Frankie Edgar V Brian Ortega Preview : Can Ortega make a name for himself
Frankie Edgar has fought for the UFC featherweight title twice and he lost to Jose Aldo on both occasions. Against Brian Ortega at UFC 222, Edgar has the chance to get himself back into title contention and prove to the world he is indeed a world title calibre fighter. For Ortega, Max Holloway was originally meant to have this fight but had to pull out through injury, so the unbeaten Ortega will look to seize his opportunity.
Odds of 21/10 are available with Betfair for Edgar to win via decision (£100 free bet)
The Answer
Frankie Edgar is stuck in the role of a fighter that is a cut above the rest, but he is not quite in that very top bracket. Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor stand above him as elite featherweights and at 36-years-old, some might say Edgar is running out of time to prove he can win a world title. He stands across from the unbeaten Brian Ortega who doesn't have a single blemish on his record and he is nine years his junior. Edgar has a record of 22-5-1, but it's worth noting that out of those five defeats, he has never been knocked out of submitted. He has always gone the distance and lost via decision, and the manner of his victories are very similar. Since joining the UFC eight years ago, Edgar has only won three of his 14 bouts via knockout and normally goes the distance. As a methodical fighter who looks to use his expert Brazilian ju-jitsu to dictate to his opponents. Can he do that to the lively Ortega?
Get odds of 1/2 with Coral for Frankie Edgar to win (£20 free bet)
T-City
One could argue that Ortega hasn't faced any top-tier talents yet and Edgar will be the toughest fight of his career to date. Edgar has faced the likes of Aldo, Benson Henderson, B.J. Penn and Chad Mendes. Although Ortega has six UFC fights under his belt and an overall record of 13-0, the 27-year-old has to prove himself at the highest level. A major difference between the two fighters here lies in the way bouts end. Ortega is just as comfortable finishing people with knockout blows as he is locking in some fearsome submissions. The guillotine choke and the triangle choke are two favourites of his and the former has won him his last two fights. Ortega is the slightly bigger featherweight out of the two and that may count.
Paddy Power are offering odds of 7/2 for Ortega to win via submission (£20 free bet)
FREEbets.org.uk Prediction
Edgar is the favourite with the bookies, but Ortega's style could be a nightmare for a man that looks to control fights. Ortega's ju-jitsu is just as formidable and being a fighter on the front foot who looks for ways to finish the bout, he is primed to surprise Edgar at UFC 222.
Odds of 17/10 are available with Ladbrokes for Brian Ortega to win (£50 free bet)
Statistics
- Frankie Edgar has lost to Jose Aldo in his two UFC featherweight title fights
- Ortega is unbeaten with a record of 13-0
- Edgar has a record of 22-5-1