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New featherweight title contender emerges as Cub Swanson's run ends

In last night’s UFC headliner, Brian Ortega submitted the veteran who had won his last four bouts.

UNDEFEATED 26-YEAR-OLD FEATHERWEIGHT Brian Ortega (13-0) was the big winner last night at the UFC’s event in Fresno in his native California.

The grappling ace turned to his jiu-jitsu credentials to execute a superb submission of fellow Californian Cub Swanson (25-8), winning via guillotine in the second round of his first appearance in a UFC main event.

Ortega, who entered the bout ranked sixth in the 145-pound division, took a big step closer to a shot at featherweight champion Max Holloway by overcoming his 34-year-old opponent, who had won four fights in a row since suffering consecutive defeats to Holloway and Frankie Edgar.

But afterwards, Ortega respectfully stated that he’s willing to wait in line for his title shot, insisting that Edgar deserves the next opportunity to dethrone Holloway.

The pair were due to meet last weekend at UFC 218 but an injury forced Edgar to withdraw, with Holloway getting the better of former champion Jose Aldo in a rematch instead.

Ortega said: “I know Frankie Edgar got injured. Like I said, I’m not cocky or nothing. I’m going to respectfully wait for him to get his shot with Max Holloway, see how that goes and hopefully I can just wait it out a little bit.

“The winner between them I can get a shot at, if that’s a possibility.”

UFC Fight Night 123 results

  • Brian Ortega def. Cub Swanson via submission (guillotine choke) after 3:22 of round tw0
  • Gabriel Benítez def. Jason Knight via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 29-27)
  • Marlon Moraes def. Aljamain Sterling via KO (knee) after 1:07 of round one
  • Scott Holtzman def. Darrell Horcher via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Eryk Anders def. Markus Perez via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-25, 29-28)
  • Benito Lopez def. Albert Morales via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Alexis Davis def. Liz Carmouche via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Andre Soukhamthath def. Luke Sanders via TKO (punches) after 1:06 of round two
  • Alex Perez def. Carls John de Tomas via submission (anaconda choke) after 1:54 of round two
  • Frankie Saenz def. Merab Dvalishvili via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Alejandro Pérez def. Iuri Alcântara via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Davi Ramos def. Chris Gruetzemacher via submission (rear-naked choke) after 0:50 of round three
  • Trevin Giles def. Antônio Braga Neto via KO (punches) after 2:27 of round three

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