UFC 266 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Ortega latest updates and result tonight

Re-live all the action from Las Vegas

Volkanovski and Ortega stare each other down (Getty Images)

Alexander Volkanovski retained his featherweight title against Brian Ortega in the main event of UFC 266 on Satuurday Night, as the pair produced arguably the greatest championship bout in the history of the division.

After 25 engrossing minutes of mixed martial arts, Australian Volkanovski (23-1) defeated American Ortega (15-2, 1 no contest) via unanimous decision, with the judges in Las Vegas revealing 49-46, 40-45 and 45-44 scorecards in the champion’s favour.

Over the course of five rounds, Volkanovski got the better of his challenger in the majority of the striking exchanges, but the champion was forced to escape four submission attempts that all seemed certain to spell the end of the 32-year-old’s title reign. Three of those holds were applied in a stunning third round. Ultimately, Volkanovski fought free and re-established his superiority to win over the judges and keep his belt.

In the co-main event of UFC 266, Valentina Shevchenko (22-3) made a sixth successful defence of her flyweight title by stopping Lauren Murphy (15-5) with ground and pound in the fourth round. Prior to that, MMA icon Nick Diaz – older brother of Nate – had made his return to the sport after six years away. seventeen years after his welterweight bout against Robbie Lawler, Diaz took on his fellow Californian in a middleweight rematch. Lawler, 39, the fight via third-round TKO, with the 38-year-old Diaz deciding against continuing after he was floored by a right hook.

Re-live updates from UFC 266 below.

UFC 266

• Alex Volkanovski (C) def. Brian Ortega via unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45, 50-44)
• Valentina Shevchenko (C) def. Lauren Murphy via fourth-round TKO (ground and pound, 4:00)
• Robbie Lawler def. Nick Diaz via third-round TKO (punch, 0:44)
• Curtis Blaydes def. Jairzinho Rozenstruik via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Jessica Andrade def. Cynthia Calvillo via first-round TKO (strikes, 4:54)
• Merab Dvalishvili def. Marlon Moraes via second-round TKO (ground strikes, 4:25)
• Dan Hooker def. Nasrat Haqparast via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

[26 September 2021 00:20 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 266: Main card and prelims

The early prelims are under way as we speak. We’ll be bringing you live updates from the prelims shortly. Here’s a look at tonight’s card:

Full card

Main card

Alexander Volkanovski (C) vs Brian Ortega (featherweight title)

Valentina Shevchenko (C) vs Lauren Murphy (women’s flyweight title)

Nick Diaz vs Robbie Lawler (middleweight)

Curtis Blaydes vs Jairzinho Rozenstruik (heavyweight)

Jessica Andrade vs Cynthia Calvillo (women’s flyweight)

Prelims

Marlon Moraes vs Merab Dvalishvili (bantamweight)

Dan Hooker vs Nasrat Haqparast (lightweight)

Shamil Abdurakhimov vs Chris Daukaus (heavyweight)

Roxanne Modafferi vs Taila Santos (women’s flyweight)

Early prelims

Uros Medic vs Jalin Turner (lightweight)

Cody Brundage vs Nick Maximov (middleweight)

Matthew Semelsberger def. Martin Sano via first-round KO (punch, 0:15)

Jonathan Pearce def. Omar Morales via second-round submission (rear naked choke, 3:31)

[26 September 2021 00:01 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 266: Jon Jones arrested on domestic violence charge

UFC star Jon Jones was allegedly arrested in Las Vegas on a misdemeanour domestic violence charge on Friday, Clark County Detention Center inmate records showed.

The former light heavyweight champion, 34, is said to have been charged with misdemeanour battery domestic violence and injuring or tampering with a vehicle.

The arrest allegedly took place on Friday morning, just hours after Jones’ 2013 fight against Alexander Gustafsson was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in Las Vegas.

Full story here:

[25 September 2021 23:58 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 266: Why we should be worried about Nick Diaz’s return

“It is hard not to be drawn in to the anticipation flooding through the MMA fanbase as they prepare to watch Nick Diaz fight for the first time in six years. It is hard not to understand the excitement in seeing the American, arguably the UFC’s greatest ever cult personality, taking on Robbie Lawler in a rematch 17 years in the making.

“But boxing’s recent descent into carnivalesque contests, with older competitors chasing yesterday – yesteryear, even – has taught us that a bout such as Diaz vs Lawler II is more likely to end in blood, sweat and the wrong kind of tears than in candidacy for fight of the year.”

Full fight preview here:

[25 September 2021 23:47 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 266

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of UFC 266!

UFC 266 sees three major bouts take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas tonight, including two title fights and the return of an MMA icon.

In the main event, Alexander Volkanovski makes the second defence of his welterweight belt, taking on Brian Ortega after the pair’s slow-burn rivalry heated up significantly at this week’s press conference. Australian Volkanovski (22-1) and American Ortega (15-1) were opposing coaches on the most recent season of the Ultimate Fighter TV show, and their respective styles should make for an intriguing match-up. Volkanovski is a well-rounded athlete with an answer for most foes, while Ortega is a jiu-jitsu specialist who has significantly enhanced his striking skills in recent years.

In the co-main event, women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko (21-3) faces challenger Lauren Murphy (15-4), with most followers of the sport hoping that Murphy can at least offer the Kyrgyzstani-Peruvian a rare tough test.

Fans will also witness the highly-anticipated return of Nick Diaz, older brother of Nate, as he fights for the first time in six years. Diaz (26-9) takes on former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler (28-15) in a rematch of their 2004 bout, with this five-round contest having been changed to a middleweight fight this week.