faced Frankie Edgar at UFC 222. He won by knockout in the first round. This was a big win because he was the first person to ever finish Edgar in MMA. He also earned a Performance of the Night bonus.
Championship Challenges
Brian was set to fight Max Holloway for the UFC Featherweight Championship on July 7, 2018. However, Holloway had to withdraw due to health issues, so the fight was postponed.
The championship fight against Max Holloway finally happened on December 8, 2018, at UFC 231. Brian lost the fight when the doctor stopped it in the fourth round. This fight was so exciting that it earned both fighters the Fight of the Night award.
Brian was scheduled to fight Chan Sung Jung (also known as "The Korean Zombie") in December 2019, but Brian had a knee injury. The fight eventually took place on October 18, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs. The Korean Zombie. Brian won the match by unanimous decision.
He was then scheduled for another UFC Featherweight Championship fight against Alexander Volkanovski on March 27, 2021. This fight was canceled due to health protocols.
Brian and Alexander Volkanovski later became coaches for The Ultimate Fighter 29, a reality show where fighters compete.
Brian faced Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC Featherweight Championship on September 25, 2021, at UFC 266. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. This fight also earned a Fight of the Night award.
Recent Fights
On July 16, 2022, Brian fought Yair Rodríguez at UFC on ABC 3. He lost the fight in the first round due to a shoulder injury.
After a break, Brian had a rematch against Yair Rodríguez on February 24, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 237. Brian won this fight with an arm-triangle submission in the third round. This earned him another Performance of the Night award.
Brian was scheduled to fight Diego Lopes on June 29, 2024, at UFC 303. The fight was changed to a different weight class and then Brian had to withdraw due to illness.
The fight with Diego Lopes was rescheduled and took place on September 14, 2024, at UFC 306. Brian lost this fight by unanimous decision.
Brian is scheduled to face former UFC Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling on August 23, 2025.
Achievements
Brian Ortega has achieved many things in his fighting career:
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- He has won the Fight of the Night award five times.
- He has won the Performance of the Night award three times.
- He is tied for the second most finishes in UFC Featherweight division history (7).
- He is tied for the second most submissions in UFC Featherweight division history (4).
- Resurrection Fighting Alliance
- He was the RFA Featherweight Champion one time.
- World MMA Awards
- He was named the 2017 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year.
Personal Life
Brian Ortega has two sons. He was engaged to fellow UFC fighter Tracy Cortez.
Mixed Martial Arts Record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 21 matches | 16 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 3 | 2 |
| By submission | 8 | 0 |
| By decision | 5 | 2 |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 16–4 (1) | Diego Lopes | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 306 | September 14, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 16–3 (1) | Yair Rodríguez | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 | February 24, 2024 | 3 | 0:58 | Mexico City, Mexico | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 15–3 (1) | Yair Rodríguez | TKO (shoulder injury) | UFC on ABC: Ortega vs. Rodríguez | July 16, 2022 | 1 | 4:11 | Elmont, New York, United States | |
| Loss | 15–2 (1) | Alexander Volkanovski | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 266 | September 25, 2021 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | For the UFC Featherweight Championship. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 15–1 (1) | Jung Chan-sung | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs. The Korean Zombie | October 18, 2020 | 5 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Loss | 14–1 (1) | Max Holloway | TKO (doctor stoppage) | UFC 231 | December 8, 2018 | 4 | 5:00 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | For the UFC Featherweight Championship. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 14–0 (1) | Frankie Edgar | KO (punch) | UFC 222 | March 3, 2018 | 1 | 4:44 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 13–0 (1) | Cub Swanson | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Ortega | December 9, 2017 | 2 | 3:22 | Fresno, California, United States | Performance of the Night. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 12–0 (1) | Renato Moicano | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC 214 | July 29, 2017 | 3 | 2:59 | Anaheim, California, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 11–0 (1) | Clay Guida | KO (knee) | UFC 199 | June 4, 2016 | 3 | 4:40 | Inglewood, California, United States | |
| Win | 10–0 (1) | Diego Brandão | Submission (triangle choke) | UFC 195 | January 2, 2016 | 3 | 1:37 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| NC | 8–0 (1) | Mike De La Torre | NC (overturned) | UFC on Fox: Lawler vs. Brown | July 26, 2014 | 1 | 1:39 | San Jose, California, United States | |
| Win | 8–0 | Keoni Koch | Decision (split) | RFA 12 | January 24, 2014 | 5 | 5:00 | Los Angeles, California, United States | Won the RFA Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–0 | Jordan Rinaldi | Submission (triangle choke) | RFA 9 | August 6, 2013 | 3 | 2:29 | Pomona, California, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Thomas Guimond | Submission (triangle choke) | Respect in the Cage 20 | May 4, 2013 | 1 | 4:02 | Pomona, California, United States | Defended the RTC Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 5–0 | Carlos Garces | Decision (unanimous) | Respect in the Cage 10 | March 12, 2011 | 5 | 5:00 | Pomona, California, United States | Won the RTC Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 4–0 | Chris Mercado | Decision (unanimous) | Respect in the Cage 9 | January 15, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Pomona, California, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Vincent Martinez | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Respect in the Cage 5 | July 24, 2010 | 1 | 1:54 | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Brady Harrison | Decision (unanimous) | Gladiator Challenge: Bad Behaviour | June 27, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | San Jacinto, California, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | John Sassone | Submission (triangle choke) | Gladiator Challenge: Maximum Force | April 25, 2010 | 1 | 1:48 | San Jacinto, California, United States |
See also
In Spanish: Brian Ortega para niños
- List of current UFC fighters
- List of male mixed martial artists
