Delivering his first victory since 2020, former featherweight title challenger, Brian Ortega was compelled to rally from some vital adversity in his rematch with former interim champion, Yair Rodríguez within the co-main occasion of UFC Battle Night time Mexico Metropolis tonight — rallying to land a 3rd spherical submission win.
Ortega, who has twice challenged for Octagon spoils, will hope tonight’s win over Chihuahua native, Rodríguez will show sufficient to warrant him a crack at newly-minted champion, Ilia Topuria — following high-profile losses to each Max Holloway, and Alexander Volkanovski.
And compelled to rally early within the opening spherical, Ortega was dropped twice in fast succession on the toes from the lightening-fast Rodríguez, earlier than taking his again within the first, and amassing vital floor time management within the second spherical.
Capitalizing on an overzealous Rodríguez early within the third spherical, Los Angeles-born contender, Ortega managed to lock up a shocking arm-triangle submission win within the body, transferring from mount and forcing a well timed faucet from the previous interim champion.
