UFC 326 has suffered a notable setback. Former featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega has withdrawn from his scheduled lightweight bout against Renato Moicano, which was set to take place March 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Ortega (16-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) announced the news via Instagram Stories, citing lingering injuries that require time to properly heal. The UFC is currently seeking a replacement opponent for Moicano, though no substitute has been confirmed.
In a brief video statement, Ortega emphasized that his withdrawal is precautionary rather than the result of a severe medical issue.
“I’m OK, health is good, no surgeries or nothing crazy like that,” Ortega said. “But I do need to take a little bit of some time off to nurse these injuries that I have right now.”
He added that rest and physical therapy not surgery are the prescribed path forward.
“It just sucks, where it’s not crazy like that where I need to have surgery, but I have to rest it and let it heal and chill, and get some physical therapy.”
Lightweight Transition Still Unsettled
Ortega’s move to lightweight followed a concerning health scare during his weight cut last August. When he revealed that he passed out for an extended period of time. Despite the incident, the UFC cleared him to compete, and Ortega went on to face Aljamain Sterling, losing by unanimous decision.
That defeat marked Ortega’s second consecutive loss, raising questions about the long-term viability of his transition to the 155-pound division.
Moicano Awaits New Opponent
Moicano (20-7-1 MMA, 12-7 UFC) will now await a replacement opponent as he looks to halt a two-fight losing streak. The Brazilian veteran is coming off losses to Islam Makhachev and Beneil Dariush.
With UFC 326 approaching, the promotion faces pressure to secure a suitable replacement to keep Moicano on the card and maintain depth on an event already impacted by late changes.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
