Brian Ortega’s impressive win over Frankie Edgar at UFC 222 unsurprisngly has UFC president Dana White interested in setting up a title fight with featherweight champion Max Holloway.
Ortega became the first man to ever hand the durable Frankie Edgar a stoppage loss on Saturday night. Edgar originally had a title fight scheduled with Holloway before the champion was ruled out with injury. Californian Ortega stepped in to face Edgar on late notice and rightfully takes the New Jersey native’s place as the number one contender following his knockout win.
It would appear White is as enamoured with Ortega as the rest of those in attendance at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.
“The fact we now have a title fight with him against Holloway, you know, Holloway looked incredible against Jose Aldo in his last fight and I’m excited about this,” White said at the post-fight press conference as per MMA Fighting.
“The guy [Ortega] is so incredible and well-rounded. You’d think when he goes in and fights Frankie Edgar you’d bet anything he’s going to sub him if he’s going to win. And then he goes and knocks him out in the first round. This kid is super talented, has incredible personality.
“I just saw [Holloway], he came on The Ultimate Fighter as one of the coaches,” White said. “He looks good, he’s walking good and, I don’t know, we gotta see what his doctor said and when he’s cleared, we’ll make that fight immediately.”
In terms of when a Holloway – Ortega fight could materialise, it appears the champion already has a date in mind.
Holloway tweeted “226” not long after UFC 222’s conclusion, referring to UFC 226. UFC 226 is scheduled for the big International Fight week event on July 7th in Las Vegas.
