Brian Ortega is more than willing to eliminate all of the top challengers if Ilia Topuria refuses to do so.
Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) will be challenging featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) in the main event of UFC 298 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+), which will take place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Topuria stated that if he becomes the champion, he will not grant title shots to Ortega, Max Holloway, or Yair Rodriguez. Ortega (15-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC), who will be facing Rodriguez again in a co-headliner for UFC Fight Night on February 24 in Mexico City, intends to ensure that Topuria has no other opponents if that scenario unfolds.
“When I first heard that, my initial thought was that you have to win the belt for that to happen,” Ortega told CBS Sports. “Let’s say you do win the belt and you’re not going to give us a shot. Well, then I’m going to make sure I eliminate every contender – it’s as simple as that. First, you have to win it. Second, I’m going to take away all the contenders from you. … If you don’t want to fight us, then I’m going to take away all the people you can fight.”
Ortega can understand Topuria’s current situation. “T-City” was also an undefeated rising contender who was defeating opponents on his way to his first title shot. He had a courageous performance, but was mostly dominated in a title loss to then-champion Holloway, and he has also challenged Volkanovski for the title.
He fell short in both opportunities for the title, and believes that Topuria will face a different level of competition against Volkanovski.
According to the Source mmajunkie.usatoday.com