“Keep doubting me. I love it. I’ll be underdog to the day I die,” stated Alex Volkanovski in an expletive-ridden response to all his doubters.
Stats PerformUpdate: Sep 26th, 2021 06:22 EDT
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Alex Volkanovski defended his featherweight belt after overcoming Brian Ortega in one of the most dramatic fights of the year at UFC 266.
Volkanovski too much for Ortega
Volkanovski withstood two submissions in a brutal showdown with Ortega in Las Vegas, where the Australian champion prevailed by unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45, 50-44) on Saturday.
Ortega (15-2) – largely outclassed – looked to be on the brink of victory after a mounted guillotine and then a triangle choke in the third round left Volkanovski in trouble at T-Mobile Arena.
But Volkanovski (23-1) silenced his critics, emerging from the jaws of defeat to celebrate his 10th consecutive win in the UFC.
HEAVY shots from the champ 👊😳 [ #UFC266 is LIVE on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/2qE0lEEWLu ] pic.twitter.com/WuBBeGj9hA
— UFC (@ufc) September 26, 2021
“All you doubters, I’m going to prove you wrong time and time again,” Volkanovski said in his post-fight interview.
“Bring it. About fucking time [you put respect on my name].
“Keep doubting me. I love it. I’ll be underdog to the day I die.“
‘Tight submissions’ for Volkanovski
Of the submission attempts, Volkanovski – who has not lost since May 2013 – said: “Some of them were pretty tight.
Another masterclass from @BulletValentina 🏆[ #UFC266 | TUNE IN NOW | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/2qE0lEWxD2 ] pic.twitter.com/CeT3kIHcwG
— UFC (@ufc) September 26, 2021
“For some reason I went to the ground with him. Obviously, he’s good. … I thought I was in his head and he came back even stronger.”
Ortega added: “I thought it was done. That’s what we trained for my entire camp. … That little bastard is fucking tough as hell.”
