And after hearing this, it’s easy to see why.
The weight cuts were getting out of control.
“We had Moicano lined up in the books, we said let’s go to 155 so we’re not cutting as much weight anymore,” Ortega said. “[My coach] said, ‘You’re getting older, and these 40-pound weight cuts aren’t it anymore. From 185 to 145.”
Forty pounds. And for what?
“Honestly, there was never any real reason other than: that’s my weight class,” Ortega admitted. “I can still make it.”
For years, he did — without officially missing weight. But recently, it caught up to him in a big way.
That situation was chaotic.
Now, those extreme cuts are behind him.
Ortega says he’s walking around at a much healthier 173 pounds and feels far better physically.
“173 is about [the sweet spot],” he said. “I can do three or five rounds. It was all bad habits, and I’ve been slowly fixing them.”
