With the nerves and pressure of a No 1 contender fight now out fo the way, “T-City” expanded further upon his decision in the post-event press conference in Abu Dhabi.

“So we were cutting weight, I’ve been wanting to cut my hair for a while – not completely bald, but trim it a little bit, go back to the slick back Bryan, or something,” Ortega said.

“I understand now why some of these girls cut their hair off. After every run I gotta re-bundle it up and put it this and that, and showering, it’s just a freaking hassle. I do miss my looks with it I’m not gonna lie.

“But I was cutting weight and I was like, ‘Bro, I feel like s*** and there’s some people who are going through some things right now’. I visited countless children’s hospitals, met lots of kids who were sick with cancer.

UFC: Andrade sends shock waves through flyweight division

“The stories you would see always stuck with me. Walking in these rooms playing tough, making them smile, and walking out and crying your freaking tears out because you know these stories.

“And I was suffering during the weight cut. I haven’t had a weight cut in over two years. While I was suffering, I was like, ‘Man, I have to deal with this for a little bit, some people don’t have this choice, they have to deal with it every day’.

“And I was talking about it while I was in the tub cutting weight. ‘Man, I don’t know how some people lose weight constantly and go through all these therapies’.

“And maybe it was in my feelings, I get emotional when I cut weight, but I was like, ‘Yo man, go get me the clippers right now’. They were like, ‘What?’ I said, ‘go get me the freaking clippers’.

“I was about to fight my homie. I just went straight for it, I think he filmed it. I was like, ‘We’re gonna donate this. It’s done’.”

When asked if he intended to keep the new look, Ortega laughed. “I’m growing my hair back. I can’t stay bald brother,” he said.