The featherweight and women’s flyweight titles will be on the line on Sept. 25 inside the T-Mobile Arena
3 min read
It is fight night in Las Vegas. UFC is set to commence its latest PPV offering from Sin City as the staple of International Fight Week. The thrilling conclusion sees a pair of title fights atop the marquee as well as the return of a pair of legends in a featured bout for UFC 266 from T-Mobile Arena. The main event pits featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski against top contender Brian Ortega. The two were previously scheduled to meet in March, but the fight was postponed after Volkanovski contracted COVID-19 near fight night.
The Aussie enters on an incredible 19-fight win streak that includes nine inside the UFC Octagon. He’s beaten some of the biggest names in the sport — Max Holloway twice as well as Jose Aldo — en route to capturing the 145-pound title. Now, he takes on the latest challenger in Ortega after seeing some bad blood spill over from their duties as coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter”. Ortega enters red hot after bouncing back from a loss to Holloway in a title challenge in 2018 thanks to a dominant win over the Korean Zombie.
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UFC kept its tradition of stacking up International Fight Week going with this card. Just beyond the main event, women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko returns to the Octagon once more to defend her 125-pound title against Lauren Murphy. Shevchenko, 33, has been an unstoppable force since moving down in weight three years ago with seven straight victories and four stoppages.
Plus, the legend returns for the first time in nearly six years when Nick Diaz makes the walk to the Octagon to take on a familiar foe in former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler. Diaz has not fought since a decision defeat to Anderson Silva in January 2015. Lawler enters on a four-fight losing skid. The pair of veterans agreed mid-week to meet 15 pounds above their usual weight class and fight at middleweight.
Also, heavyweight brawlers Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Curtis Blaydes are also set to meet in a battle of men with a combined 21 knockouts in 26 victories. Both men are looking to maintain their place in the heavyweight pecking order after suffering setbacks in previous opportunities. A win by either man can keep them in the future title challenging conversation.
CBS Sports will be with you throughout the week in Las Vegas with the latest news and updates surrounding this fight card. Be sure to stay tuned to this page all week long for everything you need to know about UFC 266, plus fight night coverage and analysis just before the event begins.
Here’s a look at the expected fight card for Las Vegas with the latest odds from Caesars Sportsbook.
UFC 266 fight card, odds, results
- Alexander Volkanovski (c) -180 vs. Brian Ortega +155, featherweight championship
- Valentina Shevchenko (c) -1500 vs. Lauren Murphy +850, women’s flyweight championship
- Robbie Lawler -160 vs. Nick Diaz +135, middleweights
- Curtis Blaydes -340 vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik +270, heavyweights
- Jessica Andrade -240 vs. Cynthia Calvillo +200, women’s flyweights
- Merab Dvalishvili -260 vs. Marlon Moraes +210, bantamweights
- Dan Hooker -155 vs. Nasrat Haqparast +130, lightweights
- Chris Daukaus def. Shamil Abdurakimov via second-round TKO (punches)
- Talia Santos def. Roxanne Modafferii via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Jalin Turner def. Uros Medic via first-round submission (rear naked choke)
- Nick Maximov def. Cody Brundage via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Matthew Semelsberger def. Martin Sano via first-round knockout (punch)
- Jonathan Pearce def. Omar Morales via second-round submission (rear naked choke)
UFC 266 info
- Date: Sept. 25
- Location: T-Mobile Arena — Las Vegas, Nevada
- Start time: 10 p.m. ET (Main card) | 8 p.m. ET (prelims)
- How to watch: ESPN+ PPV | ESPN News (prelims)
UFC 266 countdown
- Staff predictions and expert picks for the main card
- Brookhouse: Three best bets to consider on Saturday night in Las Vegas
- Campbell: Ortega ready to not waste second opportunity at featherweight title
- Resume Review: ‘Morning Kombat’ looks back at Nick Diaz’s career
- Brookhouse: An in-depth look at every bout on the main card in Las Vegas
- Campbell: Five biggest storylines to watch during International Fight Week
Who will win Volkanovski vs. Ortega? And how exactly does each UFC 266 fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks from Kyle Marley, who’s up over $14,000 on MMA picks in the past 31 months, and find out.
