Dana White: UFC to Make Holloway vs. Ortega ‘Immediately’ Once Featherweight Champ is Cleared

Brian Ortega left no doubt as to who is the rightful No. 1 contender in the UFC’s featherweight division on Saturday night. Now it’s a matter of finding a date to give “T-City” his title shot.

Max Holloway, who withdrew from the originally scheduled UFC 222 headliner due to a leg injury, suggested on Twitter that UFC 226 on July 7 serve as the landing spot for his title defense against Ortega. UFC President Dana White wasn’t quite ready to commit to that date, but he did admit he would like to book Holloway vs. Edgar as soon as possible.

“He [Holloway] came on ‘The Ultimate Fighter 27’ as one of the coaches. He looks good. He’s walking good,” White said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “I don’t know. We’ve got to see what his doctor says. When he’s cleared and ready to fight, we’ll make that fight immediately.”

Ortega earned his sixth straight 145-pound triumph with a resounding knockout of Frankie Edgar in the UFC 222 co-main event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. With the win, Ortega snatched the title shot that originally belonged to Edgar before Holloway’s injury.

“The guy is so incredible and well-rounded. You think when he goes in and fights Frankie Edgar, you’d bet anything that he’s gonna sub him if he’s gonna win,” White said of Ortega. “Then he goes in and knocks him out in the first round. This kid is super talented, has an incredible personality. The fact that we know have a title fight with him and Holloway – Holloway looked incredible in his last fight with Jose Aldo -- I’m excited about this.”

Ortega has finished all of his opponents during his current six-fight winning streak, dispatching the likes of Edgar, Cub Swanson, Clay Guida and Diego Brandao before the final bell. After showcasing his knockout power against Edgar, the 27-year-old Californian is confident he will be successful against Holloway in any facet of a fight.

“I said it: Pick your poison,” Ortega said. “We can bang it out or we can go to the ground. I’m comfortable either way. No matter what happens in the fight, I’ll be all right.”