UFC featherweight contender Brian Ortega appeared to ‘roll his ankle’ only seconds before the fight with Yair Rodriguez started in Mexico.
It looked like a painful and potentially costly injury too, with Ortega grimacing in the octagon as both he and opponent Yair Rodriguez were introduced to the crowd.
In the post-fight press conference, Dana White saluted the grit and determination of ‘T-City’, noting that “he looked like he saw a ghost” and that he expected Ortega to lose quickly from being at such a disadvantage.
Dana White reacts to Ortega ‘rolling his ankle’ seconds before fight
The first contest between Brian Ortega and Yair Rodriguez ended under a disappointing cloud as Ortega injured his shoulder in the moments leading up to the finishing sequence.
It appeared that their UFC Fight Night 237 rematch in Mexico City was going to end in the same way when Ortega appeared to injure his ankle whilst bouncing up and down, waiting to be introduced.
Despite the rolled ankle, ‘T-City’ was still able to earn an impressive victory, coming back from losing in the first round 10-8 on one judge’s scorecard to secure a third-round submission win.
At the post-fight press conference, a somewhat stunned Dana White explained that he thought the fight might have been over before it started due to the introductory injury:
“Did you see him roll his ankle before when he was jumping up and down? I saw that happen and then he looked like he’d saw a ghost after that. And I thought it would be over quick.”
Yet the third-round submission win proved why Ortega remains a bonified contender in the featherweight division, capable of finishing anyone within the top 10 rankings:
“And then you remember that Brian Ortega, who’s mentally and physically right, is a problem for anybody.”
Speaking on whether a potential rematch against Volkanovski or a title shot against new king Ilia Topuria is up next for Ortega, White said in traditional post-fight presser fashion: “We’ll see.”
One contender who doesn’t want to be overlooked is the undefeated Movsar Evloev, who posted on social media: “Me vs @BrianTCity for the number 1 contender spot.”