MMA Fans Show Concern as Devastating Weight Cut Takes Toll on Brian Ortega: “Can Barely Walk”

A video of Brian Ortega looking unrecognizable ahead of the fight against Aljamain Sterling at UFC Shanghai co-main event is raising alarms.

MMA Fans Show Concern as Devastating Weight Cut Takes Toll on Brian Ortega: “Can Barely Walk”

Brian Ortega looks unrecognizable before bout with Aljamain Sterling ( via MMA Fighting, UFC)

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There is no doubt that weight cuts remains one of the most challenging parts of a training camp for any MMA fighter. It takes a toll on the fighter’s mental and physical health, affecting their daily life and appearance. UFC featherweight Brian Ortega recently looked unrecognizable while weighing ahead of a fight with Aljamain Sterling at UFC Shanghai.

Ortega was set to fight Sterling at 145 pounds. However, news came out revealing that the BJJ specialist was out of the fight due to a “weight issue”. Despite the revelation, the UFC recently announced that the fight was moving forward, and both fighters will now fight at a catchweight bout of 153 pounds. However, ‘T-City’ looked totally changed during the ceremonial weigh-ins.

Ortega’s weight struggles are not a new matter for fans. The 34-year-old has had his fair share of struggles to make weight, which has led to multiple cancelations and disappointments. Ortega has also hinted at a move to lightweight numerous times, but has never followed through on it.

However, Ortega has fought for the featherweight title twice in the past. ‘T-City’ faced a doctor’s stoppage TKO loss at the hands of Max Holloway after his eye had swelled up so badly that he could not blink. Ortega came dangerously close to getting his hands on the UFC championship gold when he held the featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in a nasty guillotine choke at UFC 266.

Sadly, Brian Ortega lost the fight against Volkanovski by unanimous decision, but the fight earned the Fight of the Night bonus due to both fighter’s spirit and fighting prowess. T-City faced multiple problems after the fight and only won one out of his next three fights. Known for his indomitable ground game and submission arsenal, it remains to be seen what lies ahead for Ortega at UFC Shanghai.

Fans react to Brian Ortega looking unrecognisable ahead of fight with Aljamain Sterling

The fight between Aljamain Sterling and Brian Ortega undoubtedly has fans excited due to their corresponding fighting styles. The UFC Shanghai co-main event promises a cemented top-five spot in the featherweight rankings. Sterling will look to use Ortega’s heavy-tolled weight cut to his advantage.

Brian Ortega
Brian Ortega (via Yahoo Sports)

The image of ‘T-City’ struggling to walk till the face off has fans worried regarding Ortega’s health and career. Fans are divided concerning Ortega’s ability to fight, given his recent stature. While some fans feel Ortega will rehydrate and jump back into shape, others believed that it was not okay for him to fight after a weight cut like that. Here are some fan reactions:

The matchup between the two is being regarded as a ‘chess match’ due to their elite fight IQs. Ortega would hunt submissions, while Sterling would look to dominate with control and cardio. It would be a battle of opportunistic jiu-jitsu versus grinding wrestling, with Sterling likely trying to avoid Ortega’s dangerous guard while ‘T-City’ aims to create areas where he can capitalize.

Ortega’s weight-cutting struggles have been a recurring challenge in his career, raising concerns about both his performance and long-term health. While his resilience and skill have allowed him to remain a top contender, the toll of draining himself to make the featherweight limit has often left questions about durability and consistency.

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