Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
“The greatest fight I’ve ever seen,” is what Donald Trump called the UFC 231 main event between Max Holloway and Brian Ortega on December 8. UFC President Dana White revealed that Trump called him on Tuesday and wouldn’t stop talking about the fight for 15 minutes, praising the gritty performance by the two top UFC featherweights.
Holloway (20-3) handed Ortega his first professional loss (13-1) after the cageside doctors called the fight off after the fourth round, when Ortega had absorbed a UFC record 290 significant strikes from Holloway. Ortega was getting brutalized in the ring but refused to surrender. It was only when his eye swole shut and his nose and thumb were broken that ringside doctors deemed he’d had enough. After the fight, Ortega admitted he was willing to die in the Octagon.
Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
The good news is that Ortega and Holloway were both awarded a $50,000 Fight of the Night bonuses for their performance, with Holloway earning another $50,000 for a Performance of the Night bonus.
The bad news, at least for Ortega, is that he spent some time in the hospital where doctors tended to his injuries.
The amazing part: nearly one week later, the dude is back to looking 100%. I need Ortega’s skincare routine. And his doctor.
Fans were stunned with T-City’s speedy recovery.
https://twitter.com/B_Double_Dee/status/1074826384969818113
Well yes that’s usually what happens after you’ve been blessed you heal
— The Grime Museum 🏛️ (@TheGrimeMuseum) December 18, 2018
https://twitter.com/Fish91Mitch/status/1074814742236151808
https://twitter.com/ChanceMatthew/status/1074827933313888256
What a fucking beast.