Ortega becomes first to KO Edgar, earns title shot
USA - There is no doubt about Brian Ortega’s UFC title shot now.
Three months ago, Ortega (14-0) submitted Cub Swanson in California and said he was perfectly fine waiting for the winner of a title fight between champion Max Holloway and Frankie Edgar.
But when Holloway was forced out of a scheduled title defense against Edgar at UFC 222 this weekend due to injury, Ortega, 27, agreed to take his place and battle Edgar for the next shot directly.
The decision worked out well, as Ortega became the first man to ever finish Edgar in an MMA contest, knocking him out with a right uppercut at 4:44 of the opening round. The 145-pound bout co-headlined UFC 222 inside T-Mobile Arena.
“It feels great, this is something I’ve always envisioned,” Ortega said. “I’ve seen it in my dream. I’ve even seen it in my fears, fears of getting knocked out. I’m making history. To be able to share the Octagon with him is an honor.”
Edgar (22-6-1) has shared the Octagon with the likes of Jose Aldo, B.J. Penn and Urijah Faber but has never been hurt in the way Ortega put him away. As Edgar applied pressure on the feet, Ortega wobbled him with a clean elbow to the temple. After initially retreating, Edgar began to move forward again to tie Ortega up and walked into a monstrous uppercut.
It is only the third knockout of Ortega’s career, but it’s his sixth consecutive finish. He has finished every opponent he has met in the UFC, but this is the first time he has done so in the opening round. Fighting out of Southern California, Ortega will now face Holloway (19-3) for the undisputed title. Holloway pulled out of the Edgar bout with an ankle injury but is not expected to be out long. Edgar, who fights out of Toms River, New Jersey, sees a twofight win streak snapped.
(ESPN)