Over the past decade, Brian Ortega has fought many of the best featherweights of his era. Now, as he gets ready to move up to lightweight, 'T-City' has named the two opponents who stood out most. The hardest puncher was Diego Lopes. The toughest fight was against Alexander Volkanovski.
Key takeaways
- Hardest hitter: Diego Lopes. His overhand right dropped Ortega in the opening seconds of their fight at UFC 306.
- Toughest opponent: Alexander Volkanovski, who survived a near-finish in their 2021 title fight at UFC 266.
- Next: Ortega, 35, moves up to lightweight for a rematch with Renato Moicano at UFC 331 later this month.
A career against the best
Ortega arrived in the UFC unbeaten at 25 and quickly built a strong record. He has beaten Cub Swanson, Clay Guida, Renato Moicano, Diego Brandao, Frankie Edgar, The Korean Zombie and Yair Rodriguez. He has also fought Max Holloway, Alexander Volkanovski and Aljamain Sterling. Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said that none of those well-known names hit him the hardest.
Hardest hitter: Diego Lopes
That title goes to Diego Lopes. At UFC 306, Lopes dropped Ortega with an overhand right almost as soon as the fight started. Ortega said the uppercut that followed was what brought him back round, but the damage was done and he never really settled. Lopes won a unanimous decision and later earned a featherweight title shot against Volkanovski.
"That shot basically dropped me, and then the uppercut woke me up, which threw me off in that fight. So I would say he has crazy power in his hands."
— Brian Ortega on Diego Lopes
Volkanovski also gets a mention here. Ortega remembers walking straight into one of his crosses and feeling its power. He named those two as the fighters whose punches he really felt.
Toughest opponent: Alexander Volkanovski
Ortega has done almost everything in the sport except win an undisputed UFC title, and he came closest against Volkanovski. At UFC 266 in 2021, the pair had a five-round fight that is still remembered as a classic. In the third round, Ortega caught the Australian in submissions that nearly ended the fight. A win would have made him champion and ended Volkanovski's long winning streak. Volkanovski escaped and went on to win.
"We had a great third round where it looked like I was seconds away from finishing the fight, but he was able to thug it out, dig deep into his heart and will, and escape... He fought all the way through to get out."
— Brian Ortega on Alexander Volkanovski
For Ortega, it came down to one question: when you are in that kind of trouble, do you give up or keep fighting? Volkanovski kept fighting, and that is why Ortega ranks him above everyone else he has faced.
A new division, and a familiar opponent
At 35, Ortega is moving up to lightweight. His first opponent there is someone he already knows: Renato Moicano, whom he beat back in 2017. The rematch is part of UFC 331 later this month.
UFC 331 at a glance
- Main event: Joshua Van v Alexandre Pantoja, undisputed flyweight title
- Co-main event: Arman Tsarukyan v Mauricio Ruffy, five-round lightweight fight
- Also on the card: Brian Ortega v Renato Moicano 2, Ortega's first fight at lightweight
The bottom line. Ortega's answers say a lot about his career. The hardest punch came from a newer star, while his toughest test was the night he came closest to a UFC title. At lightweight he will face bigger opponents and more power. A second win over Moicano would show he can still compete near the top in a new division.
