Ortega suffered 'deep' cut 3 weeks before UFC Mexico City win
Warning: Photo contains graphic content
UFC featherweight contender Brian Ortega suffered a "deep" cut in training three weeks before his win over Yair Rodriguez at UFC Mexico City.
Ortega's coach, Rener Gracie, posted a photo of the injury on Instagram on Tuesday. Gracie said a headbutt caused the cut, which required "four stitches on the inside and 10 on the surface."
Three weeks before his win over Yair Rodriguez at UFC Mexico City, Brian Ortega suffered a cut in training that required 14 stitches, per his coach Rener Gracie. (📸 courtesy of Gracie’s Instagram.)https://t.co/niv8ltn7OP pic.twitter.com/8YOMVyQbe3
— Nick Baldwin (@NickBaldwinMMA) February 28, 2024
Ortega defeated Rodriguez via third-round submission - in a rematch - in the co-main event of Saturday's event at Arena CDMX. Ortega was nearly knocked out in the first round but came back to tap out Rodriguez with an arm-triangle choke.
It was Ortega's first trip to the Octagon since losing to Rodriguez in July 2022. The former title challenger suffered a shoulder injury in the first round of that fight.
Ortega, ranked No. 3 in the 145-pound division, snapped a two-fight losing streak and earned his first victory since 2020.