Sep 14, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Brian Ortega of the United States (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes of Brazil (blue bloves) during Riyadh Season Noche UFC 306 at The Sphere. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

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Brian Ortega To Move Up A Weight Class For Next Fight, Set To Face This Top 10 Lightweight Next!

Brian Ortega is moving up to lightweight and is set to face a top 10 contender in his next fight!

The UFC featherweight division has seen its fair share of warriors, and few have had a journey quite like Brian Ortega. From his early days as an undefeated prospect to his epic battles with Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski, Ortega’s career has been a rollercoaster of spectacular finishes and heartbreaking losses.

His recent setback against Diego Lopes at UFC 306 marked his third loss in his last five fights, pushing his record to 16-4 (1 NC) and signalling that perhaps it was time for a change.

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Brian Ortega Set To Move To Lightweight

After years of brutal weight cuts and fighting at 145 pounds, Brian Ortega is finally listening to what his body has been telling him. It has been reported that he has decided to move up to lightweight.

This comes at a crucial time in his career, following a pattern fans have seen with other featherweight standouts like Dustin Poirier and Charles Oliveira who found new life at 155 pounds.

🚨BREAKING:

Mateusz Gamrot vs Brian Ortega is in the works per sources, Date & Location TBD. #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/Urbc0j8dcP
— Hominick Butler 🇨🇦 (@HButlerMMA) February 5, 2025

It has been reported that Mateusz Gamrot, the number eight ranked lightweight who has been quietly building his case as one of the division’s most dangerous fighters. The Polish powerhouse brings a wrestling-heavy style that could really test Ortega’s famous submission game.

This isn’t just another fight for Brian Ortega, it’s a chance to reinvent himself. His jiu-jitsu has always been world-class (he had Alexander Volkanovksi deep in a choke, but as Volk is, he refused to tap and wound up winning later!). However, now he won’t have to drain himself to showcase it. A win over a ranked lightweight like Gamrot would immediately establish him as a serious player in his new weight class.

Will Ortega find find success at Lightweight?

Brian Ortega moving to lightweight might be exactly what the doctor ordered. Literally, since those weight cuts couldn’t have been healthy. It has been reported that his walk around weight is around 178 pounds. That is close to 35 pounds of weight he has to cut.

While some might question jumping straight into a fight with a ranked opponent like Gamrot, that’s just ‘T-City’s’ style. He has never been one to take the easy road, and win or lose, fans can bet this fight won’t be boring!

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Brian Ortega

Mateusz Gamrot

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!