Brian Ortega did everything possible to make UFC 331, but knew he wouldn't get medically cleared.
Ortega (16-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) was scheduled to rematch Renato Moicano (21-7-1 MMA, 13-7 UFC) on Saturday's main card (Paramount+) at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, but was forced out after sustaining a cut which left him with numerous stitches above his left eye.
The former title challenger, who hasn't competed since a loss to Aljamain Sterling last August, was very apologetic when addressing his fans.
"For all of you who are saying that I pulled out because I'm scared, I'm ducking, whatever, you guys are stupid people among stupid people," Ortega said on his Instagram. "Straight up. I'm not even going to sugarcoat that sh*t, you guys are some dumbasses.
For those of you who are mad because I pulled out and you genuinely want to watch me fight, and you're mad at the situation and you're mad that this sh*t happened, for you guys I'm sorry. I apologize from the bottom of my heart. I'm sorry. That sh*t ain't cool. This is not something that I expected to happen. There's situations where I've hid this, and I went out there and fought regardless, and I put on a show for you guys because you guys deserve that. You guys deserve to watch me show up in L.A. and fight in front of my hometown, and put on a great show with a good opponent. And this happening, it's something that, I just can't hide this.
"I would have to see commission today, and I would have to hide this today from them, and that's just not going to happen. I can't wear glasses when they're checking me, I can't hide out. There's no makeup that's going to hide how swollen my eye is and everything is. And for you guys, I'm sorry. Genuinely, I apologize. My feelings aside, I know what I've sacrificed, I know what all this means to me. But at the end of the day, I have this job because of you guys. People tune in to watch because I show up and I show out for you guys and this happening, this sh*t just ain't it, man. This sh*t just ain't it, and I'm f*cking sorry. When you guys talk sh*t, I'll take it. Straight up, I'll take it. You guys, rightfully so, have earned that anger towards me. I hope that you can forgive me and find it in your heart to be like, hey man, this is not what I wanted to happen. And all I could do is go out there and get into another training camp, sacrifice more time and put in more effort, train smarter."
Ortega revealed exactly what happened which caused the cut.
"This is a freak accident that happened doing jiu-jitsu," Ortega said. "I wasn't sparring, I was doing jiu-jitsu. Going over the last details, the last game plans. Getting just a last sweat, and this f*cking headbutt happened. At the time, they said it was a small cut. I was happy, and then when we found out how many stitches it was, and how big it was, and what it did, we just can't hide that, man. I tried, I wanted to.
"Everyone in my team said that would be stupid of you to go out there. I was still going go out there and just say f*ck it, but California Commission and everyone is, I'm not gonna pass. I can't show up like this. All I can say is thank you guys for still rocking with me. And for those of you who are pissed off at me, I hope that I gain your love back on the next one, and I can just show you guys who I really am and get back to doing what I do. I love you guys man, and I'm sorry."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Brian Ortega: Headbutt during jiu-jitsu caused cut, UFC 331 withdrawal
