Weightclass: Welterweight
Record: 5-0
Age: 22
Height: 6’1″
Born in: Newport Beach, California, US
Training out of: ?
Combined opponents’ record (at the time they fought): 53-72
Key wins: Jimmie Pace Jr.
Jaden Ortega is an undefeated professional competing for Combate Global. His only career loss came as an amateur, but since he’s moved down to welterweight, and won seven straight. A former football player, Ortega transitioned to MMA during the COVID era and found his home at Sikjitsu Fighting Systems in Spokane, Washington—training alongside UFC talents like Brady Hiestand and Terrance McKinney.
At just 22 years old, Ortega is still a developing prospect, but he already shows flashes of high-level potential. He’s a big, athletic welterweight with clear physical tools and an evolving skill set. So far, Ortega has shown himself to be a pure striker. He’s very active on the feet, constantly moving, especially laterally, using side-to-side footwork to stay elusive. That said, I’d like to see him incorporate more lateral striking—attacking off angles rather than advancing in straight lines.
One habit I see that needs worked on is overcommitting on his punches and occasionally leading with his head. However, Ortega already demonstrates promising elements of a counter-striker. He’s shown the ability to slip shots and land clean pull counters, and he mixes in effective kickboxing, often using feints to set up power shots. Notably, three of his five finishes came off a head kick or a setup to the body.
His fight with Jimmie Pace was his toughest test to date. It went the full three rounds, and Ortega impressed. His cardio held up, he defended takedowns well, and after dropping the first round, he made smart adjustments to win the next two. Though he spent time stuck against the cage, he showed solid clinch work with elbows and knees.
Ortega is far from a finished product, but he’s ahead of the curve for someone his age. He’s got the athletic base, the striking foundation, and—most importantly—the right team around him to round out the rest.