Holloway and Ortega (right)(photo via YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Brian Ortega may have gone undefeated before he faced Max Holloway, and buzzed the MMA world with various finishes. But, according to the featherweight contender, it wasn’t until he lost to the featherweight champ he realized some serious changes were in order.

Ortega (14-1) locked up a fight with Holloway last December, by taking out the legendary Frankie Edgar in March, 2018. Holloway proceeded to stop Ortega at UFC 231, after the latter was not allowed to continue into round five.

The 28-year-old contender was on hand at UFC Mexico City this past weekend. While talking to the media, Ortega reported this (quotes via MMA Junkie):

“I feel like a legit athlete now. I always felt I was just a tough, strong, hard-worker – always just did what I had to do to get to where I had to be and did my assignment.

“Every single fight I had in the UFC, I finished my opponent. Mission accomplished. But now let’s do some right things with myself now. No more of the old-school mentality I had. You’re a professional athlete. Stop eating Jack in the Box. Get the right amount of sleep. Eat the right things. Do the right trainings. Pick up more arts. Become a [expletive] mixed martial artist.

“I just wanted to bang, and go to the ground, and I was happy with that. Obviously Max showed me you can’t just be like that, and if you want to be a champion you’re gonna need more than that. So that’s what I’m doing now.”

Ortega also relayed that he’s hoping to fight before the year is up. “T-City” has gone 6-1, with 1 no-contest in the UFC to date.