Conor McGregor Or Khabib Nurmagomedov? UFC 231's Brian Ortega Reveals Preferred Opponent

If given a choice of a super fight, featherweight contender Brian Ortega would prefer to face UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov rather than Conor McGregor.

The undefeated Ortega challenges Max Holloway for the featherweight title in the main event of UFC 231 which takes place Saturday night at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

Should he defeat Holloway and become the new champion, he will likely have to face the Hawaiian in a rematch and then defend the title against other rising contenders. But as is the trend today, super fights are on the minds of every champion and Ortega is no different.

“You look at some of these guys who make super fights,” Ortega said recently. “And you’re like, damn, I wish I was a part of that fight. I like super fights. I want super fights. I want guys that I can match up well where people don’t know what going to happen.”

Unlike others though, Ortega likes the idea of a super fight because of the unpredictability and matchups rather than the money involved. That is one of the reasons why if the jiu-jitsu black belt were to move up to the 155-pound division, he would prefer facing Nurmagomedov over the cash-cow that is McGregor.

“Every grappler, we have this since even before I was training, this whole wrestler vs. jiu-jitsu,” Ortega explained. “We get along in the gym and we’re always like, you know, this is a matchup. Our hands are both good. He’s a top game guy and a wrestler and I’m a bottom game guy and a jiu-jitsu guy.”

"T-City" saw Nurmagomedov dominate McGregor at UFC 229 in October and saw plenty of things he would have done differently on the ground if he was the Irishman.

“I was watching a lot of things in that fight, where, if I was in that position, there’s a lot of things I’d be doing differently,” Ortega added. “And that kind of just made me realize, kind of just, what I want is a super fight, if I ever get there, and it’s within reach. If I play my cards right, it’s within reach.”

Ortega actually put his name in the hat to face Nurmagomedov on short notice for the lightweight title at UFC 223 back in April. However, Holloway got the call instead before he was eventually forced off due to being medically unfit.

Holloway will also be preferred if he gets a win this weekend which is why Ortega is focused on Saturday night first before setting his plans in motion with UFC president Dana White.

“I’ve got these ideas I want to go for," Ortega said. "If I’m successful hopefully I can start asking Dana White for them."