Brian Ortega confirms he’s been offered a UFC 231 title fight with Max Holloway

From the sounds of it, Brian Ortega will get his long-awaited shot at UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway at UFC 231 this December in Toronto. While he says the bout is not official yet, he recently confirmed it is indeed in the works for the card.

“Nothing is official,” Ortega explained (transcript via MMA Fighting). “Trust me, I’m always the kind of guy, until I sign the contract I’m the first one to post it out there.

“But there’s ears in the game who hear things and yeah, it’s true. We got the call and they offered us to fight in December. I said yes. I think they’re pushing for Toronto, so December is up in the air and I’m sure Max received the same call. I haven’t heard anything from his side yet, but it looks like it’s going to happen.”

Holloway, of course, will be returning from the mysterious health scare that derailed his originally scheduled UFC 226 title fight with Ortega. The champion’s return to health is great news for Ortega, as it means he’ll be able to fight for the undisputed title, and there will be no mention of interim titles.

Interim titles, as it turns out, do not interest Brian Ortega.

“I want the real title,” Ortega said. “I can’t express it enough that I want to fight for the real title. Interim title, from what I’ve seen — you know what I’m saying, I don’t have to say much words. People get it and then they take it away from them in a month. I just don’t want to be that person. I have nothing against them who earned their shot and took a fight on short notice, all my respect to them.

“But I want something they cannot take away from me, at least the UFC can’t. If someone’s going to take it from me it’s going to have to be an opponent. And that’s what I want.”

Who do you think will win Brian Ortega and Max Holloway’s planned UFC 231 featherweight title fight?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 8/27/2018.