Despite his impressive win Max Holloway didn’t do enough to jump the line for another UFC featherweight title fight.
According to MMA Fighting the next challenger to Alexander Volkanovski’s UFC featherweight crown will be Brian Ortega. That outlet reports that this fight is set to take place at UFC 260, which is planned for March 27 and a location to be determined.
The news of Volkanovski’s next likely opponent comes hours after former featherweight champion Max Holloway (who has two recent losses to Volkanovski) wowed onlookers in the main event of UFC Fight Island 7. In the desert Holloway took a historically lopsided decision over Calvin Katter to prove that he remains one of the best 145ers in the business.
If Volkanovski vs. Ortega makes it to fight night, Ortega has his most recent performance—versus Chan Sung Jung—to thank.
After a lengthy lay-off, stemming from a TKO loss to Holloway in a title fight in late 2018, Ortega returning with a bang at UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs. The Korean Zombie in October.
In that fight Ortega dominated Jung on route to a unanimous decision victory. Before coming unstuck versus Holloway, Ortega was undefeated with a 14-0 (1 NC) record with stoppage wins over Frankie Edgar, Cub Swanson and Renato Moicano.
Australia’s Volkanovski is undefeated in the UFC, a promotion he joined in 2016. After wins over Darren Elkins, Chad Mendes and Jose Aldo he beat Holloway by unanimous decision at UFC 245 in 2019. Last July Volkanovski defended the title versus Holloway on Fight Island, winning by split decision.
In addition to a UFC featherweight title fight, UFC 260 is also reportedly set to feature a heavyweight title clash between Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou.