UFC featherweight Brian Ortega was hoping for a win at UFC Long Island to return him to title contention. Instead, he was handed a TKO loss via a “freak accident” – a dislocated shoulder sustained in the final minute of the first round. On the post-fight show, Ortega expressed his disappointment in the result, claiming that he was winning the fight until his shoulder gave way.
“[Rodriguez’s] grip was tight on my arm and it dislocated, and that was it. Like, no armlock, no nothing, but it just dislocated. Freak accident, and it just sucks.
Brian Ortega Describes “Freak Accident” That Led to UFC Long Island Loss
It’s the first time it’s ever happened in my entire career. That was the first time it’s ever happened and now I’m kind of like taken aback by it. I can’t believe this is what’s going on right now.
Everything was going my way. Literally, I was winning every minute of the fight. I was sticking to the game plan, because I do get emotional. For one second we started hitting, we started throwing, and I was like, ‘Alright, let’s start throwing,’ and I go, ‘No, let’s just stick to the game plan.’ And the world saw — I was about to show what I do best, which is grapple and take control. And the second we hit the ground, it just, my freaking arm just f****** came out. And I’ve got no words, man. I don’t know.”
Brian Ortega’s shoulder has plagued him in the past. “T-City” has gone under the knife twice now to deal with shoulder injuries, and this latest issue may sideline him. If he’s still fit to fight, however, Brian Ortega wants to run it back against Yair Rodriguez as soon as his damaged shoulder is ready to enter the Octagon with him.
“I would love to do it again. I feel like we left the world with blue balls. We didn’t get to finish what I wanted to do, you know? Had he got up, had we scrambled, had we banged it out — I was ready in my mind to have a dogfight. I was ready to go in there and just impose my will, and I can’t do it with just one arm.
If he said he’s willing to run it back, I definitely want to get it back. I’m going to go MRI this as soon as I can, do what I have to do. I pray to God that I don’t have to get surgery.
I already had two shoulder surgeries as it is, so I’m praying that I don’t have to go into the under that knife again, because it just sucks when you have to get surgery. The second I’m physically healthy to do it, let’s do it. I want to get back in. I’m not trying to take any [time] off. I’m upset, but trying to smile just to not — I put in way too much work, you know? I sacrifice everything just for something stupid like this to happen.”
