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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
MMA Junkie Staff

UFC free fight: Alexander Volkanovski survives scare, batters Brian Ortega to retain title

Alexander Volkanovski Brian Ortega UFC Yair Rodriguez UFC 290

Alexander Volkanovski showed the heart of a champion against Brian Ortega.

After filming Season 29 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Volkanovski faced Ortega in the main event of UFC 266 in September 2021.

The first two rounds were competitive, with both men having their moments on the feet. However, in Round 3, Ortega whipped up a lightning-fast mounted guillotine choke after dropping Volkanovski, which had the champion in survival mode. Volkanovski somehow escaped, before getting caught in a tight triangle choke. Volkanovski fended that off, too, then started dropping bombs on Ortega in what was a thrilling back-and-forth round.

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