UFC 266 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Ortega latest updates and result tonight
Re-live all the action from Las Vegas
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: Abdurakhimov vs Daukaus
Abdurakhimov is warned by the referee for having his fingers extended, and Daukaus shows his opponent the middle finger!
And the American soon lands another knockdown, this time with a right straight!
Daukaus again gets to work with the ground and pound, and elbows are enough to force referee Mark Smith to step in!
Daukaus wins via second-round TKO.
UFC 266: Abdurakhimov vs Daukaus
Down goes Abdurakhimov!
Daukaus catches him on the end of a left hook and the Dagestani topples backwards to the mat!
Daukaus mounts his opponent and pours on the ground and pound, but there’s not much time left in the round!
Abdurakhimov survives for now... That was close to a finish.
UFC 266: Abdurakhimov vs Daukaus
Daukaus just misses with an uppercut as he throws a counter combo.
Another counter flurry, and this time Daukaus finishes it successfully, landing a left hook.
Abdurakhimov lands a right hand over the top then two counters of his own – both left hands.
A competitive first round so far.
UFC 266: Abdurakhimov vs Daukaus
Next up, it’s heavyweight action! Shamil Abdurakhimov faces Chris Daukaus.
UFC 266: Santos def. Modafferi
Taila Santos def. Roxanne Modafferi via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
UFC 266: Modafferi vs Santos
Santos briefly attempts a rear naked choke, but Modafferi is able to twist to safety.
Santos in fact decides to let the ‘Happy Warrior’ back to her feet, which isn’t necessarily a bad idea, given how the bout has gone thus far.
That said, Modafferi isn’t done yet and uses a clinch to push Santos back to the fence.
Santos with yet another takedown late in the fight, though, after finding space in the Octagon. She ends the contest on top.
We’ll go to the judges’ scorecards.
UFC 266: Modafferi vs Santos
Modafferi tells her corner between rounds that she can’t her them during the action – one of the downsides to fans being back.
Modafferi, however, gets those fans going with some sneaky strikes early in the third and final round, but Santos is bringing greater power and knocks down her opponent against the fence!
Slicing elbows from above by Santos...
UFC 266: Modafferi vs Santos
A role reversal in this second round: Modafferi catches a body kick and forces Santos to the fence, before dragging her down.
Santos recovers well, however, to reverse the position and take Modafferi’s back.
Strikes cut open Modafferi, too – she appears to be her bleeding from her forehead.
Santos ends the round on top.
UFC 266: Modafferi vs Santos
Modafferi is driven to the fence and taken down early on.
She briefly threatens some submissions on the mat, before building off that threat to find a way back to her feet – much to the delight of the Las Vegas crowd.
Santos soon takes Modafferi down again, but once more the ‘Happy Warrior’ rises!
First round to Santos, but an unsurprising amount of heart on display from Modafferi.
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