Tribute: Volkanovski vs Ortega—The Ultimate Featherweight Title Fight

UFC 266 may be the fight where MMA pundits can look back and say, “Now that was the performance where Alexander Volkanovski proved that his championship mettle should have never been questioned.” By night’s end, the Australian showed that he is more than “championship-worthy” and is indeed The Ultimate Champion. It’s often said that one […]

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UFC 266 may be the fight where MMA pundits can look back and say, “Now that was the performance where Alexander Volkanovski proved that his championship mettle should have never been questioned.” By night’s end, the Australian showed that he is more than “championship-worthy” and is indeed The Ultimate Champion.

It’s often said that one of the main ingredients behind the making of a great champion is a worthy challenger. Brian Ortega served as such and then some, showing from the inside out that he is The Ultimate Challenger.

When you mix The Ultimate Champion with The Ultimate Challenger, there is something won on all sides of the arena, from the nosebleeds all the way down to the center of the Octagon, where only a single arm is raised.

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For Brian Ortega, the label of “The Ultimate Challenger” isn’t bestowed because it’s his second time competing for the world title in three fights, nor is it because of the threat he holds to anyone holding the featherweight strap. It’s because once he steps out to the arena en route to a world title fight, he is willing to purge everything from inside of him on his crawl up the walls of greatness.

He proved as much when he never quit against Max Holloway in 2018, and he did so again at UFC 266. Being The Ultimate Challenger means more than pushing your opponent to the brink. It means challenging yourself to dig deep and tap into a place where many would submit long before reaching.

Alexander Volkanovski proved to any doubters that still exited why he is truly “The Great” of the UFC’s featherweight division. Having already done just that by knocking off the two biggest greats of the division’s history, José Aldo and Max Holloway, he was already deserving of being considered The Ultimate Champion. But to remove all doubt, the Aussie demonstrated that winning comes more naturally to him than breathing and that it’s going to take more than fully applied submissions to release his stranglehold of the division.

As Volkanovski made his way to the Octagon, there was a certain ease about him, a championship composure that carries over into his effortless fluidity inside the cage. When you have 20 consecutive wins on your name, a fighting style that blends perfectly with winning, and now a heart that’s revealed to be right on par with his elite skill set, you might just be an Ultimate Champion in the sport of MMA.

Coming into the bout, Volkanovski played down the “Brian Ortega 2.0” that was hailed for the past year after Ortega’s masterwork performance against The Korean Zombie. Volkanovski stated that Ortega would not be fighting a “Zombie” but someone who sets the pace in each of his fights with a much livelier movement. From the first round, Volkanovski put this difference on display, keeping Ortega on the backfoot and dictating the flow of the fight as he is accustomed to doing.

Ortega came back stronger in the next round, mixing in some good leg kicks and getting into a better rhythm than he was able to in the first. At one point, Ortega went high with a right head kick attempt that nearly found its target. Instead, the biggest strikes of the round went to Volkanovski, with heavy punches to complement his versatile striking repertoire showcased in these five minutes. It was a beautiful dance with both partners getting in snappy moves, but the Aussie remained the lead.

At the close of the round, the two exchanged words in a spirited encounter, almost as if they both knew they had to get a jump on generating the requisite energy for the round that was to come.

“That’s heart right there, buddy. You can’t teach that.”

Alexander Volkanovski of Australia (Bottom) defends against Brian Ortega (Top) during the UFC 266 event on September 25, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC)
Image Credit: UFC.com

Alexander Volkanovski found himself in Brian Ortega’s guillotine for approximately 18 seconds and the triangle choke for roughly 15 seconds. It’s hard to say what’s more impressive: the fact that he refused to tap out or the fact that he did not blackout. After surviving two of the most dangerous threats in the featherweight division, the Aussie turned the tables on Ortega, making T-City the center of the survival conversation by way of some hellacious ground-and-pound.

At the end of the round, Ortega lay spent on the canvas, appearing as though he already both emptied his tank and endured all that he could. But on the contrary, right after Volkanovski proved himself to be The Ultimate Champion in the third, Ortega’s status as The Ultimate Challenger would be earned in the championship rounds.

“This is called earning it.”

Fighter on Fighter: Breaking down UFC Fight Island 6's Brian Ortega -  MMAmania.com
Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

Brian Ortega did not do enough in rounds 4 and 5 to earn championship gold, but he won over a level of respect that will no doubt follow him from this night forward. Much lesser men would wilt to the physical and spiritual taxing that he had to endure within the previous five minutes alone. But for a challenger like Ortega, there was no turning back. Caught in the middle of a railroad track, Ortega did not lie down or surrender but was Thunderstruck with a third wind, one that carried him to a performance in a fifth round that he arguably won.

