Brian Ortega has eyes on a second shot at a UFC championship

Brian Ortega should be next for a title shot after his victory over “The Korean Zombie” on Saturday at UFC Fight Island 6. After all UFC president Dana White said earlier this week that the winner would get next for UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.

Ortega (15-1) may have just fought his first fight in 22 months, but he’s ready for another title shot. While he was out, he was keeping an eye on the division, including Volkanovski.

“I watched his fights – both of his fights with Max,” Ortega said at his post-fight press conference. “Obviously, after that, I had to watch that. (He’s) very methodical, very technical with the way he approached everything.”

No question asked, Ortega looked like primed for a title fight in his in impressive win in his UFC return as he won all five rounds over Chan Sung Jung.

“It felt great to come back and trust my team with everything we’ve been working hard to do and come out here and show the world,” Ortega said. “I knew I could do that once I actually stuck to a game plan and not get emotional like I used to. Of course, man. I’ve been working with these guys for a while now.”

Ortega’s lone blemish to his career was in his UFC featherweight title fight against former champion Max Holloway at UFC 231. In that fight, Holloway defended his belt by putting on a striking clinching. Ortega still reminders that night and eventually he wants a chance to avenge his only loss. Of course next he wants a shot to claim UFC gold, but down the road he plans on sharing the octagon with Holloway again.

“I said this in the beginning, in the very, very beginning when the fight was first set up: ‘We will meet again.’ He’s going to stay at the top,” Ortega said. “He’s not just a guy that’s going to drop right off the bat and just spiral down his career. I’m not a guy that’s going to just fall off like that. Clearly, tonight, I showed the world that’s not me.”

John Eric Poli

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