UFC News: Brian Ortega reveals why he pulled out from Fight Night Busan

The news of Brian Ortega being forced out of his much-anticipated clash against 'The Korean Zombie' Chan Sung Jung in the main event of UFC Fight Night 165 on 21 December at the Sajik Arena in Busan, South Korea has spread disappointment among fight fans all over the globe.

ESPN's Ariel Helwani was the first to report the matter on Wednesday saying that Ortega has officially withdrawn from the fight on UFC's last event this year. However, he had maintained that the details of the injury remained undisclosed.

Brian Ortega is out of the Dec. 21 main event fight against Chan Sung Jung due to an undisclosed injury, according to multiple sources. More coming shortly.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 5, 2019

Now Ortega released a statement on Instagram clarifying that he withdrew from the fight due to an ACL tear he suffered while training for the fight against Korean Zombie. (h/t South China Morning Post)

“I tore my ACL in training and I won’t be fighting in Korea. Thankfully it was only a partial tear so I’m already rehabbing it. I didn’t want to let down the fans, the Zombie, and the UFC, so I strongly considered pushing through it and fighting anyway. But according to the doctors, the risk of a full rupture in the fight was high and that would put me out for up to a year. Sorry guys I gotta take care of this right now, but I’ll make it up to all of you 2020 I promise.”

Although Ortega's replacement has not been announced yet, Helwani said that the UFC is looking for someone who could take the fight on such short notice in order to keep Jung on the card because the event is in his hometown.