UFC: Brian Ortega shaves head before weigh-ins; donating hair to chemotherapy charity for children
- Mexican-American says ‘I don’t need to cut my hair to make weight’ following fan speculation
- ‘Learn why I did it first, I’ll talk about it later,’ adds Ortega ahead of Fight Island headliner vs ‘The Korean Zombie’
Brian Ortega stunned MMA fans when he weighed in with a clean-shaven head before Sunday’s UFC Fight Island 6 headline bout against “The Korean Zombie” Jung Chan-sung.
The 29-year-old Mexican-American (14-1, one no contest) is known for his long, flowing locks but pulled a surprise at Friday’s ceremonial weigh-ins in Abu Dhabi.
Some fans speculated “T-City” may have cut his hair because he was struggling to make weight for the featherweight clash, which will determine 145-pound champion Alex Volkanovski’s next challenger.
But Ortega and Jung made weight for Sunday’s bout with no problems.
ESPN’s Brett Okamoto then reported that Ortega decided to shave his hair to donate it to the Locks of Love charity, which provides hair for children undergoing chemotherapy, per Ortega’s manager Tiki Ghosn.
“And I’m here saying it as well!” Ortega wrote in a reply to a tweet from ESPN MMA citing Okamoto’s report.