5 possible next opponents for Brian Ortega after UFC 266

#4 Brian Ortega vs Josh Emmett

In seventh-ranked Josh Emmett, Brian Ortega could find the perfect rebound opponent as he attempts to evolve as a fighter and contend for the featherweight title once again.

Emmett isn't the most active fighter, having fought only four times since the start of 2018. The 36-year-old was last seen in action in June 2020, where he extended his UFC win streak to three with a unanimous-decision victory over Shane Burgos. He has won five of his last six fights and has lost only two UFC fights overall, so he deserves a step-up in competition.

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Ortega could provide just that for Emmett. If Calvin Kattar and Arnold Allen are booked to fight each other, Emmett would be the highest-ranked featherweight 'T-City' hasn't beat yet. It might be a step too low for Ortega, but he did take a lot of damage against Volkanovski.

#3 Brian Ortega vs Arnold Allen

Considered one of the brightest talents in the UFC's featherweight division, Arnold Allen has won each of his eight fights in the promotion. His most recent octagon outing was a decision win over 'Super' Sodiq Yusuff in April.

Allen, who is 27 years old, has taken his time while moving up the featherweight rankings, focussing on developing as a fighter before challenging the top men in the division. He finally seems ready for a real test in the form of Ortega, who could take a significant step towards redeeming himself by beating 'Almighty'.

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This seems like an exciting matchup between two well-rounded, technical fighters.