Brian Ortega
Active 2014–present · rated in 5 editions · peak overall 86.0
Scouting report
Brian "T-City" Ortega has earned multiple featherweight title challenges and holds a first-round knockout of Frankie Edgar. Born in Los Angeles, California and training out of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy, Ortega's ground credentials are reflected in a 94 BJJ score and 90 Durability rating.
Peak ratings
By edition
Ortega knocked out Clay Guida with a third-round knee, submitted Renato Moicano via guillotine choke at UFC 214, and submitted Cub Swanson with a second-round guillotine in Fresno. His submission game and chin are reflected in a 92 BJJ and 88 Cardio score.
At UFC 222 in March 2018, Ortega became the first fighter to stop Frankie Edgar, finishing him with punches to earn a title shot, then suffered a fourth-round doctor stoppage loss to Max Holloway at UFC 231 in Toronto. His durability and submission danger anchor his 94 BJJ and 90 Durability ratings.
Returning from a near two-year layoff in October 2020 on Fight Island, Ortega dominated Chan Sung Jung over five rounds, earning a title shot against Alexander Volkanovski, who won a five-round decision at UFC 266 in Las Vegas despite Ortega's submission threats. His evolved striking and submission craft are reflected in an 86 Boxing and 95 BJJ.
After a shoulder-dislocation TKO loss to Yair Rodriguez in 2022, Ortega returned to Mexico City in February 2024 to submit Rodriguez with an arm-triangle choke in round three. His scramble wrestling and submission game anchor his 95 BJJ and 90 Durability ratings.
Brian Ortega, the jiu-jitsu man who knocked out Frankie Edgar
Brian Ortega trained at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Torrance, California and became one of the most dangerous submission artists in the featherweight division. He knocked out Frankie Edgar in the first round in 2018, then challenged Max Holloway for the title in December 2018 and lost by doctor stoppage after four rounds. He later lost a decision to Alexander Volkanovski. He is famous for taking punishment and still finding a choke.
Ortega and his eight ratings
Boxing. Good. He throws sharp counters, and the Edgar knockout came from a clean punch.
Kickboxing. Fair. He uses kicks and knees but they do not define him.
Wrestling. His lowest number. He prefers to keep fights standing or on his terms.
BJJ. His best rating. Guillotines, triangles and scrambles that turn into chokes.
Strength. Solid. He is strong in the clinch and on the mat.
Durability. Very high. He absorbed a heavy beating from Holloway and kept going.
Cardio. Strong. He can stay in a long fight.
Fight IQ. Excellent. He finds submissions from odd positions.
BJJ at 94 is his best feature
He can turn any scramble into a submission attempt. Durability at 90 is close behind, which means he can stay in a fight long enough to find the choke. If a match hangs on a late finish, his ground game gives him a real chance.
Wrestling can hold him back
At 74, Wrestling is his lowest attribute. A fighter who can shoot and control him, or push him against the fence, can limit his submission attempts. Add someone who keeps the fight standing if you want to reduce that risk.
Keep exploring
Closest featherweight profiles to Brian Ortega, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Diego Lopesbest bjj 94 · weakest wrestling 80
- Kenny Florianbest bjj 86 · weakest strength 74
- Dustin Poirierbest cardio 86 · weakest wrestling 75
- Renato Moicanobest bjj 88 · weakest strength 76
- Featherweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Brian Ortega's strongest attribute, BJJ.
Draft Brian Ortega into your build
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Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Brian Ortega is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Brian Ortega's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.