Brian Ortega ruined Cub Swanson’s title hopes, but bolstered his own — along with his bank account — in the process.
Ortega received a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” award — and shared a $50,000 “Fight of the Night” check with his opponent for his second-round submission of Swanson in the UFC Fight Night 123 headliner at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif., on Saturday night. While Swanson held a clear advantage in standup exchanges, it was Ortega’s grappling that won the day, as he sucked his opponent into the clinch, jumped guard and secured the tapout with a guillotine choke 3:22 into the period.