Aussie UFC star Alex Volkanovski vows to punch ‘douchebag’ Brian Ortega ‘in the face’

Australian UFC star Alex Volkanovski is gearing up to defend his title and has started a bitter war of words with his old foe.

Australian UFC star Alex Volkanovski has labelled his bitter rival Brian Ortega a “douchebag” and vowed to punch him in the face in their long-awaited fight on Sunday (AEST).

The duo will battle it out at UFC 266 in Las Vegas for the Featherweight Championship, which Volkanovski has held since 2019.

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They were originally scheduled to have the title fight in March this year, but it was postponed after Volkanovski tested positive to Covid-19.

There has been plenty of time for ill-feeling to brew between the pair, especially when Ortega and Volkanovski faced off as rival coaches in the latest season of the UFC reality TV show The Ultimate Fighter.

The Wollongong native was less than impressed by Ortega’s nonchalant attitude and tardiness on the show and is keen to take out his anger on him in the Octagon.

“I can’t wait to put some hands on him man,” Volkanovski said at the pre-fight press conference.

Aussie Alex Volkanovski is desperate to defend his UFC title. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images for UFC)

“I’m just eager to get back in there, have some fun in there, enjoy it, enjoy everything about it. On top of that, I get to punch him in the face.”

Volkanovski said witnessing Ortega’s casual approach to training and coaching on The Ultimate Fighter demonstrates a clear lack of commitment to fighting.

“I’ve never had to spend so much time with an opponent so I guess with the competitiveness of doing all that, it was always going to happen,” Volkanovski said of Ortega getting on his nerves.

When asked why he thought Ortega was constantly late to filming on the reality show: Volkanovski responded: “Doing his f***ing make up or hair or something, I don’t know. Who knows? I’ve got no idea.”

“But I mean he’s unprofessional, he’s got a bunch of yes men around him, he’s constantly late,” he said.

“You wouldn’t say it but I guarantee he’s f***ing late to your interviews and whatnot.

“That annoys me. I’m professional and I’m all about that. He wants this belt. You can’t be unprofessional, half-arsing it.

“I’ve seen a video of his coaches asking him, ‘Oh you ready to do things?’. Like my coach is going to be like, ‘f***ing get in there let’s go’. You know what I mean, that’s the difference between us. So that annoys me.

The rivalry between Volkanovski and Ortega has been brewing for a while. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard.

“But then again some of the things he’ll say under the pump maybe because I’m confronting him, he’s not good at confrontation and he’ll just say some real douchebag sort of statements. “Just little things like that man, I think he just puts on a front and acts like he’s all chill and that type of sh*t. I just see through the bullsh*t to be honest.”

Volkanovski also slammed Ortega for being unprofessional and said he is far more disciplined than the American.

“That’s why you see me where I am today at the top,” he said.

“I ain’t no athletically gifted human being. I’m challenged in height, I was obviously heavy-set, you name it.

“It was just through hard work and busting my arse. Hard work gets you to where I am. I’m living proof that anyone can do what they want. Talent only gets you so far.

“He’s unprofessional, he ain’t doing that I guarantee you. He doesn’t deserve that belt. He ain’t taking it from me.”

Speaking to reporters at his press conference, Ortega said he was bemused the Aussie was so fired up at his low-key approach and speculated he had been urged to build up hype for the fight.

“I was surprised bro. I was like what the f**k did I do?” he said.

“Like all right, I showed up late, relax. I don’t know if someone’s telling him to build the fight but I feel like he’s doing a horrible job at it.

There is no love lost between the two fighters. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

“Just stop. Be you bro, you’ve never done this before. Maybe I do get under his nerves, who knows. I think maybe I am under his skin and he don’t like me.

The 30-year-old said he might even attempt to taunt Volkanovski during their bout.

“I mean I’ll probably just look at him, blow him a kiss and see if he gets more pissed off, I don’t know,” Ortega said.

“We’ll see what happens. He’s a man who I doubt will let emotions come in the way when it comes to fighting.

“I don’t think he’s going to break character. I think he’s going to stay focused so am I.

“We’ll see though, if I can poke the bear in there I will.”

Ortega, who has a 15-1 win-loss record in UFC, said he respects Volkanovski as a fighter but was surprised by his trash talk.

“He’s got everything. He’s a champion for a reason and I give him nothing but credit,” Ortega said.

“I talk my sh*t but at the end of the day I do have respect.

“If he has something to say, I’ll talk to him one on one when there’s no cameras. F**k the bullshit, I’ll come at you in person if you really want to go at it. I’ll f***ing fight you in the elevator if you want.

“But I think if me and him were to be in a room and actually hang out for real, we’d be good acquaintances, you know.

“But I’m going to keep letting him keep butcher his sales pitch for this fight.”