UFC 266 — Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega: Fight card, date, rumors, odds, location, complete guide

UFC is set to return to PPV on Sept. 25 with a trio of big fights topping the marquee. UFC 266 will go down inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas as the culmination of this year’s International Fight Week and see featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski put his title on the line against top contender Brian Ortega. The two were coaches on the latest season of “The Ultimate Fighter” and were previously expected to meet in March, but Volkanovski was forced to withdraw from the meeting after contracting COVID-19.

Volkanovski won the featherweight title from Max Holloway in December 2019 and successfully defended it when he took a controversial split decision in the rematch. He is currently riding a 19-fight winning streak. Ortega was sidelined after losing a title match against Holloway in December 2018 but returned this past October to pick up an impressive win over Chan Sung Jung, punching his ticket to a title shot.

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The night also features the return of women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko when she takes on top contender Lauren Murphy in the co-main event. Shevchenko has been nearly unstoppable since moving down to flyweight with dominant victories in her last seven appearances since 2018. Plus, fan favorites Nick Diaz and Robbie Lawler meet in a featured contest at welterweight that marks Diaz’s first Octagon appearance in over six years. The two previously met all the way back in 2004 with Diaz scoring a second-round knockout. 

Here’s a look at the expected fight card for Las Vegas with the latest odds from Caesars Sportsbook.

UFC 266 fight card, odds

• Alexander Volkanovski (c) -160 vs. Brian Ortega +135, featherweight championship
• Valentina Shevchenko (c) -1400 vs. Lauren Murphy +800, women’s flyweight championship
• Robbie Lawler -110 vs. Nick Diaz -110, welterweights
• Curtis Blaydes -310 vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik +250, heavyweights
  
  
• Jessica Andrade -280 vs. Cynthia Calvillo +230, women’s flyweights
• Merab Dvalishvili -260 vs. Marlon Moraes +210, bantamweights
• Dan Hooker -165 vs. Nasrat Haqparast +140, lightweights
• Chris Daukaus -195 vs. Shamil Abdurakimov +165, heavyweights
• Talia Santos -370 vs. Roxanne Modafferi +290, women’s flyweights
• Uros Medic -125 vs. Jalin Turner +105, lightweights
• Manon Fiorot -270 vs. Mayra Bueno Silva +220, women’s flyweights
• Karl Roberson -115 vs. Nick Maximov -105, middleweights
  
  
• Matthew Semelsberger -420 vs. Martin Sano +330, welterweights
• Omar Morales -150 vs. Jonathan Pearce +125, lightweights

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)