Brian Ortega reacts to early ending at UFC on ABC 3: ‘Everything was going my way’

Brian Ortega was at a loss to explain what transpired in the UFC on ABC 3 headliner, when his shoulder popped out of place late in Round 1 to give Yair Rodriguez a technical knockout victory.

Ortega suffered the injury while defending an armbar from Rodriguez after landing a takedown. “T-City” denies that his opponent’s submission attempt had anything to do with the fight-ending injury.

“The grip was tight on my arm and it dislocated/ That was it – no armlock, no nothing,” Ortega said on the UFC on ABC 3 post-fight show. “It was dislocated. Freak accident. It just sucks. The first time it’s every happened in my entire career. The first time it’s ever happened. I’m just taken aback by it.”

Prior to the stoppage, the matchup was anyone’s game, but Ortega was confident that he was doing what he needed to do up to that point.

“Everything was going my way,” he said. “Literally I was winning every minute of the fight. I was sticking to the game plan because I do get emotional. … The world saw I was about to show what I do best, which is grapple and take control. Then the second we hit the ground my freaking arm just came out.”

Ortega has dealt with shoulder issues in the past, so now the hope is that it isn’t anything that might keep him sidelined for a significant period of time.

“I’m going to MRI this as soon as I can,” Ortega said. “Do what I have to do. I pray to God that I don’t have to get surgery. I’ve already had two shoulder surgeries as it is, so I’m praying I don’t have to go under that knife again because it just sucks when you have to get surgery.”

Once he is healthy — regardless of how long that might take — Ortega believes he has unfinished business with Rodriguez.

“He said he’s willing to run it back – I definitely want to get it back,” Ortega said. “The second I’m physically healthy to do it, I want to get back in. I’m not trying to take anything off. I’m upset. But yeah. Trying to smile and now – I put in way too much work. Sacrificed everything just for something stupid like this to happen.