Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

‘Tired of hitting me’ … Brian Ortega protested Max Holloway stoppage before realizing horrific injuries

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow
By Christopher De Santiago | Last updated Jul 7, 2025 8:25 PM ET

Brian Ortega didn’t hear no bell against BMF Champion Max Holloway.

The #5-ranked UFC Featherweight has been on the cusp of a world title twice in his career. Unfortunately for Ortega, he fought two of the greatest featherweights of all time in Max Holloway and current undisputed champion Alexander Volkanovski.

Instead of taking an extended break for a title opportunity, Ortega decided to fight Diego Lopes at UFC 306 in September, where he was almost knocked out for the first time ever.

Ortega has never truly been knocked out but the former title challenger was definitely on the ropes years ago.

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Brian Ortega wanted to keep fighting Max Holloway with two broken hands at UFC 231

Ortega’s first title opportunity arrived at UFC 231 on Dec. 8, 2018, in Toronto, Canada.

Ortega was undefeated at 14-0 when he fought Holloway and the betting odds were near even for the featherweight fight. However, the odds would not reflect the title fight as Holloway put on a striking clinic on Ortega across four rounds, even teaching his opponent how to box mid-fight.

Between rounds 4 and 5, the cageside physician put a stop to the contest after seeing how much damage Ortega had sustained. Ortega looked like a zombie with one of his eyes all swelled up.

“I was pissed,” Ortega said of the Holloway doctor stoppage on Chattin’ Pony Podcast.

“My coach Henry was like, hey, bro, I think we should stop it. I was like, f— no. Like, [what] the f—? Hell no, I know this hurts you right now, but he’s tired of hitting me.

“There’s five minutes [left in the fight]. He’s done punching me, bro. What is he gonna do that’s worse? I’m already f—– up. Like, let’s go.

“The doctor saw me, and he was just like, no, man. I was like, bro. Come on…

“Obviously, I was saddened by that. And then after, I wanna say, maybe fifteen, twenty seconds or so, I looked down. I had a lot of pain in my hands, and I realized, like, both of my f—— hands were broken. That was like, oh, s—. I was like, okay…”

Max Holloway issued cold message to Dustin Poirier ahead of UFC 318

Ortega is one of the many names Holloway has beaten in his 30-fight career.

‘Blessed’ has defeated the likes of Justin Gaethje, The Korean Zombie, Yair Rodriguez, Frankie Edgar and more. One name Holloway fought twice but was never able to beat is Dustin Poirier.

Holloway looks to avoid a three-peat, like he had against Alexander Volkanovski, in his trilogy fight with Poirier at UFC 318 on July 19th.

The BMF champion will put his title on the line as he looks to retire Poirier once and for all.

“He took my undefeated record,” Holloway said of Poirier, who submitted him in his UFC debut in 2012.

“He took my 13-fight win streak.

“July 19th, I’m gonna take his retirement fight,” Holloway said in a UFC 318 promo.

Poirier and Holloway last crossed paths for the interim lightweight championship in 2019. Poirier won the rematch in a hard-fought unanimous decision, coming close to knocking down the Hawaiian.

This article first appeared on Bloody Elbow and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: