Brian Ortega was supposed to fight at UFC 226, where, if all went according to plan, he’d have celebrated the biggest moment of his career. Instead, he was relegated to being a spectator. That’s because Ortega (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) stood his ground following the sudden withdrawal of featherweight champ Max Holloway from their planned co-headliner in the middle of fight week. Holloway (19-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) was forced out with concussion-like symptoms last Wednesday night, leaving Ortega in an unfortunate position. Related Max Holloway breaks silence on UFC 226 withdrawal, addresses Ortega, McGregor and Nurmagomedov During a press conference the next day at Pearl Theatre at The Palms in Las Vegas, UFC President Dana White said the promotion tried to make a fight on three days’ notice between Ortega and Jeremy Stephens but that Ortega declined the offer
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Brian Ortega stands by decision to decline UFC 226 short-notice fight: ‘I’m no yes man’ – MMA Junkie