UFC 195's Brian Ortega on game plan: 'Take them into deep waters, 'watch them drown'

LAS VEGAS – Brian Ortega is one of the sport’s most promising featherweights, and he meets one of the division’s most explosive members on Saturday at UFC 195.

And though the fireworks ushered in the new year earlier today on the Las Vegas Strip, Ortega (9-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) said Sin City fight fans can expect something even better when he meets Diego Brandao (20-10 MMA, 6-3 UFC) in a pay-per-view main-card bout at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

“The new year is going to have fireworks,” he said. “Jan. 2? The fireworks are going to be better.”

Ortega is fresh off a “Fight of the Night” victory over 18-fight UFC veteran Thiago Tavares this past June. The grueling bout ended via third-round TKO.

According to Ortega, who’s an honorable mention in the MMAjunkie/USA TODAY Sports MMA featherweight rankings, Brandao can expect much of the same at Saturday’s event.

“Like I’ve been telling everyone, man: We’re surfers in South Bay over there in California,” he said. “What we like to do is … take them into deep waters and then watch them drown.

“So he better have his lifejacket.”

Check out the full video above.

And for more on UFC 195, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.