There is no escaping the fact that this was one of the best championship fights of this generation. It is rare that fans can watch a fight and instantly upon reaching its conclusion know that they learned something about both fighters that can never be questioned throughout the remainder of their careers.

As of September 25, 2021, Alexander Volkanovski proved that he is The Ultimate Champion; Ortega, The Ultimate Challenger. The natural result of being The Ultimate Champion is to challenge the Greats who came before you for top placement on the division’s GOAT list. And the course of the true Ultimate Challenger will not stop until it reaches champion status.

Where do you rank Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega on the list of featherweight title fights in UFC history?

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Alexander Volkanovski Praises Max Holloway’s Willingness To Fight

After Alexander Volkanovski’s recent title defense, he complimented Max Holloway’s willingness to fight and affirm himself as the number one contender. Over the weekend, Volkanovski reminded the world why the UFC’s 145-pound weight class is so deep with talent. In a fight that saw ebbs and flows and a high drama show, the Australian champion […]

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After Alexander Volkanovski’s recent title defense, he complimented Max Holloway’s willingness to fight and affirm himself as the number one contender.

Over the weekend, Volkanovski reminded the world why the UFC’s 145-pound weight class is so deep with talent. In a fight that saw ebbs and flows and a high drama show, the Australian champion pulled through after a couple of submissions threatened his title reign. The pair of featherweights also earned the distinction for ‘Fight of the Night‘ honors at UFC 266 last Saturday (Sept. 25, 2021).

Shortly after his hard-fought victory against Bryan Ortega, the two-time defending champion appreciated the fact that his former foe Holloway isn’t sitting on the sidelines. Instead, Holloway is continuing to fight to cement his status as the #1 featherweight on the roster. The former featherweight champ was announced to be fighting Yair Rodriguez on November 13.

“Max, I guarantee you he doesn’t have to take this fight, and he’ still gonna go take it. He wants that #1-spot. Alexander Volkanovski said at the UFC 266 post-fight press conference. He wants to earn it. That shows you what type of guy he is. So how can you not respect that? Good on him. That’s exactly what I’d fuckin’ do. So you gotta give him respect.”

When presented with the Holloway versus Yair Rodriguez pairing, “The Great” seemed confident in the abilities of “Blessed”. In addition, the 145-pound titleholder warned that it would be a poor match-up for the flashy striker from Mexico.

“Yair is a great fighter. Stylistically, I think Max is a nightmare for him. So I’m expecting Max to go out there, do his thing, and we’re running that trilogy. And Dana’s gonna pay us good money for it.” Volkanovski said.

Despite the Rodriguez roadblock, the signs along the road are telling Volkanovski that he’s staring down the barrel of a potential trilogy bout with Holloway. Fresh off his title defense, “The Great” seems keen on conquering the war against one of the best featherweights of our generation. However, before the two meet for the third time, Volkanovski maintains that ‘good money’ should come with a fight of that much significance.

Do you want to see Volkanovski and Holloway run it back a third time?

Continue Reading Alexander Volkanovski Praises Max Holloway’s Willingness To Fight at MMA News.

Joe Rogan Reacts To Nick Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler At UFC 266

UFC color analyst Joe Rogan was not in attendance for UFC 266 but had a strong reaction after seeing Nick Diaz return against Robbie Lawler. Inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the two legends met for a second time. In their initial encounter in 2004, Diaz walked away with the victory after knocking “Ruthless” […]

Continue Reading Joe Rogan Reacts To Nick Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler At UFC 266 at MMA News.

UFC color analyst Joe Rogan was not in attendance for UFC 266 but had a strong reaction after seeing Nick Diaz return against Robbie Lawler.

Inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the two legends met for a second time. In their initial encounter in 2004, Diaz walked away with the victory after knocking “Ruthless” out cold. Lawler would get his chance at redemption seventeen years later and avenge his loss. After dropping the Stockton native, the referee called the fight off when Diaz refused to no longer engage.

Rogan reacts to Nick Diaz vs. Lawler

Diaz was cryptic in his ESPN interview before the fight and mentioned that he was confused as to how/why the rematch with Lawler came together. Rogan spoke about the Stockton slugger on his podcast The Joe Rogan Experience.

“I don’t know how much time he had to prepare, and why they agreed to do a fight on short notice,” Rogan said. “I think it was only like six weeks notice, which I think is fine if you’re Michael Chandler. If you’re in peak form right now and you’re ready to go, if someone gives you six weeks, I bet you can get ready for a fight. But if you’re a guy who’s been off for that long, you’re going to need more time. I’m just guessing. I don’t know how much time it took him. But my point was he didn’t do that bad for a guy that was out six (years).”

According to Rogan, the six years of inactivity were present in Diaz’s latest fight. The long-time voice of the UFC believes the 38-year old simply needs more time to prepare. While just speculative, Rogan appears confident that if Diaz was given the liberty of time, he would have turned in an even better performance.

What did you make of Nick Diaz’s performance at UFC 266?

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Anderson Silva: “I Believe Nick Diaz Is Gonna Come Back Stronger”

Following the return of Nick Diaz at UFC 266, former middleweight champion Anderson Silva admits he was sad to see the way Diaz lost last weekend. Recently, Anderson Silva tried his hand at boxing as he and the UFC parted ways in November of 2020. While there were skeptics when he was paired with Julio […]

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Following the return of Nick Diaz at UFC 266, former middleweight champion Anderson Silva admits he was sad to see the way Diaz lost last weekend.

Recently, Anderson Silva tried his hand at boxing as he and the UFC parted ways in November of 2020. While there were skeptics when he was paired with Julio César Chávez Jr., “The Spider” came to fight and put on a show after defeating the boxing legend by decision.

Instead of using eight limbs, Silva utilized his sharp hands and dominated the former WBC middleweight titleholder. Then, after being matched up with Tito Ortiz and pegged as a big favorite, the former UFC star demolished “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” in the first round. With his transition into boxing underway, Silva is 2-0 in the twilight chapter of his career. Prior to his last two fights in the ring, the 46-year-old slipped on the boxing shoes in 1998 and 2005.

Anderson Silva boxes Tito Ortiz

UFC 266 went down last weekend, (Sept. 25, 2021) and Anderson Silva gave his opinion on the return of Nick Diaz and where he sees the Stockton native going in his UFC career.

“I’m sad because Nick Diaz never did this, stop the fight. I’m sad because Nick Diaz is strong and an honor fighter. I believe Nick Diaz is gonna come back stronger and better, and I pray for him,” said Anderson Silva in an interview on The MMA Hour.

On the marquee pay-per-view, Nick Diaz took on Robbie Lawler for a second time. Lawler entered the fight on a four-fight losing streak. The two combatants put on an instant classic and warmed up the crowd for the next two title bouts. While Diaz appeared to be back and in full force, the 209 representative was unable to maintain the pace he started with early in round one. Shortly after absorbing a huge shot from “Ruthless” in round three, a grounded Diaz waved off the contest and said, “no more.”

Despite coming up short after his six-year hiatus, Diaz remains one of the hottest commodities in the UFC right now. Anderson Silva gave Diaz his flowers when talking to MMA reporter Ariel Helwani, and believes the Stockton native will return to the Octagon even better in his next appearance.

Do you think Anderson Silva would beat Nick Diaz in a boxing match?

Continue Reading Anderson Silva: “I Believe Nick Diaz Is Gonna Come Back Stronger” at MMA News.

Curtis Blaydes Names His One Regret From UFC 266 Victory

Looking ahead to his next obstacle, Curtis Blaydes had one regret after UFC 266 when he was fighting Jairzinho Rozenstruik. The two heavyweights met on the marquee pay-per-view last weekend and were the second fight on the main card. Prior to his UFC 266 match-up, Blaydes recently suffered a painful setback to Houston’s Derrick Lewis […]

Continue Reading Curtis Blaydes Names His One Regret From UFC 266 Victory at MMA News.

Looking ahead to his next obstacle, Curtis Blaydes had one regret after UFC 266 when he was fighting Jairzinho Rozenstruik.

The two heavyweights met on the marquee pay-per-view last weekend and were the second fight on the main card. Prior to his UFC 266 match-up, Blaydes recently suffered a painful setback to Houston’s Derrick Lewis when the two met back in late February.

Prior to his knockout loss to “The Black Beast,” Blaydes was running through the heavyweight division. Following the unfavorable results, the American still believes he would beat Lewis 9 out of 10 times despite the knockout. The 30-year-old was on a four-fight winning streak before meeting Lewis. With a renewed desire to get his hand raised, the wrestling-centric heavyweight stuck to the game plan and nullified “Bigi Boy” for the vast majority of their contest.

