Brian Ortega addresses late UFC 303 withdrawal from Diego Lopes fight: 'I got sick and my body gave out'

Brian Ortega has launched an announcement addressing what went unsuitable throughout UFC 303 battle week.

After stepping up on brief discover to exchange one other co-feature that fell aside, Ortega (16-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) was able to compete in opposition to Diego Lopes within the co-main occasion of UFC 303 at T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas.

After finishing all of his battle week media obligations, the previous featherweight title challenger requested that the bout in opposition to Lopes (25-6 MMA, 4-1 UFC) be moved to a light-weight bout simply hours earlier than weigh-ins, to which his opponent and the promotion agreed.

Ortega weighed in at 155 kilos however wouldn’t make it to the cage on battle evening as he withdrew on battle day resulting from sickness, making method for Dan Ige to step up on a second’s discover to face Lopes.

Wednesday, Ortega addressed what went unsuitable in an announcement posted on Instagram, stating, “To these have at all times supported me, I’m very grateful to your guys. I hope this brings readability to you.”

Learn Ortega’s full assertion under:

“I’m feeling significantly better, thanks for all of the love. Come battle week I felt off and I didn’t really feel proper, I believed it was simply the residual results from the lower. I used to be 178 lb after I accepted this battle on 15 days discover. Thursday evening after 7 straight hours, I couldn’t break 151 lb. Later, I might battle out that I used to be battling a fever and I couldn’t break into the ultimate 5 lbs as my physique began to close down. Reasonably than risking large well being penalties and presumably calling the battle off, fortunately we had been in a position to transfer the load to 155. At weigh ins, I nonetheless felt off however I used to be positive it might go away after I rehydrated and ate. Afterward that evening I nonetheless felt off and was affected by chilly sweats and no sleep. Lastly, I fell asleep at 6 am Saturday morning and awoke at 1 pm hoping to really feel higher. I couldn’t hold any meals or water down nor might I rise up to make use of the restroom.

I struggled with my very own ego, obtained on a name with Tiki (Ghosn) and Hunter (Campbell), and I made the choice to name off the battle. I dared to do one thing loopy for the love of preventing, however I obtained sick and my physique gave out on me. I wish to give the followers and my opponents my finest efficiency each time I step into the cage. Diego Lopes I can solely think about what went off in your facet, you don’t have anything however my respect and I’ll speak to Hunter and Tiki and make this proper by you. To the UFC, Dana, Hunter, and the followers, thanks for having my again.”