Max Holloway alarmingly showed post-concussive symptoms during UFC 226 fight week, and was removed from a title defense vs. Brian Ortega. The UFC then offered Ortega Frankie Edgar, maybe for an interim title.
Frankie Edgar had been the #1 contender but instead of waiting for a title shot, fought Ortega, and lost. ‘T-City’ said no, said he only wanted to fight for the real belt. So there was no fight, and for a time, no compensation. However, during an interview with AXS TV’s Phoenix Carnevale during Friday’s LFA 45 broadcast, Ortega said he had come to terms with UFC president Dana White.
I’m feeling a lot better now, said Ortega, as transcribed by John Morgan for MMAjunkie. The heartbreak was a little bit real at first, but then once I started to realize the bigger picture and everything – and I had to put my ego aside and put my thinking cap on in terms of businesswise – we made the right decision. I talked to Dana just the other day, and everything is good between me and him. He compensated me – we reached an agreement.
However, Ortega’s determination to fight for the real title is unwavering. Holloway posted recently on his social network that he is undergoing further tests to determine the cause of his symptoms. For all parties involved, hopefully Holloway is healthy and able to fight soon. Ortega will be waiting.
The goal was for me to go for a title, not to fight a guy who lost to the last three guys that I finished, so it just didn’t make sense to fight for anything else than a belt, said Ortega. I put myself in that position by finishing everyone who’s been in front of me, and I’m just going to wait for that and pray for Max because now they’re saying that it’s a possible light stroke, and that’s not a joke. I’ve got prayers on for Max, and he’s ‘Blessed,’ so he’ll come back.
It doesn’t matter if you call me on one day, two days, that’s never been the issue. But the belt is what I want, and I’m going to wait for it and pray that Max gets better so we can give the fight fans the fight that you guys want to see because I know we missed out for you guys at UFC 226, but we’ll make up for it.
