Ortega suffered 'deep' cut 3 weeks before UFC Mexico City win
Warning: Photo contains graphic content
UFC featherweight contender Brian Ortega suffered a "deep" cut in training three weeks before his win over Yair Rodriguez at UFC Mexico City.
Ortega's coach, Rener Gracie, posted a photo of the injury on Instagram on Tuesday. Gracie said a headbutt caused the cut, which required "four stitches on the inside and 10 on the surface."
Ortega defeated Rodriguez via third-round submission - in a rematch - in the co-main event of Saturday's event at Arena CDMX. Ortega was nearly knocked out in the first round but came back to tap out Rodriguez with an arm-triangle choke.
It was Ortega's first trip to the Octagon since losing to Rodriguez in July 2022. The former title challenger suffered a shoulder injury in the first round of that fight.
Ortega, ranked No. 3 in the 145-pound division, snapped a two-fight losing streak and earned his first victory since 2020.