Brian Ortega had to suffer through real adversity in the opening round of his rematch with Yair Rodriguez in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 237, but he showed the heart and toughness of a warrior to battle back from that and eventually go on to submit his opponent in the third round.
Round One:
Before the fight even starts Ortega has already appeared to hurt his ankle after jumping and rolling it during his pre-fight introduction. We’ll soon see how that effects him, if at all.
Ortega takes the center of the Octagon to start as he applies pressure. He throws a couple of punches down the pipe without connecting.
He gets in and lands a punch and Rodriguez returns fire instantly. Kick for Rodriguez. Rodriguez with a stomp to the leg and Ortega buckled for a moment. Ortega clinches up and works for a takedown.
Rodriguez shakes it off and lands a big strike to the nose. Ortega seems hurt and Rodriguez is applying lots of pressure and is working nicely to the body as well as the head.
Ortega as tough as they come though and so he’s trying to fight through this early adversity and lands a couple of nice punches.
Leg kick for Rodriguez and Ortega falls to the mat. Rodriguez drops into his guard landing big punches. There’s a lull for a moment and then more blistering ground-and-pound from Rodriguez. Rodriguez stands over Ortega now, then back into the guard of the submission specialist.
Ortega cleverly adjusts his position to partially take Rodriguez’s back. Rodriguez looking to get up to his feet but as he does so Ortega has his back, brings him down and ends the round in full mount landing a few strikes.
Round Two:
Ortega already has a big mouse under his left eye, but he starts the 2nd round pumping out the jab as he marches forward. Big body kick from Rodriguez.
Ortega forward again and lands a couple of punches. Rodriguez with a punch. Ortega in on a single-leg takedown in the center of the Octagon, but Rodriguez is fighting it off. Ortega shoves him into the cage and then goes for a double-leg, hoisting Rodriguez up and dumps him to the mat. Rodriguez attempting a guillotine choke, but Ortega staying calm and rides that out until he lets go.
Ortega working in half-guard now, landing a few punches. Half the round remaining. Short hammerfists from Ortega. Now a couple of elbows.
Ortega trying to pass guard, but Rodriguez gets him back to full guard. Ortega posturing up and Rodriguez lands a few hammerfists from his back. Ortega dropping down a few elbows. Rodriguez now bleeding from a cut below the right eye.
Ortega working a few more short elbows and a final punch at the end of the round.
Round Three:
Three punches land for Rodriguez and a head kick attempt. However, Ortega then drives into the clinch and presses Rodriguez up against the cage.
Trip takedown from Ortega brings Rodriguez down. Ortega in full mount and then smoothly sets up an arm-triangle choke, leaving Rodriguez with no option but to tap out at 0.58mins of the third round!
Impressive stuff from Ortega to recover after a tough start here, showcasing both his toughness and skill to get a big win and reignite his title hopes at 145lbs after a long injury layoff.
