Brian Ortega Promises a More ‘Well Rounded’ Version of Himself Against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 266

Published 09/11/2021, 1:29 PM EDT

Former UFC title challenger Brian Ortega spoke to the Schmo to talk about his UFC 266 match-up against Alexander Volkanovski. Ortega will be competing in his second world title fight after facing Max Holloway back in December 2018. While he came up short in that outing, Brian Ortega emphatically earned his shot again by dispatching ‘The Korean Zombie’.

Ortega was out of action for nearly two years after his first loss to Holloway and made sure his return was impactful. With experience in a title fight under his belt, Ortega was asked to expand on his biggest takeaways since that loss. He now has an opportunity to re-write his disappointing defeat and Ortega reflected on how his second opportunity would be different.

“It’s going to be different. This time it’s a different opponent, a different Brian Ortega, a more focused, well rounded and you don’t get much of these opportunities so you’ve got to make the best out of them.”

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The fans can’t wait for this one

In his return bout against Chan Sung Jung, a lot had changed about the Brian Ortega that fans knew and loved. Apart from sporting a new look entirely, his cage presence, as well as his technique, had undergone a major upheaval. ‘The Korean Zombie’ was favored to win in the striking battle, however, he simply couldn’t keep up.

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Facing Alexander Volkanovski is set to be his toughest test by virtue of the way ‘Volko’ prepares for fights. The City Kickboxing stand-out is nothing short of thorough during pre-fight preparation and he’s able to zone in on his opponents’ weaknesses. Getting one over Alexander Volkanovski is a task that is easier said than done under the bright lights.

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The bout is expected to play out at range in the beginning as both men are known to feel out their opponents. However, fans can expect some fiery trades once they meet in the middle and the factor of octagon control is sure to play a role. Not to mention, coaching against each other at TUF 29 has led to the festering of some bad blood between both men making things interesting.

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Darryl Pinto is a senior MMA writer at EssentiallySports. He is currently pursuing his graduate degree in Mass Media (with a specialization in Journalism) out of Xavier’s College and has a year's experience in his current role. Darryl specializes in predictions, reporting, and covering UFC events live.

Brian Ortega Promises a More ‘Well Rounded’ Version of Himself Against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 266

The fans can’t wait for this one

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