Brian Ortega Confirms He’s Down For A UFC 226 Showdown With Max Holloway

Brian Ortega had barely stepped outside the Octagon following his over Frankie Edgar last evening before UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway had laid down the gauntlet.

“T-City” defeated Edgar via knockout in the co-main event of UFC 222 last evening after landing a beautiful counter elbow and finishing the fight with a series of brutal uppercuts.

The victory put Ortega straight to the front of the line for a title shot at 145-pounds and just minutes after his victory Holloway suggested a time and a place for their inevitable showdown.

@Ufc 226

— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) March 4, 2018

UFC 226 goes down on July 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Holloway was previously scheduled to face Edgar in the main event of the fight card last night, but after the champion pulled out injured, Edgar decided to stay on the card to fight Ortega.

During his post-fight press conference, Canadian journalist Danny Austin asked Ortega whether he’d be ready to fight in July. The new #1 contender didn’t need to think twice about his answer.

“Yeah,” Ortega said with a rye smile.

The only fight confirmed so far for July 7 is the main event between UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic and UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier.

Dana White also suggested last evening that he was now interested in attempting to book another champion vas champion showdown with UFC women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg taking on UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes.