Author: Dan Hiergesell

Alexander Volkanovski took his game to another level last night (Sat., Sept. 25, 2021) at UFC 266 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, when “The Great” defended his UFC featherweight title in a wild main event clash with Brian Ortega. The champion retained his 145-pound title with a hard-earned unanimous decision.

Both fighters were cut in the early going. Volkanovski did most of his damage with a crisp lead jab while Ortega relied on power counter shots to put the champion on notice. Volkanovski regained control in the second with lead jabs, leg kicks, body shots, and combinations along the cage. Ortega seemed to be slowing just a bit.

All hell broke loose in the third round as Ortega caught Volkanovski with a shot coming in and knocked the champion down. Ortega quickly pounced for a guillotine choke and nearly finished Volkanovski. Volkanovski wiggled free and started to land heavy ground-and-pound before Ortega nearly won the fight again with a triangle choke. Again, Volkanovski defended to get free and put more damage on “T-City.”

Ortega came out in the fourth and tried to lock Volkanovski up in a D’Arce choke, but the champion pushed through that, too. Volkanovski was able to transition into top control and launched heavy punches and elbows that bounced Ortega’s head off the canvas. The fifth and final round saw Ortega go for broke and put Volkanovski on his back foot, but it was too little too late. Volkanovski had already done enough.

Check out the full fight video highlights below courtesy of UFC/ESPN:

For complete UFC 266 results and coverage click here.

Valentina Shevchenko made things look easy last night (Sat., Sept. 25, 2021) at UFC 266 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, when the UFC women’s flyweight champion defeated tough challenger Lauren Murphy via fourth-round TKO (punches and elbows).

Shevchenko fought with a little more intensity than usual and it showed on the face of the challenger. Murphy kept plodding forward to try and get inside, but the champion found her range early and made her pay with counter shots and spinning attacks. Shevchenko kept busy in the second with more precise punches while mixing in some takedowns and top pressure.

Shevchenko came on even stronger in the later frames as she badly hurt Murphy in the fourth round with a check hook followed by a head kick. Murphy backpedaled and “Bullet” rushed in for an offensive explosion. Murphy eventually fell to the canvas and Shevchenko took charge for dominant ground-and-pound and the eventual finish.

Check out the full fight video highlights below courtesy of UFC/ESPN:

For complete UFC 266 results and coverage click here.

As soon as UFC 266 wraps up later tonight (Sat., Sept. 25, 2021) live on ESPN+ pay-per-view (PPV) from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, fight fans can check out the live post-fight press conference video above for all the best reaction and official bonus winners.

On a massive PPV card featuring a main event clash between UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and top contender Brian Ortega, a co-headliner pitting reigning UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko against Lauren Murphy, and the long-awaited return of MMA legend Nick Diaz, there will be a lot to discuss when the action winds down.

The post-fight press conference video is scheduled to go live at 1:15 a.m. ET with the biggest winners and stars from the card.

For complete UFC 266 results and coverage click here.

Nick Diaz made his return to the Octagon last night (Sat., Sept. 25, 2021) at UFC 266 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, only to have former foe Robbie Lawler put an end to his comeback with a third-round TKO (punches).

Lawler burst out of the gate with heavy combinations along the cage. Diaz shelled up and allowed “Ruthless” to do his best. Lawler wasn’t able to clip Diaz with the shot he wanted and it allowed Diaz to turn the tide. Diaz unloaded punches in bunches and started to bust Lawler’s face up pretty bad.

In Round 2, Lawler landed a nasty liver kick that temporarily fazed Diaz. Diaz would retreat to recover before coming back with more volume striking. Lawler responded with some shots along the cage late into the frame that had Diaz backpedaling again. The third round saw Lawler get revenge 17 years in the making, as he caught Diaz with a nasty check right hook. Diaz fell to a knee as Lawler asked for the fight to be stood back up. Diaz wasn’t able to continue and the fight was waved off.

Check out the full fight video highlights below courtesy of UFC/ESPN:

For complete UFC 266 results and coverage click here.

Merab Dvalishvili proved to be “The Machine” earlier tonight (Sat., Sept. 25, 2021) at UFC 266 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, when the bantamweight contender came from behind to stop former title challenger Marlon Moraes via second-round TKO (punches).

Moraes looked good in the early going and clipped Dvalishvili with a filthy left hook. Dvalishvili stumbled around the cage as Moraes unloaded heavy shots in search of a first-round finish. Dvalishvili somehow kept moving and stayed alive to score a timely takedown. That’s when Dvalishvili flipped the script and nearly finished Moraes with hammer fists in what turned out to be one of the wildest five minutes in recent memory.

In Round 2, Dvalishvili kept busy with his ground-and-pound to unload on a defenseless Moraes. The fight probably should have been stopped 50 strikes sooner than it was, but Dvalishvili eventually slammed a final flurry of fists into the head of “The Magician.”

Check out the full fight video highlights below courtesy of UFC/ESPN:

For complete UFC 266 results and coverage click here.

Alexander Volkanovski will look to push his UFC record to 10-0 later tonight (Sat., Sept. 25, 2021) at UFC 266 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, when “The Great” defends his featherweight title against hungry challenger Brian Ortega.

Before Volkanovski and Ortega settle their beef in the PPV main event, UFC 266 will feature a collection of high-profile matchups and awaited Octagon appearances. From the return of former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz to a lightweight fire fight between Dan Hooker and Nasrat Haqparast, UFC 266 will provide a little bit of everything starting from the opening bell.

We will compile the best of the best below — with all video footage courtesy of UFC and ESPN — and will continue to share the action as it rolls in. Enjoy!

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Jonathan Pearce def. Omar Morales via second-round submission (rear-naked choke)

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Matthew Semelsberger def. Martin Sano Jr. via first-round knockout (punch)

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Nick Maximov def. Cody Brundage via Unanimous Decision

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Jalin Turner def. Uros Medic via first-round submission (rear-naked choke)

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Taila Santos def. Roxanne Modafferi via Unanimous Decision

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Chris Daukaus def. Shamil Abdurakhimov via second-round TKO (punches)

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Dan Hooker def. Nasrat Haqparast via Unanimous Decision

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Merab Dvalishvili def. Marlon Moraes via second-round TKO (punches)

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Jessica Andrade def. Cynthia Calvillo via first-round TKO (punches)

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Curtis Blaydes def. Jairzinho Rozenstruik via Unanimous Decision

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Robbie Lawler def. Nick Diaz via third-round TKO (punches)

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Valentina Shevchenko def. Lauren Murphy via fourth-round TKO (punches and elbows)

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Alexander Volkanovski def. Brian Ortega via Unanimous Decision

For complete UFC 266 results and coverage click here.