Ortega stops Edgar, Cyborg defends belt at UFC 222
LAS VEGAS — Brian Ortega needed less than one round at UFC 222 to do something never done before.
After becoming the first person ever to knock out Frankie Edgar, there’s no telling what this surfing Californian could do next.
Ortega stopped the former UFC champion on a devastating uppercut with 16 seconds left in the first round, and Cris (Cyborg) Justino defended her featherweight title with a first-round stoppage of Yana Kunitskaya at UFC 222 on Saturday night.
Edgar (21-6-1) was stopped for the first time in his 13-year mixed martial arts career by Ortega (14-0), who likely earned a featherweight title shot against dominant champion Max Holloway with his latest spectacular finish at T-Mobile Arena. Although Ortega’s strength is jiu-jitsu, he showed off a striking ability that makes him one of the world’s best at 145 pounds.
“I’ve always said it, and maybe the way I fight doesn’t really show it, but pick your poison,” said Ortega, who claimed he gained 19 pounds between Friday’s weigh-in and the bout. “I feel like no matter what happens in the fight, I’ll be all right.”
Ortega started the knockout with a sneaky left elbow that wobbled Edgar late in the round, and he landed several more punches before retreating and launching a perfect right uppercut in a partial clinch.
Edgar’s knees buckled as he rose off the canvas and fell flat on his back. Just like that, Ortega — who used MMA to escape a troubled upbringing in the Los Angeles suburbs — likely earned a title shot.
“I have worked really hard to get here and it’s even more surreal than I could have imagined,” Ortega said. “I have too much respect for his wrestling, so I knew that I could stand and bang with him . ... I just beat one of the best to ever do it. One of the real legends of this game is Frankie Edgar.”
Edgar was supposed to get a title shot at UFC 222 until Holloway dropped out with an injury less than four weeks ago. Instead, Edgar asked to stay on the card with a replacement opponent — and Ortega pounced.
After his third win in eight months, Ortega’s immediate plans include surfing off the Los Angeles coast and work with his new charity. He also hopes to begin preparations soon to fight Holloway, who has won 12 straight bouts since losing to Conor McGregor in 2013.
“I always try not to look too far ahead,” Ortega said. “I just look far enough to know where I’m going next. But I’ve dreamed about fighting Max. We are both young guys out here changing the game. I’m excited and I’m coming for the belt.”
Dana White is also a believer in Ortega, and the UFC president is eager to make the fight with Holloway. Shortly after Ortega’s win, Holloway tweeted “Ufc 226” — otherwise known as the promotion’s big summer show in Vegas on July 7.
“The guy is so incredible and well-rounded,” White said of Ortega. “You think when he goes in and fights Frankie Edgar, you’d bet anything he’s going to (submit) him if he’s going to win, and he goes in and knocks him out in the first round.”
Cyborg (20-1, 1 no-contest) finished the show with her 10th consecutive victory against Kunitskaya (10-4), a Russian veteran making her UFC debut on short notice. The dominant UFC champion had little trouble with the huge underdog, hurting Kunitskaya repeatedly with strikes before finishing her off with ground-and-pound.
“I train all the time, so I took this fight on short notice, but I felt very prepared,” Justino said.
Justino and White hope the champion’s next bout will be against UFC 135-pound champ Amanda Nunes.
“I am waiting for Amanda now,” Cyborg said of her fellow Brazilian. “I just want to remind everyone that she called me out, and when you call out Cyborg, Cyborg will answer.”