Brian Ortega Says He Was Also Offered UFC 223 Spot

UFC Featherweight Champion Max Holloway agreed to step in on short notice to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov for the UFC Lightweight Title at UFC 223, replacing an injured Tony Ferguson.

However, another fighter was apparently offered the spot against Nurmagomedov and that person was Brian Ortega.

Ortega took to Twitter to make the claim:

For the record, Dana called me yesterday to see if I would step in against Khabib since Max hadn’t responded yet. I said yes. Eventually, Max replied and Dana gave him the fight. If all goes according to plan, I’ll get my turn – at both of them.

— Brian Ortega (@BrianTcity) April 2, 2018

Ironically, it was Ortega who had replaced the UFC Featherweight Champion last month at UFC 222, defeating former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar by first round knockout. Ortega was also confirmed by UFC President Dana White to be getting the next title shot against Holloway, but a date has yet to be confirmed for that encounter.

UFC 223 takes place on Saturday, April 7 from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York with Max Holloway and Khabib Nurmagomedov headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.