Yin and Yang is a concept originating in Chinese philosophy. It describes the necessary, complementary and yet competing light and dark aspects of the universe. Night and day, hot and cold, male and female, its symbolism can apply to many aspects of one’s life. For Brian “T-City” Ortega, he found its relevance in his combat sports journey.
Born in San Pedro, Los Angeles, Ortega was surrounded by conflict from an early age. The study of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under the tutelage of Rener Gracie was an outlet for him to escape the gang culture that was prevalent in LA. BJJ was Ortega’s Yin, his discipline. Brian’s success in local MMA organisations caught the eye of local boxing coach James Luhrsen. Lurhsen’s boxing wisdom would prove to unlock Ortega’s Yang.
Brian Ortega’s Yin and Yang are the epitome of MMA. Slick boxing combinations coupled with slippery BJJ submissions. Places of safety when locked in the octagon with Ortega are few and far between. Looking to string together a win streak once again Ortega is back this weekend at UFC 303 against Brazilian hype-train Diego Lopes. The opportunity arose due to the injury-plagued UFC 303 main event, on 16 days’ notice Ortega and Lopes stepped up. Neither originally booked to fight, but both were ready to make a statement. The two have a shared partiality to immense chaos when enclosed in a cage. Making the fight a saviour of the card, the “people’s main event” of many and rightfully the International Fight Week co-main event.
Given the danger of Lopes in every department, Brian Ortega must channel both his Yin and Yang to come out victorious.
Brian Ortega’s Decade Spanning UFC Tenure
Brian Ortega has a stunning 16-3-0 record (3KO – 8SUB – 5DEC) that summarises the tale of “T-City”. Having only lost at the hands of UFC Featherweight royalty in Max Holloway, Alex Volkanovski and Yair Rodriguez his defeats are nothing to be ashamed of. Furthermore, his loss to Rodriguez came by way of a dislocated shoulder, a loss which he most recently avenged in February. Fittingly named “T-City”, Ortega earned the nickname for his fluency in triangle chokes. It is certainly his favoured submission there are few fights on Brian’s record in which he hasn’t attempted his signature choke. Most notably when he very nearly finished the widely regarded Featherweight GOAT Alexander Volkanovski by triangle choke.
Brian Ortega joined the UFC back in 2014 with an undefeated record of 8-0-0 which he maintained to a title shot. Staking his claim for a fight versus Max Holloway for Featherweight gold in 2018. Ortega went into his first title fight 13-0-0 having defeated stars such as; Clay Guida, Renato Moicano, Cub Swanson and Frankie Edgar. It is no secret that Brian Ortega’s forte is BJJ. Assisted by his seemingly unbreakable chin it takes a lot to finish Ortega. For example, the 307-strike bludgeoning he received against Max Holloway resulting in the UFC doctors saving Ortega from himself at the end of the fourth round. After his loss to Holloway, Brian Ortega spent nearly two years away from competition.
Though still a grappler at heart the evolution of Ortega’s striking continues to unfold before our eyes. Particularly in the 5 round kickboxing clinic, he subjected “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung to. This dominant return would earn him a shot against Alexander Volkanovski. Volkanovski’s greatness would prevail serving “T-City” a Holloway-esque beatdown and his second loss. The following year Brian would look to return to victory against Yair Rodriguez. However, this fight did not go his way, sidelining him for nearly 2 years due to the previously mentioned shoulder injury.
Whilst a third loss on his formerly perfect record was devastating. It kick-started a spiritual journey that seems to have brought the best out of Brian.
The rebirth of the eagle.
The Rebirth of “T-City”
Since 2018 “T-City” has only competed 6 times thanks to cancellations and injuries. Before his last fight against Yair Rodriguez, Ortega laid out his philosophy that “rebirthed” him. At the press conference, Brian was asked about the meaning of his recent Instagram post captioned “rebirthed”. Brian laughed and proceeded to poetically decipher his cryptic caption. A speech that perfectly foreshadowed his upcoming performance.
“The eagle lives for 70 years. At the 40-year mark, the eagle loses the sharpness of its beak, its feathers aren’t as good and its talons are weak. So it has a choice. To die keep doing what you’re doing living the way you are. Or Isolate yourself way up in the mountains, smash your beak against a rock until it breaks, wait till it grows back. Pluck your talons and your feathers. Then stay in isolation till everything grows back. That is something similar to what I felt I went through in my personal life.”
After four winless years, Ortega went to the mountain and sharpened his tools. Emerging for the rematch following 17 months of inactivity as an eagle rebirthed. Beak sharp, feathers full and talons bared Brian Ortega ground Yair down through grit and determination. Not without significant punishment weathering a stand-up storm from the crafty Yair Rodriguez. Ortega eventually found success after the first five minutes of suffering. He Boxed his way past the kicking range of Yair, to get the fight to the ground. Subsequently ground and pounding his way to an arm triangle victory in the third round.
Though grappling made the difference versus Rodriguez it may not be so simple against Lopes. Lopes burst onto the radar following a close decision loss against Movsar Evloev. Evloev a highly respected grappler, was relentlessly tested by the dangerous submission game of Diego. Despite the loss, Diego Lopes showed he can grapple with the best. After his most recent knockout win over Sodiq Yusuff at UFC 300, it is clear Diego Lopes can do it all.
Brian “T-City” Ortega’s Versus Diego Lopes
Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes, whilst similar in style and craft have significant physical differences. Ortega (33) is 4 years older than Lopes (29). Lopes has a significant height and reach advantage standing 5’11” with a 72.5″ reach. Compared to Ortega’s height of 5’8″ and 69″ reach. Beyond just numbers, Lopes is visibly more imposing donning an impressively muscular frame for a 5’11” Featherweight.
Diego Lopes holds a record of 24-6-0 (10KO – 12SUB – 2DEC). Diego is a deadly submission specialist with proven knockout power. Lopes is the latest Brazilian to take the UFC by storm exploding on the scene thanks to his aforementioned short-notice fight with Movsar Evloev in March 2023. Evloev is somewhat of a wrecking force in the Featherweight division which many want to avoid. Not Lopes though, who took it to him and pushed him to a gruelling decision nearly submitting Movsar and multiple occasions. Since his UFC debut, Lopes has not waited around with three fights and three finishes. After finishing Yusuff at UFC 300 it was clear that not only is Lopes fun to watch, but he is also ready for the top. Diego believes that time waits for no man and when the phone rings you answer and answer he does.
Both fighters are incredibly high-level grapplers who often find themselves slugging it out in the pocket. Therefore, it is no surprise when the UFC needed an exciting announcement to soften the blow of the cancelled McGregor v Chandler fight, they called Ortega and Lopes. A touch of matchmaking genius, it is a fight that seems destined to be memorable. Expect to see technically forged chaos as the two trade martial intelligence. Likely to be a fight punctuated by flurries of seemingly neverending scrambles and thudding close-range boxing combinations, few fights are as guaranteed to be fun as this one.
At UFC 303 on Saturday 29th of July, will Brian “T-City” Ortega’s newfound form be enough to beat rising star Diego Lopes?
Featured image credit to Embed from Getty Images
