Brian Ortega says a frightening weight cut before UFC Shanghai convinced him that it’s time to leave the featherweight division behind.
The former title challenger revealed he passed out during his cut before his fight against Aljamain Sterling and woke up in a hospital before eventually competing at a 153-pound catchweight.
Ortega recalls frightening weight cut
Speaking on the JAXXON podcast, Ortega admitted the incident was unlike anything he had experienced before.
“I left the hospital, straight to weigh-ins and then that was it.”
“I’ve had the feeling where you feel like you’re about to die and you kind of pass out even for a little bit during the weight cut and then you wake up and you’re like, I’m just depleted.”
“This one scared me a little bit.”
Ortega also believes the fight would have been canceled had it taken place in the United States.
“I just got lucky it was China. Had that happened here, they would have pulled me out of the fight.”
Lightweight now the plan
Ortega said his next UFC fight will be at lightweight so he can spend training camp improving instead of focusing on cutting weight.
He also confirmed he’s open to rebooking a fight with Renato Moicano after an injury forced him out of their previously scheduled matchup.
“We had talks about fighting Renato Moicano and I had some minor injuries that just prevented me from fighting him.”
“So now we’re going to see if their side and my side wants to re-do that fight.”