UFC 266 explained

UFC 266: Volkanovski vs. Ortega
Promotion:Ultimate Fighting Championship
City:Paradise, Nevada, United States
Attendance:19,029[1]
Gate:$5,609,906

UFC 266: Volkanovski vs. Ortega was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on September 25, 2021, at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States.[2]

Background

After a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the promotion announced the return of 'International Fight Week', which took place in Las Vegas during the days leading up to and surrounding the event.[3]

A UFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout between current champion Jan Błachowicz (also former KSW Light Heavyweight Champion) and former title challenger Glover Teixeira was scheduled take place at the event.[4] However, the bout was postponed in late June and moved to UFC 267.[5]

A UFC Featherweight Championship bout between current champion Alexander Volkanovski and former title challenger Brian Ortega headlined the event. The pairing was previously scheduled to take place at UFC 260, but it was cancelled a week before taking place as Volkanovski tested positive for COVID-19.[6] The pairing was then postponed a few months as both fighters were named head coaches for .[7]

A UFC Women's Flyweight Championship bout between current champion Valentina Shevchenko and former Invicta FC Bantamweight Champion Lauren Murphy served as the co-headliner.[8]

A middleweight bout between former UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler and former WEC and Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick 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 at UFC 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 between Shamil Abdurakhimov and Chris Daukaus took place at the event.[12] The pairing was initially scheduled to meet on July 24, 2021, at, but the matchup was removed from that card on July 19 due to COVID-19 protocols within Abdurakhimov's camp.[13] The matchup remained intact and was rescheduled for the following week at, but it was postponed again due to undisclosed reasons.[14]

A women's flyweight bout between strawweight winner Tatiana Suarez and former title challenger Roxanne Modafferi was scheduled for the event.[15] However, Suarez pulled out due to a knee injury that would require surgery.[16] She was replaced by Taila Santos.[17] The pairing was previously scheduled for in May, but Modafferi pulled out due to a meniscus tear a month before that event and the bout was scrapped.[18]

A bantamweight bout between Timur Valiev and Ricky 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 at .[20]

A women's flyweight bout between Manon Fiorot and Mayra 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 between Karl Roberson and Nick 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 newcomer Cody Brundage.[24]

Results

[25]

Bonus awards

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[26]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: UFC 266 post-event facts: Nick Diaz stopped for first time in nearly 14 years. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Mike Bohn. 2021-09-26. 2021-09-26.
  2. Web site: Dana White updates on Khamzat Chimaev, Tony Ferguson, Stipe Miocic, event locations, more. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Farah Hannoun. 2021-07-07. 2021-07-07.
  3. Web site: 9th annual UFC International Fight Week takes over Las Vegas, September 21–25. ufc.com. Staff. 2021-07-20. 2021-07-20.
  4. Web site: Jan Blachowicz to defend UFC light heavyweight title vs. Glover Teixeira at UFC 266. espn.com. Brett Okamoto. 2021-04-14. 2021-04-14.
  5. Web site: Jan Blachowicz vs. Glover Teixeira delayed, now headlines UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi. bjpenn.com. Adam Martin. 2021-06-27. 2021-06-28.
  6. Web site: Alexander Volkanovski out of UFC 260 due to COVID-19 protocols, fight against Brian Ortega to be rescheduled. mmafighting.com. Damon Martin. 2021-03-20. 2021-06-09.
  7. Web site: Volkanovski, Ortega named coaches for next TUF. espn.com. Brett Okamoto. 2021-04-02. 2021-04-02.
  8. Web site: Alexander Volkanovski, Valentina Shevchenko set to defend titles at UFC 266. espn.com. Brett Okamoto. 2021-06-13. 2021-06-13.
  9. Web site: Nick Diaz joins brother Nate back in UFC, agrees to September bout vs. Robbie Lawler in Las Vegas. espn.com. Brett Okamoto. 2021-07-13. 2021-07-13.
  10. Web site: Nick Diaz returns vs. Robbie Lawler in five-round UFC 266 co-headliner. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Mike Bohn. 2021-07-13. 2021-07-13.
  11. Web site: Nick Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler 2 at UFC 266 now a middleweight fight. bjpenn.com. Cole Shelton. 2021-09-21. 2021-09-21.
  12. Web site: Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Chris Daukaus scratched from UFC Vegas 33, moved to UFC 266 instead. mmafighting.com. Steven Marrocco. 2021-07-26. 2021-07-26.
  13. Web site: Chris Daukaus vs. Shamil Abdurakhimov pulled from UFC Vegas 32, fight now expected to take place on July 31. mmafighting.com. Damon Martin. 2021-07-19. 2021-07-19.
  14. Web site: Chris Daukaus vs. Shamil Abdurakhimov scratched from UFC Vegas 33. mymmanews.com. Adam Martin. 2021-07-26. 2021-07-26.
  15. Web site: Tatiana Suarez's long-awaited return targeted for UFC 266 against Roxanne Modafferi. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Matthew Wells. 2021-06-29. 2021-07-28.
  16. Web site: Tatiana Suarez out of UFC 266, promotion seeks new opponent for Roxanne Modafferi. mmafighting.com. Mike Heck. 2021-07-27. 2021-07-28.
  17. Web site: Multiple updates UFC matches for different events. mmadna.nl. Marcel Dorff. 2021-08-19. 2021-08-20.
  18. Web site: Roxanne Modafferi out of Taila Santos bout on May 8 due to meniscus injury. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Alexander K. Lee. 2021-04-07. 2021-04-07.
  19. Web site: Three new fights and a canceled match for UFC 266 on September 25 in Las Vegas. mmadna.nl. Marcel Dorff. 2021-07-28. 2021-09-15.
  20. Web site: Timur Valiev faces Daniel "Willycat" Santos at UFC event on October 16. mmadna.nl. Marcel Dorff. 2021-08-26. 2021-09-15.
  21. Web site: Manon Fiorot to fight Mayra Bueno Silva at Sept. 25 UFC show. mmafighting.com. Guilherme Cruz and Alexander K. Lee. 2021-06-09. 2021-09-22.
  22. Web site: UFC 266 loses fight as Manon Fiorot vs. Mayra Bueno Silva scratched due to COVID-19 protocols. mymmanews.com. Adam Martin. 2021-09-22. 2021-09-22.
  23. Web site: Three new fights and a canceled match for UFC 266 on September 25 in Las Vegas. mmadna.nl. Marcel Dorff. 2021-07-28. 2021-07-28.
  24. Web site: Karl Roberson scratched from UFC 266, Nick Maximov faces Cody Brundage. mymmanews.com. Mike Heck. 2021-09-22. 2021-09-22.
  25. Web site: UFC 266: Volkanovski vs. Ortega. 7 May 2021 . Ultimate Fighting Championship. 2021-07-17.
  26. Web site: UFC 266 bonuses: Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega's classic title fight among winners. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Staff. 2021-09-26. 2021-09-26.

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