What Is Brian Ortega’s Fighting Style? Is He a BJJ Black Belt?

Brian Ortega is an excellent grappler, who mainly trained under Rener Gracie, and has also trained under Rorian, and Ralek Gracie, all of whom belong to the storied Gracie clan, credited with inventing and popularizing the modern iteration of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Along with this, his stand-up game, which has gone through a significant evolution over the past few years, has improved significantly.

Brian Ortega is returning to action for a second time in 2024. He will take on an up-and-coming contender, Diego Lopes, at UFC 303. But before we get to the fight this weekend,  let’s talk about Ortega’s fighting style, which is such an interesting topic to look at in more detail.

What type of fighter is Brian Ortega?

Ortega, as we have mentioned, has excellent BJJ, which he has used to devastating effect throughout his career to dominate opponents. While his wrestling is nothing to write home about, the BJJ black belt is at his best wrangling with opponents on the ground, as he has a knack for making all the right moves to secure a submission. A veritable joy to watch on the feet, his ground game is up there among the very best in the promotion’s history.

On the feet, Ortega has two different iterations: one before his tough loss to 145-pound then-champion Max Holloway in 2018, and one after it. While Ortega preferred to keep his hands low and deflect his opponents’ blows with his shoulders for the most part, which allowed him to stand in the pocket and pressure his opponents by matching them blow for blow, this tactic didn’t work against ‘Blessed’.

Holloway, perhaps the best boxer in the promotion at the moment, used all of his skills to thoroughly outclass the Mexican-American. Since then, Ortega has been a more rangy fighter, who has become a more effective counter-puncher and incorporated great lateral movement in his stand-up game. His effective combinations frustrate his opponents and catch them with clean strikes as they look to land their blows.

Who gave ‘T-City’ his black belt?

Ortega, as we have seen, has tutored under some of the best teachers of BJJ, with Rener Gracie serving as his primary trainer, who awarded the former featherweight title challenger a first-degree black belt in BJJ before his RFA vacant featherweight title fight against Keoni Koch in 2014 at the age of 23 after nearly a decade of hard work.

“It’s been a long 9 years that I’ve been training and I always knew this day would come and it finally came. I received my Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt. There’s no greater feeling than reaching my goal. Thank you for not giving up on me, brothers (Rener Gracie and Ryron Gracie),” Ortega said after the title bout, which he won via a close split decision.

The 33-year-old is looking to continue his winning ways at UFC 303 against Diego Lopes at the T-Mobile Arena on June 29. Do you think he can add another victory to his resume? Drop your views in the comments below.