One of the more well-known fighters in the UFC, especially in the featherweight division, Brian Ortega, has seen his career stalled over the last 2-3 years. His return after almost two years saw him emerge triumphant against Yair Rodriguez, avenging his prior loss to the former interim champion. But then again, Ortega missed out on a win against former title contender Diego Lopes.

Well, Brian Ortega is returning to action against the former bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling, this weekend at UFC Shanghai. But before we get to that fight, let’s take our focus away from ‘T-City’s fighting career to his roots and origins. As such, here are the lesser-known facts about Ortega’s life outside the Octagon, especially his ethnicity, nationality, and his parents.

Where is Brian Ortega from? Ethnicity and nationality

Brian Ortega was born in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in San Pedro. His parents are from Mexico, specifically from Hermosillo, Sonora. As per several reports, the UFC fighter has dual citizenship, thus making him both American and Mexican. However, in the past, he has been seen standing in solidarity with the country of Mexico by holding and walking out with Mexican flags.

Ortega’s BJJ background has been recognized and applauded by numerous MMA gurus and fans alike. Ortega, who started training in BJJ at just 13, has often ascribed the credit for his career trajectory to his father. While we are on that note, let’s take a look at his relationship with his father, in addition to getting to know the details about the UFC star’s mother.

Who are Brian Ortega’s parents?

Brian Ortega’s father, Martin Ortega, has notably played an integral part in his life. But apart from that, his mother’s name is Patricia Ortega, and details about her are not very public. Other than that, ‘T-City’ grew up living in a Section 9 housing project in San Pedro, California, and it was during that time that Ortega’s father taught them and stressed the importance of survival in tough circumstances.

As per Vibe Blog, ‘T-City’ suggests that it was his father who inspired him to become a fighter in the first place. Despite his humble beginnings, his father instilled a mentality in him to always be resilient and fight through any adversity. It is also worth mentioning that Martin enlisted the UFC star in the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in California, which exposed him to the world of combat. 

More about Brian Ortega’s early life & background

The fact that Brian Ortega’s father emphasized building a formidable mindset early in his life helped him become a top athlete, and that, too, a fairly successful one in the UFC. Ortega also never missed an opportunity to show his appreciation, as upon receiving a substantial sum in 2020 after defeating The Korean Zombie, he gifted his father a brand-new Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.

Needless to say, Brian Ortega wanted to pay homage to his father for the years of hard work done for him. He took to his Instagram and captioned it, “I BOUGHT MY DAD A NEW TRUCK!!! (Swipe to cry) 12 years ago I totaled my dads truck, and my dream was to buy him a new one. This man deserves this and so much more I love you dad !!! Thank you to the entire team that help make this possible.”

When the featherweight star turned 17, he started his boxing training to hone his striking skills while also working on his ground game. As we all know, Brian Ortega made his UFC debut in 2014, although the initial date for his debut was a few months before it happened, and the rest is history.

There are several other accolades that Brian Ortega has added to his name over the years that make him captivating even outside the cage. Given that he has a big-time fight coming up against a former champion, what are your thoughts on Ortega’s fight against Aljamain Sterling at UFC Shanghai? Drop your comments below.