Discussing his performance on social media, Curtis Blaydes revealed that he had regrets for not pursuing the finish further at UFC 266 against Rozenstruik.

“Not every fight is gonna be fireworks, sometimes you’ve gotta take what your opponent gives you and make the smart descions. I’m happy with the W but Myself and my team know what I’m capable of and I should’ve found a finish in that 3rd round. We’ll get back to work soon and begin ironing out the kinks and be ready for the next obstacle. #ufc #razorblaydes #heavyweight #backinthewinnerscircle” Blaydes posted.

The heavyweight admits he should have gone after the finish more aggressively in the third round. However, during the contest, the right eye of Blaydes began to swell shut which made it even more difficult to mount a powerful offense.

Following his win against the Suriname native, Blaydes proceeded with a few different names to call out. In his post-fight interview, “Razor” took aim at the winner/loser of the potential fight between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane, and also named Stipe Miocic and Jon Jones as possible opponents.

Who would you like to see Curtis Blaydes fight next?

Continue Reading Curtis Blaydes Names His One Regret From UFC 266 Victory at MMA News.

Joe Rogan Reacts To Nick Diaz Performance At UFC 266

Joe RoganUFC commentator Joe Rogan has given his opinion on how Nick Diaz performed in his return to the octagon at UFC 266. Rogan usually provides color-commentary for UFC pay-per-view events, but sat out UFC 266 in favor of a hunting trip. For fans wondering what his thoughts were on Diaz’s return, he gave some insight […]

Joe Rogan

UFC commentator Joe Rogan has given his opinion on how Nick Diaz performed in his return to the octagon at UFC 266.

Rogan usually provides color-commentary for UFC pay-per-view events, but sat out UFC 266 in favor of a hunting trip. For fans wondering what his thoughts were on Diaz’s return, he gave some insight on the latest episode of The Joe Rogan Experience. Talking with comedian Bert Kreischer, Rogan said that while he was impressed with how the elder Diaz brother look, he believes he’ll need more time back in the sport to show what he’s truly capable of.

“My thing about Nick Diaz is, when I looked at him physically, I was like, ‘I don’t know how much he’s been training,’” Rogan said. “When Nick was in his prime, he was really lean. I mean he’s definitely an older guy now, but the thing is I don’t think you can just jump back in that easy after six years out of the sport. I think you probably need more time to prepare.”

In the lead-up to his rematch against Lawler, Diaz repeatedly stated that it was match-up he had no interest in. After the fight, his longtime training partner and friend Jake Shields took to Twitter to say that the UFC pressured Diaz into taking the fight before he was ready. Rogan said that those factors were noticeable in Diaz’s performance.

“I don’t know how much time he had to prepare, and why they agreed to do a fight on short notice,” Rogan said. “I think it was only like six weeks notice, which I think is fine if you’re Michael Chandler. If you’re in peak form right now and you’re ready to go, if someone gives you six weeks, I bet you can get ready for a fight. But if you’re a guy who’s been off for that long, you’re going to need more time. I’m just guessing. I don’t know how much time it took him. But my point was he didn’t do that bad for a guy that was out six (years).”

“Robbie Lawler was pressuring him and he was putting it on him and he was definitely getting the better of the exchanges, but it’s not like Nick Diaz didn’t have his moments,” Rogan continued. “He definitely did. He would just have to have way more time to prepare and he would have to really be ready to go. Like the old Nick Diaz, the Nick Diaz that fought Anderson Silva; the Nick Diaz that fought Georges St-Pierre; the Nick Diaz that fought Paul Daley in Strikeforce. That dude was a f—ing killer. Can he still do that at 38? Maybe. We don’t know if you just have one fight. You need time. If your body hasn’t been used to this stuff, and you haven’t been training as much as you were when you were in your prime, if you still want to do it against legitimately, physically, you probably can.”

Rogan compared training for a fight to training for a marathon – something both Diaz and Kreischer have experience doing. He said that repetition makes it easy for the body to adapt, and that it takes a long time to get the body ready to perform at it’s highest peak again.

“You’ve run a marathon,” Rogan said to Kreischer. “When you start out and you run a mile and you’re dead, you’re like, ‘I can’t believe anybody can run 26 of those.’ But if you do it over and over and over again, you build up. I don’t think Nick Diaz had a chance to build back up after being off for that much time. I think you get back to where he was Nick Diaz in his best, he’s got to have some time.”

How do you think Nick Diaz looked on Saturday? Do you agree with Joe Rogan? Let us know!