UFC 222 results: Brian Ortega first to stop Frankie Edgar, gets massive first-round KO

Brian Ortega stayed patient in the first round against Frankie Edgar, then became the first to finish the veteran. And he did so with authority.

Ortega (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) knocked out Edgar (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6-1 UFC) with a massive knockout from a right uppercut with 16 seconds left in the first round. Edgar had just five career losses coming into the fight, all by decision.

The featherweight bout was the co-main event of today’s UFC 222 show at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It aired on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Ortega was a replacement opponent for featherweight champion Max Holloway, who was supposed to defend his title against Edgar in the main event. But rather than wait for Holloway, Edgar took the fight with Ortega and put his No. 1 contender spot on the line. It went by the wayside, and Ortega may have earned a title shot with Holloway now, instead.

Edgar got right after things and kicked low. Ortega pumped his left jab and tried to use a big height and reach advantage to his favor. But Edgar came forward with a combination and had Ortega backing up early. But he stayed calm and despite Edgar continually working to get off multi-punch combinations, Ortega got solid kicks off.

With a minute left, Ortega grabbed Edgar’s neck and had the potential for a guillotine choke, but Edgar slipped out. Not long after, Ortega stunned Edgar with a big left elbow. He wobbled, and seconds later Ortega put a few punches on him. And with Edgar trying to recover, Ortega measured a massive right uppercut an put Edgar out for good on the canvas.

“It feels great,” Ortega said. “This is something I’ve always envisioned. I’ve seen it in my dreams, and even in my fears – I fear myself getting knocked out. But that fear makes me kind of deadly in here, as you see. I’m making history. I’m just humble, and to share the octagon with him is an honor. Frankie is a legend.

“I knew he was going to be in my face pressuring me. Because I have these long arms, I use my elbows when I can. Once I saw him wobble, I thought, ‘Is this fake, or is it real?’ I knew I had to finish him.”

Ortega stayed perfect in his pro career with a perfect 14-0 start. Edgar is back in the loss column after a two-fight winning streak and a stretch of seven victories in eight fights.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 222 results include:

• Brian Ortega def. Frankie Edgar via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 4:44
• Sean O’Malley def. Andre Soukhamthath via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-28)
• Andrei Arlovski def. Stefan Struve via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
• Ketlen Vieira def. Cat Zingano via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Mackenzie Dern def. Ashley Yoder via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Alexander Hernandez def. Beneil Dariush via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 0:42
• John Dodson def. Pedro Munhoz via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
• C.B. Dollaway def. Hector Lombard via disqualification (late punches) – Round 1, 5:00
• Zak Ottow def. Mike Pyle via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:34
• Cody Stamann def. Bryan Caraway via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Jordan Johnson def. Adam Milstead via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)

For complete coverage of UFC 222, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

(MMAjunkie’s John Morgan and Ken Hathaway contributed to this report on site in Las Vegas.)