Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski remains at the top of the featherweight division with an entertaining decision victory over Brian Ortega earlier today.
The final scorecards of 49-46, 50-45, and 50-44, probably don’t tell the full story with Ortega putting Volkanovski in deep trouble in round three. A left hand from Ortega dropped Volkanovski and he immediately capitalised with a tight guillotine. Volkanovski struggled to escape but eventually wriggled free only to be taught in a triangle choke. Once the champ escaped he took advantage of the top position.
Volkanovski commented post-fight that he had thoughts that he ‘would be losing the belt’ while in the guillotine choke.
At the end of the round, Ortega laid defeated flat on his back and needed help getting back to his corner. Once the break ended, Ortega was checked extensively by the doctor and ref, giving him some extra time recovery time which occurred again after the fourth round, with Volkanovski noticeably displeased.
After looking down and out, Ortega to his credit showed courage to stay in the fight in the championships rounds but Volkanovski’s heavy pressure kept shining through and he would pick up his 20th straight victory.
The 32-year-old moves his record to 23-1 while a bruised and battered Ortega drops to 15-2.
The fighters showed massive respect to each other post-fight in what will go down as one of the fights of the year.
“I am a normal human being. I say it time and time again. Just hard work got me where I am. Everyone can do what I have done. Anyone. The sky is the limit for any of you,” Volkanovski commented post-fight.
“Everyone that has backed me, thank you. I did it for you. All them doubters, I’m going to keep proving you wrong, time and time again. Bring it,” he commented passionately.
Earlier in the night, Hooker overcame a disastrous training camp to defeat Nasrat Haqparast by unanimous decision. It was a clear victory for the Kiwi lightweight who used his post-fight speech to send condolences to his opponent.
The final cards read 30-27, 30-27, and 30-26.
“It was a lot of challenges to get here tonight but nothing compared to what Nasrat has been through. First and foremost, I want to send my condolences to the Haqparast family. It’s incredible that he showed up,” Hooker said immediately in his post-fight speech.
“My journey was very easy compared to him. Credit to him, he has a massive future.”
Haqparast competed despite the death of his mother a fortnight ago and he too had issues in obtaining a visa to get to the fight.
Hooker used the moment to call out Beneil Dariush and moves his record to 21-10 while Haqparast drops to 13-4.
Main Card:
- Alexander Volkanovski (c) (Australia) def. Brian Ortega via Decision (Unanimous) – UFC featherweight title
- Valentina Shevchenko (c) def. Lauren Murphy via TKO (Elbows & Punches), Rd 4, 4:00 – UFC women’s flyweight title
- Robbie Lawler def. Nick Diaz via TKO (Retirement), Rd 3, 0:44
- Curtis Blaydes def. Jairzinho Rozenstruik via Decision (Unanimous)
- Jessica Andrade def. Cynthia Calvillo via TKO (Punches), Rd 1, 4:54
Preliminary Card:
- Merab Dvalishvili def. Marlon Moraes via TKO (Punches), Rd 4, 4:25
- Dan Hooker (New Zealand) def Nasraq Haqparaast via Decision (Unanimous)
- Chris Daukaus def. Shamil Abdurakhimov via TKO (Punches & Elbows), Rd 2, 1:23
- Talia Santos def. Roxanne Modafferi via Decision (Unanimous)
- Jalin Turner def. Uros Medic via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 1, 4:01
- Nick Maximov def. Cody Brundage via Decision (Unanimous)
- Matthew Semelsberger def. Martin Sano via KO (Punch), Rd 1, 0:15
- Jonathan Pearce def. Omar Morales via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 2, 3:31
