By MMA fighter Brian Ortega’s ‘The Purge’-inspired walkout, complete with masks and thematic music, was not just a creative spectacle but also a manifestation of his personal frustrations. Leading up to his UFC 266 fight against Alexander Volkanovski, Ortega was plagued by disturbances from his upstairs neighbors, disrupting his rest and training regimen.
Living in an apartment post-separation, Ortega was tormented by incessant noise at all hours, impeding his preparation for the UFC featherweight title. His complaints to the landlord only intensified the nuisance, leading him to fantasize about ‘The Purge’—a concept from the eponymous horror film where all crimes are legal for 12 hours.
Ortega’s walkout concept was born from these sleepless nights, imagining a scenario where he could confront his neighbors under ‘The Purge’ conditions. Despite the UFC altering his original song choice for the walkout, the theme resonated with his coaches and fans alike, turning it into one of the most memorable entrances in recent MMA history. The walkout became a symbolic act of defiance, channeling his off-ring battles into a dramatic pre-fight statement.
