In his pursuit of reaching the top, Brian Ortega may encounter unexpected obstacles. Despite his hopes for a strong performance against Yair Rodriguez to put him back in featherweight title contention, Ilia Topuria has stated he would not grant title shots to the current crop of contenders if he beats Volkanovski at UFC 298. Ortega, however, is ready to follow in the footsteps of Max Holloway if necessary.
Entering UFC 298 as a legitimate threat to the reigning champion’s rule, Topuria has made it clear that he would not grant a title shot to Ortega, Holloway, or Yair Rodriguez, all of whom Volkanovski has already defeated during his championship reign.
In an interview with CBS Sports, Ortega stated that if Topuria becomes a champion unwilling to face all challengers, he will make sure to eliminate all other contenders and make it difficult for Topuria.
Ortega draws parallels between his own experience and Topuria’s, as both faced doubts about their readiness when they stepped up to face top featherweights. Ortega acknowledges Topuria’s all-round skillset but still believes that fighters like Volkanovski operate at a different level.
He also expressed his confidence in Volkanovski’s abilities and expects their upcoming fight to provide answers to many questions.
