At UFC Fight Night 257 in Shanghai, Brian Ortega suffered a tough setback, dropping a unanimous decision to Aljamain Sterling in their 153-pound catchweight bout (50-45, 50-45, 50-45). Originally intended as a featherweight contest, the fight was shifted upward after Ortega encountered complications during his cut. Sterling controlled the action with jabs, kicks, and grappling pressure, leaving Ortega unable to find consistent offense across five rounds. The loss was Ortega’s second straight defeat and further highlighted his struggles with weight management at 145 pounds.
Given his recurring difficulties making featherweight, a permanent move to lightweight now looks like the best option for Ortega. The ideal opponent for his divisional debut would be Grant Dawson, currently ranked #14 at 155. Dawson has won three straight against solid competition, including Carlos Diego Ferreira, Rafa García, and Joe Solecki, and is known for his relentless wrestling and submission skills. Ortega, meanwhile, built his career on slick jiu-jitsu and opportunistic grappling, making this a stylistic clash between two ground specialists with very different approaches.
This fight would answer critical questions for both men. Can Ortega’s durability and submission game translate against bigger, stronger lightweights? Can Dawson handle the creativity and veteran savvy of a former featherweight title challenger? The matchup also carries rankings implications: a win for Ortega would immediately legitimize his presence in the top 15 at lightweight, while a victory for Dawson would be the biggest name on his résumé to date.
Last Five Fights – Brian Ortega:
1. Loss to Aljamain Sterling – Decision (unanimous), UFC Fight Night 257 (August 23, 2025)
2. Loss to Diego Lopes – Decision (unanimous), UFC 306 (September 14, 2024)
3. Win over Yair Rodríguez – Submission (arm-triangle choke), UFC Fight Night (February 24, 2024)
4. Loss to Yair Rodríguez – TKO (shoulder injury), UFC on ABC (July 16, 2022)
5. Loss to Alexander Volkanovski – Decision (unanimous), UFC 266 (September 25, 2021)
Last Five Fights – Grant Dawson:
1. Win over Carlos Diego Ferreira – Decision (unanimous), UFC 311 (January 18, 2025)
2. Win over Rafa García – TKO (elbows and punches), UFC Fight Night (October 12, 2024)
3. Win over Joe Solecki – Decision (unanimous), UFC 302 (June 1, 2024)
4. Loss to Bobby Green – KO (punches), UFC Fight Night (October 7, 2023)
5. Win over Damir Ismagulov – Decision (unanimous), UFC on ESPN (July 1, 2023)