How to measure first UFC Fresno event? Dana White sees return, main-event winner liked aura
Brian Ortega is making quick work of his opponents lately.
Saturday’s first UFC event in Fresno was no different.
Ortega defeated Cub Swanson via submission with a Guillotine choke in the second round in 3:22 in the main event of UFC Fight Night 123 at the Save Mart Center, seen nationally on FS1.
Ortega (13-0-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC), a Los Angeles native, whose last five fights ended early, said he felt at ease once he arrived in Fresno.
“The vibes this whole week … it was a good vibe. The aura of everyone in the hotel … I chopped it up and had a great time. When you have so much positivity around you, especially during fight week, I could tell I was the only fighter still left in the lobby and everyone is sleeping and worried about the fight and I was playing dominoes and having fun, hanging out until 2 in the morning. I felt relaxed and felt like I was at home.”
UFC President Dana White was impressed with the 26-year-old Ortega and also with the turnout (7,606 for a gate of $568,290) at the Save Mart Center.
“It was a good night,” White said. “We’ll definitely come back.”
This was Swanson’s (25-8-0 MMA, 10-4 UFC) last fight on his UFC contract. He said White told him after leaving the Octagon he wanted to work out a contract.
“Dana said let’s make a deal right now. He was outside the cage. It’s like, ‘Do I have to crawl back and say OK I’ll take that deal you offered me that I said no to?’ We’ll see. I’m going to enjoy family over Christmas.”
Ortega won UFC bonuses of $50,000 each for Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night. Swanson cashed in $50,000.
In another higlight, Marlon Moraes scored a first-round knockout when he leveled Aljamain Sterling with a knee to the head in a bantamweight fight. Moraes also earned Performance of the Night worth $50,000.
Anthony Galaviz: 559-441-6042, @agalaviz_TheBee
This story was originally published December 10, 2017 at 11:28 AM with the headline "How to measure first UFC Fresno event? Dana White sees return, main-event winner liked aura."