UFC featherweight contender Brian Ortega has revealed the frightening extent of his struggles while attempting to cut weight ahead of UFC Shanghai last month.

Ortega was originally scheduled to face Aljamain Sterling at 145 pounds, but the fight was shifted to a catchweight of 153 pounds after both men failed to make the featherweight limit.

Looking visibly drained at the weigh-ins, Ortega has now admitted that his weight cut nearly ended in disaster.

“I was confused on how my body wasn’t really pouring out the water or why it was just holding it in,” Ortega explained in an Instagram video on Tuesday. “No matter what, we had to get this weight off. I hit 20 minutes on the bike. Once I got off, I went unconscious. I was unconscious for about 30 minutes.”

The 34-year-old, known for his resilience inside the Octagon, said the incident left him shaken and raised concerns about the toll extreme weight cutting takes on fighters.

Despite the scare, Ortega went on to compete in Shanghai, though the fight had already been adjusted due to the failed weight cuts. His revelation adds to ongoing debates in MMA about fighter safety, dehydration risks, and stricter regulation of weight cutting practices.