UFC 266: Conor McGregor sends rude message to Alexander Volkanovski

Australian UFC star Alex Volkanovski has utterly outclassed his opponent in Las Vegas to once again defend his featherweight title.

Conor McGregor had a message for Volkanovski. Photo: Getty.

Alexander Volkanovski has won his highly-anticipated bout with American fighter Brian Ortega via unanimous decision at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, with the Australian UFC star defending his featherweight title.

Ortega was utterly outclassed in the Octagon on Sunday, with judges scoring the contest in Volkanovski’s favour 49-46, 50-45, 50-44.

It was the Aussie’s 20th consecutive victory, and 10th straight win in the UFC.

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MMA pundits have branded Sunday’s entertaining contest the best featherweight title fight in UFC history.

Volkanovski said after the fight: “Everyone back home in Australia, I know you are going through a tough time. I did this for you.

“All them doubters, I’m going to keep proving you wrong, time and time again. Bring it.

“He’s good. Obviously I’m going to say he’s not on my level, I was trying to get in his head as much as possible.

“I thought I was in his head but he come back even stronger. Credit to him. He proved himself.”

Ortega almost caught Volkanovski in a pair of submission attempts in the third round, including a dreaded triangle choke, but the Aussie somehow escaped on both occasions.

“I thought it was done,” Ortega admitted after the fight. “I heard him gargling ... but that little bastard is tough as hell.”

ESPN’s Daniel Cormier said in commentary: “Nobody gets out of that.”

Unbelievable fight. Volkanovski clearly won and is world class, but Brian Ortega has the heart of a lion. That third round probably one of the greatest I’ve ever watched. #UFC266

— Connor Grott (@Connor_Grott) September 26, 2021

Alexander Volkanovski is the savage of all savages. Complete and utter beast. #UFC266

— Luca Fury (@FurysFightPicks) September 26, 2021

Irish superstar Conor McGregor had a rude message for the Aussie after his win. “I’d kick this volovski head off like it was a rugby ball I was kicking. 5’4! And full of muscle! Hahahahaha little fart he is. Not even a little fart. A shart haahahahaj jacka**,” McGregor tweeted.

The UFC superstar later deleted that tweet, but added: “Not a bad fight. Congrats shartsy.”

Those tweets were brought to the attention of Volkanovski, who fired back in his post-fight press conference.

“I heard about it. Sounds like he’s on the p***. Good on him, I will be too,” Volkanovski said.

“Something about sharting, farting, it didn’t really make sense.

“It’s Conor doing Conor things, good on him. I’m not sure if he wants to come back down to 145 (pounds) — well, obviously that’ll never happen.”

Commentators said Volkanovski had beaten the two greatest featherweights ever — Ortega and Max Holloway — and the Aussie believes that would have upset McGregor.

“That would’ve stung him a little bit. Especially while he’s on the p***, you know,” Volkanovski said.

“I’m gonna be on the p***, maybe you’ll see some weird f***ing tweets from me too.”

How the fight unfolded

The 32-year-old entered the arena with Men at Work’s hit song Down Under blaring from the venue speakers, but looked calm and collected as he walked into the Octagon.

Volkanovski was coming off nine consecutive UFC wins, while Ortega last tasted victory when he bettered Chan Sung Jung in October 2020.

Round 1 – Both fighters were patient in the first round, keeping their distance and occasionally landing a jab to the head or kick to the torso.

Volkanovski briefly lost his balance late in the opening round after copping a particularly heavy blow from Ortega.

During the break, the Australian was spotted with blood seeping out of a cut on his left cheek.

Volkanovski remains in control after five minutes, but Ortega undeniably looks dangerous.

Round 2 – Volkanovski is certainly starting to dominate the contest, with Ortega bloodied in the face after absorbing several blows in the second round.

The pair exchanged some tense words after the bell rang at the end of the second round, which prompted a chorus of jeers from the Las Vegas spectators.

Most pundits are scoring the contest 20-18 in Volkanovski’s favour at this point.

Round 3 – Things got savage in the third term when Ortega caught the Australian off-guard with a well-directed left hand, and the duo started grappling on the floor.

Volkanovski somehow survived a submission attempt and eventually got on top of his exhausted opponent, and started peppering the American with a series of blows to the head.

