| UFC 266: Volkanovski vs. Ortega | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 The poster for UFC 266: Volkanovski vs. Ortega | ||||
| Promotion | Ultimate Fighting Championship | |||
| Date | September 25, 2021 (2021-09-25) | |||
| Venue | T-Mobile Arena | |||
| City | Paradise, Nevada, United States | |||
| Attendance | 19,029[1] | |||
| Total gate | $5,609,906[1] | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
UFC 266: Volkanovski vs. Ortega was amixed martial arts event produced by theUltimate Fighting Championship that took place on September 25, 2021, at theT-Mobile Arena inParadise, Nevada, part of theLas Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States.[2]
After a one-year hiatus due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the promotion announced the return of 'International Fight Week', which took place inLas Vegas during the days leading up to and surrounding the event.[3]
AUFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout between current championJan Błachowicz (also formerKSW Light Heavyweight Champion) and former title challengerGlover Teixeira was scheduled take place at the event.[4] However, the bout was postponed in late June and moved toUFC 267.[5]
AUFC Featherweight Championship bout between current championAlexander Volkanovski and former title challengerBrian Ortega headlined the event.[6] The pairing was previously scheduled to take place atUFC 260, but it was cancelled a week before taking place as Volkanovskitested positive for COVID-19.[7] The pairing was then postponed a few months as both fighters were named head coaches forThe Return of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Volkanovski vs. Team Ortega.[8]
AUFC Women's Flyweight Championship bout between current championValentina Shevchenko and formerInvicta FC Bantamweight ChampionLauren Murphy served as the co-headliner.[6]
A middleweight bout between formerUFC Welterweight ChampionRobbie Lawler and formerWEC andStrikeforce Welterweight ChampionNick Diaz (also former welterweight title challenger) took place at this event, marking the second time a non-main event and non-title bout had been scheduled for five rounds.[9] They previously met 17 years ago atUFC 47, with Diaz winning by knockout.[10] The bout was originally expected to take place at welterweight, but was moved up a weight class days before the event.[11]
A heavyweight bout betweenShamil Abdurakhimov andChris Daukaus took place at the event.[12] The pairing was initially scheduled to meet on July 24, 2021, atUFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw, but the matchup was removed from that card on July 19 due toCOVID-19 protocols within Abdurakhimov's camp.[13] The matchup remained intact and was rescheduled for the following week atUFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland, but it was postponed again due to undisclosed reasons.[14]
A women's flyweight bout betweenThe Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Team Cláudia strawweight winnerTatiana Suarez and former title challengerRoxanne Modafferi was scheduled for the event.[15] However, Suarez pulled out due to a knee injury that would require surgery.[16] She was replaced byTaila Santos.[17] The pairing was previously scheduled forUFC on ESPN: Rodriguez vs. Waterson in May, but Modafferi pulled out due to ameniscus tear a month before that event and the bout was scrapped.[18]
A bantamweight bout betweenTimur Valiev andRicky Simón was originally linked to this event.[19] However, the bout was never officially announced by the promotion and Valiev was instead scheduled to face Daniel Santos atUFC Fight Night: Ladd vs. Dumont.[20]
A women's flyweight bout betweenManon Fiorot andMayra Bueno Silva was expected to take place at the event.[21] However, the bout was postponed to UFC Fight Night: Ladd vs. Dumont due to COVID-19 protocols.[22]
A middleweight bout betweenKarl Roberson andNick Maximov was scheduled for this event.[23] However, Roberson was forced to withdraw from the event due to medical issues and was replaced by promotional newcomerCody Brundage.[24]
| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Featherweight | Alexander Volkanovski (c) | def. | Brian Ortega | Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 50–45, 50–44) | 5 | 5:00 | [a] |
| Women’s Flyweight | Valentina Shevchenko (c) | def. | Lauren Murphy | TKO (elbows and punches) | 4 | 4:00 | [b] |
| Middleweight | Robbie Lawler | def. | Nick Diaz | TKO (retirement) | 3 | 0:44 | |
| Heavyweight | Curtis Blaydes | def. | Jairzinho Rozenstruik | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Women’s Flyweight | Jéssica Andrade | def. | Cynthia Calvillo | TKO (punches) | 1 | 4:54 | |
| Preliminary card (ESPNews / ESPN+) | |||||||
| Bantamweight | Merab Dvalishvili | def. | Marlon Moraes | TKO (punches) | 2 | 4:25 | |
| Lightweight | Dan Hooker | def. | Nasrat Haqparast | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–26) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Heavyweight | Chris Daukaus | def. | Shamil Abdurakhimov | TKO (punches and elbows) | 2 | 1:23 | |
| Women's Flyweight | Taila Santos | def. | Roxanne Modafferi | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Early preliminary card (ESPN+ / UFC Fight Pass) | |||||||
| Lightweight | Jalin Turner | def. | Uroš Medić | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 4:01 | |
| Middleweight | Nick Maximov | def. | Cody Brundage | Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Welterweight | Matthew Semelsberger | def. | Martin Sano Jr. | KO (punch) | 1 | 0:15 | |
| Featherweight | Jonathan Pearce | def. | Omar Morales | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 2 | 3:31 | |
The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[26]
