UFC 214's Brian Ortega pretty stoked to be octagon record-holder – 'I go in there to kill'

LA MIRADA, Calif. – UFC featherweight Brian Ortega is the owner of a very unusual record in the octagon – he’s the only fighter in UFC history to earn three consecutive third-round stoppages.

So obscure is that record that Ortega had no idea he held it. When told of the accomplishment by MMAjunkie at UFC 214 media day, he seemed pretty stoked to win something.

“I go in there to kill,” Ortega said. “That’s all it means. I fight to the end. People usually rest up the third round and try to play it cool – let me get the decision, let me finish. No, let’s go for it. War.”

It would be easy to say Ortega is simply a slow starter. But he isn’t trying to go into deep waters every time he fights. If he could finish opponents early, he would.

“I would love that,” he said. “Go in, go out. If I get a quick submission or knockout, easy money. Go home and train, and sign another fight. But I’m fighting the guys that are the best in the world right now. It’s not that easy any more.

“When you’re fighting the elite of the best of the top 10, it takes a little while to figure their rhythm out. But once that puzzle is solved, that’s it. It’s ours.”

Proof of that is seen in his fights against Thiago Tavares, Diego Brandao and Clay Guida. As the clashes went into the final 5 minutes, Ortega seemed to energize as his opponents tired. Not long after, they were on the mat, wondering what happened.

On Saturday, Ortega (11-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) will take on the also-unbeaten Renato Moicano (11-0-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) on the FXX-televised prelims of Saturday’s fight card before pay-per-view bouts at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Ortega returns to the octagon after a torn labrum kept him out of the octagon for the past year. He is hopeful it will be an early night of work.

But if not, maybe he can go for third-round stoppage No. 4. Hard to imagine that could be beat.

For more on UFC 214, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.