Ortega was saved by the bell, but his eyes were swelling shut and the referees were concerned he could not see properly.

HOLY MOTHERFN HELL THAT WAS ONE OF THE CRAZIEST ROUNDS I HAVE EVER WATCHED. HOW DID VOLKO SURVIVE THAT?!

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 26, 2021

one of the greatest rounds I’ve ever witnessed #UFC266

— Logan Paul (@LoganPaul) September 26, 2021

Round 4 – After Volkanovski landed a couple of big left hands, Ortega mustered another takedown early in the fourth round.

The American kept looking for a submission victory, but Volkanovski relentlessly reigned down a barrage of punches while they were on the floor.

It is brutal to watch – Ortega was getting pummelled by the Australian, but the fight resumed with five minutes remaining.

Round 5 – Ortega is exhausted – he needed to somehow find a finish in the fifth round, otherwise the fight was Volkanovski’s.

The Aussie knew he just had to survive the last five minutes, and made sure to keep his distance.

And although Ortega landed one heavy blow in the final few seconds, it wasn’t enough to secure victory.

Alexander Volkanovski has defended his UFC title on Sunday. Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Shevchenko defends flyweight title

Valentina Shevchenko has once again defended her UFC women’s flyweight title after defeating American fighter Lauren Murphy via TKO at UFC 266 on Sunday AEST.

The 33-year secured her eighth consecutive UFC victory in Las Vegas to remain the undisputed flyweight champion.

Shevchenko landed a vicious blow to Murphy’s jaw early in the contest before a takedown late in first round.

The second round was dominated by grappling, with both competitors wrestling on the bloodied floor.

But the turning point came in the fourth round when Shevchenko dazed Murphy with jab to the head, which was immediately followed by a well-directed kick to the face.

The Kyrgyz star secured the victory after relentless peppering Murphy with a series of blows to the head, forcing the referee to call the fight.

Up next in Las Vegas – Aussie fighter Alex Volkanovski.

Valentina Shevchenko is still the undisputed UFC champion. Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

UFC star ‘murdered’ in crazy 15-second KO

American fighter Matthew Semelsberger has stunned the UFC community with a 15-second KO victory over Martin Sano at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

Ahead of Alex Volkanovski’s title defence at UFC 266, Semelsberger sent the crowd into a frenzy with a first-round triumph during the early prelims.

The 28-year-old finished his opponent with a vicious right hand that immediately sent Sano to the canvas.

“A lot of people will take a loss and fold from it and never come back,” Semelsberger said after the fight.

“I have this knack inside of me … to get out there and win again.”

Semelsberger joins Anthony “Rumble” Johnson in an illustrious list of fighters with two knockout victories under 20 seconds, having also achieved the feat against Jason Witt back in March.

THE FORCE IS STRONG WITH THIS ONE! 😱@SemiTheJedi just sent his opponent into orbit with THAT RIGHT. WOW! #UFC266pic.twitter.com/agduye8WQa

— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) September 25, 2021

Matthew Semelsberger just DEMOLISHED Martin Sano. That was vicious.

Good gawd.#UFC266

— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) September 25, 2021

Semelsberger jabbed the body, saw Sano flinch hard and then feinted the jab into a crushing right. Just murdered the man. #UFC266

— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) September 25, 2021

Later in the main event, veteran fighter Robbie Lawler defeated cult hero Nick Diaz via TKO after an enthralling contest in the Octagon.

Lawler delivered a powerful blow to his 39-year-old opponent’s nose in the third round, and the referee had no option but to call the fight.

Diaz’s nose appeared to be broken, with blood gushing down his face after the fight.

Nick Diaz was bettered by Robbie Lawler on Sunday. Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

UFC 266 main card results

Alexander Volkanovski defeated Brian Ortega via unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45, 50-44) - UFC featherweight title

Valentina Shevchenko defeated Lauren Murphy via TKO (R4, 4:00) – UFC women’s flyweight title)

Robbie Lawler defeats Nick Diaz via TKO (R3, 0:44)

Curtis Blaydes defeated Jairzinho Rozenstruik via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)

Jessica Andrade defeated Cynthia Calvillo via TKO (R1, 4:54)