After days of rumors swirling, it’s official: Brian Ortega is out of his UFC 326 fight with Renato Moicano.
Ortega, a former featherweight title challenger in the UFC, confirmed the rumors in a video statement posted on social media on Friday. It appears nagging injuries that have been piling up are the reason for the withdrawal.
“Obviously the news is coming out that no longer am I fighting on March 7 in Vegas. I’m okay, health is good, no surgeries, nothing crazy like that, but I do need to take a little bit, some time off to nurse these injuries that I have right now,” said Ortega in Friday’s video statement, addressed to fans and supporters. “It just sucks, where it’s not crazy like that, where I don’t need to have surgery, but I have to rest it and let it heal and chill and get some physical therapy. I’m going to be on that mission, so that’s it.”
Ortega, whose career has been halted several times due to injury, remained optimistic about fighting in 2026 as a whole.
“It’s just a little bit delayed, nothing crazy. I’m still planning on fighting twice this year, so look out.”
Ortega hasn’t won a fight since February of 2024 and is on a two-fight skid, which he was hoping to snap against Moicano, who started 2025 with a short notice title fight opposite then-lightweight champ Islam Makhachev.
It remains to be seen if Moicano gets a replacement opponent, but with the card over a month away, it shouldn’t be too hard.
UFC 326 takes place on March 7, 2026 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It’s headlined by a “BMF” title fight between Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira.
