UFC 266: Volkanovski retains featherweight title in instant classic against Ortega

Australian champion sees off Brian Ortega on points, but had to survive multiple scares in Las Vegas

Alexander Volkanovski reacts after defeating Brian Ortega to retain his UFC featherweight title at UFC 266, Saturday, September 25, 2021, in Las Vegas. AP Photo

Alexander Volkanovski, left, and Brian Ortega talk at the end of their featherweight mixed martial arts title bout at UFC 266. AP Photo

Alexander Volkanovski, left, fights Brian Ortega. AP Photo

Brian Ortega, left, throws a kick against Alexander Volkanovski. AP Photo

Brian Ortega attempts a guillotine on Alexander Volkanovski. AP Photo

Brian Ortega is checked by his trainer during a break between rounds. AP Photo

Alexander Volkanovski, top, punches Brian Ortega. AP Photo

Alexander Volkanovski, left, wrestles with Brian Ortega. AP Photo

Alexander Volkanovski, left, throws a kick against Brian Ortega. AP Photo

Alexander Volkanovski, left, throws a punch against Brian Ortega. AP Photo

Valentina Shevchenko, left, celebrates after defeating Lauren Murphy to defend her UFC flyweight belt. AP Photo

Valentina Shevchenko celebrates. AP Photo

Valentina Shevchenko celebrates after defeating Lauren Murphy. AP Photo

Valentina Shevchenko, right, kicks Lauren Murphy. AP Photo

Valentina Shevchenko, right, throws a punch against Lauren Murphy. AP Photo

Valentina Shevchenko, top, punches Lauren Murphy. AP Photo

Lauren Murphy, left, throws a kick against Valentina Shevchenko. AP Photo

Valentina Shevchenko, left, fights Lauren Murphy. AP Photo

Valentina Shevchenko, right, throws a kick to the head of Lauren Murphy. AP Photo

Curtis Blaydes, right, fights Jairzinho Rozenstruik during a heavyweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC 266. AP Photo

Curtis Blaydes, top, wrestles Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Blaydes won the fight on the judges scorecards. AP Photo

Jessica Andrade, right, celebrates after defeating Cynthia Calvillo during a women's flyweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC 266. AP Photo

Jessica Andrade celebrates . AP Photo

Jessica Andrade, left, hits Cynthia Calvillo. AP Photo

Merab Dvalishvili moves in for a hit against Marlon Moraes. Reuters

an Hooker lands a hit against Nasrat Haqparast during UFC 266. Reuters

Dan Hooker is declared the winner by decision. Reuters

Shamil Abdurakhimov moves in for a hit as Chris Daukaus defends . Reuters

Chris Daukaus moves in for a hit against Shamil Abdurakhimov . Reuters

Chris Daukaus reacts following his TKO victory against Shamil Abdurakhimov. Reuters

Chris Daukaus lands a hit against Shamil Abdurakhimov as the fight is stopped. Reuters

Robbie Lawler, left, throws a punch against Nick Diaz during a middleweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC 266. AP Photo

Nick Diaz, left, throws a kick against Robbie Lawler. AP Photo

Robbie Lawler, left, throws a punch against Nick Diaz. AP Photo

Robbie Lawler, right, reacts after defeating Nick Diaz by TKO. AP Photo

Robbie Lawler, left, reacts after knocking down Nick Diaz. AP Photo

Nick Diaz, right, fights Robbie Lawler. AP Photo

Nick Diaz, right, kicks Robbie Lawler. AP Photo

Alexander Volkanovski vowed to keep “proving all them doubters wrong” after he retained his featherweight title at UFC 266 following a stunning five-round clash with Brian Ortega on Sunday morning.

The Australian, making his first appearance since his successful first title defence in Abu Dhabi last summer, recorded his 20th consecutive professional victory in mixed martial arts via unanimous decision in Las Vegas.

Volkanovski had began well, impressing in the opening two rounds, but in the next was forced to somehow escape two choke attempts from Ortega – much to the amazement of the capacity crowd at T-Mobile Arena. The champion, 32, still finished the round raining down heavy blows on his seemingly exhausted opponent.

Ortega, beaten only once previously in 16 pro MMA outings, was then inspected thoroughly by the doctor between rounds and subsequently deemed OK to continue. In the end, and after surviving another choke attempt in the fourth, Volkanovski emerged the clear victor, with scores of 49-46, 50-45, 50-44.

"I'm a normal human being,” he told Daniel Cormier in the octagon afterwards. “I've said it time and time again. Just hard work got me to where I am. All them doubters, I'm going to keep proving you wrong time and time again.

“I don't care. I'll be an underdog until the day I die. Bring it."

Defending the belt for the second time – he defeated former champion Max Holloway on Fight Island in July last year – Volkanovski’s past 10 victories have come in the UFC. The bout against Ortega received a bonus from the promotion for fight of the night.

In the night’s co-main event, flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko dominated Lauren Murphy before sealing a fourth-round TKO to equal Ronda Rousey's record for successive UFC title defences by a female fighter (6). The Kyrgyzstan athlete, 33, now has 22 pro wins in mixed martial arts.

Elsewhere, Nick Diaz lost on his much-anticipated return to the octagon, going down in his rematch against Robbie Lawler via third-round TKO. The pair first met in 2004, when Diaz won, but the popular American could not replicate the result after six years away from the UFC.

"I'm glad I at least put on the show,” Diaz said inside the octagon. "I don't have no excuses. I had a long time off and I knew I had it coming."