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#4. Brian Ortega vs. Gregor Gillespie
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Another tough test for Brian Ortega at lightweight is Gregor Gillespie. Sylistically, Ortega-Gillespie could be a very intriguing bout for fans. During his decorated college wrestling career, Gillespie won the NCAA Division I National championship in 2007 and was a 4-time Division I All-American.
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What makes Gillespie's 14-1 MMA record so impressive is that he's won 7 fights by KO/TKO and 5 fights by submission. Gillespie hasn't been a one-dimensional fighter by any means. He has done a great job mixing up his wrestling with effective striking. He's not on the striking level of Justin Gaethje or Conor McGregor, but his striking has still helped him.
Gillespie is currently the No.10-ranked UFC lightweight and has been searching for a big win that will get him closer to a title shot. A win over a former featherweight title challenger like Ortega could see Gillespie get a bout with somebody outside the top 5.
Many have felt Gillespie would be better suited moving to featherweight, so there wouldn't be a significant size difference. Ortega-Gillespie would be a great indicator on whether Ortega could defeat a top 10 opponent in a heavier weight class.
#3. Brian Ortega vs. Dan Hooker
Another possible opponent for Brian Ortega at lightweight is Dan 'Hangman' Hooker. This could be a great striker vs. grappler matchup and could see the winner immediately move into the top 5.
Although Hooker is one of the top strikers in the lightweight division, he would need to be cautious against Ortega. Hooker is known for his aggressive style, but that could play right into Ortega's gameplan. If Hooker throws with reckless abandon, he could get caught in a submission.
Hooker recently snapped his two-fight losing streak at UFC 266, where he defeated Nasrat Haqparast by unanimous decision. Both fighters agreed to the bout on short notice, which made his performance even more impressive.
Ortega proved how durable he is during his title bouts with Volkanovski and Max Holloway, and could use that to his advantage. When Ortega fought Volkanovski, he managed to secure big takedowns even though he had been losing the round.
