Brian Ortega confirms serious problems stemming from UFC Shanghai weight cut

UFC fighter Brian Ortega has revealed that he was unconscious for 30 minutes as a result of his UFC Shanghai weight cut.

As we know, Brian Ortega has had his fair share of issues when it comes to weight cutting over the years. Alas, despite this, he’s still seen by many as one of the most exciting and unpredictable fighters in the UFC’s featherweight division.

RELATED: Legendary referee poses interesting question to Brian Ortega amid UFC Shanghai defeat

Unfortunately, that didn’t do him much good when he stepped in there to face Aljamain Sterling at UFC Shanghai. On that night, Ortega was beaten by Sterling, dealing him another blow in his push to one day claim UFC gold.

In a video posted to social media recently, Ortega opened up on what exactly went down with his weight cutting issues in China, confirming what many people had feared.

Brian Ortega speaks for the first time following his weight miss at #UFCShanghai

“I hit 20 minutes on the bike. Once I got off I went unconscious. I was unconscious for about 30 minutes…

[Aljamain] said ‘they already have a replacement fighter, don’t worry about it’. I told… pic.twitter.com/mFs8Jl7F7q

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) September 9, 2025

Ortega reveals weight cut scare

“I cut weight on Thursday. We hit the first one – we got down to ’51,” Ortega said on his Instagram. “Second one, later on I decided to jump the gun on that one at 12, but we cut from midnight all the way to 8 in the morning, cutting weight the entire time. I realized I had 1.7 to go still.

“I was confused on how my body wasn’t really pouring out the water, why it was just holding it in, but no matter what, we have to get this weight off so we did. So we went downstairs, ate something, decided to cut more weight, put the plastics on, sweet sweat. I hit 20 minutes on the bike. Once I got off, I went unconscious. I was unconscious for about 30 minutes.

“During that time, they were putting ice on me, they took all my clothes off, they left me in boxers. I woke up in the E.R., I ripped everything off, I couldn’t really speak, translate to them. I was like, if they don’t take everything off, I’m going to take it off myself.

“We knew we had time limit to get to the weigh-ins, otherwise I could not fight. If you saw the weigh-ins, you obviously know I looked delirious, and just coming off 30 minutes of being unconscious in the tunnel. After that, weighed in. We figured if I didn’t feel good or if something was seriously off, we would call the fight.”

“He (Sterling) said, ‘they already have a replacement fighter, don’t worry about it,’ but I told him, ‘Nah, I don’t want to waste your time,’ and I showed up,” Ortega said. “We ate food, we rehydrated the entire day.

“I didn’t feel good, I wanted to call it off. I got up, and just walking outside I almost passed out and fainted. Everything in my body is telling me not to fight. First and foremost I decided to fight for my family. That’s my job, to show up and do what I do for them. Secondly, I fought for you guys.”

Quotes via MMA Junkie