Tag: UFC 266

UFC 266’s Merab Dvalishvili: I will never fight champion Aljamain Sterling

Merab Dvalishvili has title aspirations, but if Aljamain Sterling is still champion when he gets there, he’ll put those dreams aside.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] has title aspirations, but if [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag] is still champion when he gets there, he’ll put those dreams aside.

Dvalishvili (13-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC) is one of UFC bantamweight champion Sterling’s main training partners, so the thought of fighting his good friend is out of the question.

“Me and Aljo, we’re never going to fight each other,” Dvalishvili told MMA Junkie at a UFC 266 pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “We are good friends and we’re not going to fight each other. Aljo is champion. I believe he will defend his belt and he will be a champion for a long time. I have to win a couple more fights to fight for the title, but we will figure something out (if I get there). But one thing is for sure: We’re never going to fight. Me and Aljo, we’re never going to fight each other.”

Currently riding a six-fight winning streak, Dvalishvili will look to continue his ascent up the bantamweight ladder when he meets former title challenger Marlon Moraes (23-8-1 MMA, 5-4 UFC) in the UFC 266 featured prelim Saturday. If “The Machine” can get past Moraes, he knows big things will be on the horizon.

“I think top five at least, or somebody with a big name,” Dvalishvili said. “But I know my next opponent will be somebody with a big name because in the UFC’s top 15, everybody is a big name and everybody is so good. I even watch upcoming guys and it makes me excited, and ‘Oh my God, I’ve got to train because they look dangerous, so I’ve got to work harder.’ Whoever it’ll be, I’m just ready.”

UFC 266 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena. The main card streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN News/ESPN+.

To see the full interview with Dvalishvili, check out the video above.

[vertical-gallery id=405543]

[listicle id=1086107]

“You’re a f*cking drug cheat”: Alexander Volkanovski rips Brian Ortega’s PED past during staredown

Champ Alexander Volkanovski said he was not aware of Brian Ortega’s past PED use.

LAS VEGAS – The UFC featherweight champion unloaded on his challenger after Thursday’s UFC 266 pre-fight press conference.

According to the champ [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag], he was unaware of the challenger [autotag]Brian Ortega[/autotag]’s past performance-enhancing drug use.

“I didn’t know about you popping,” Volkanovski said during their intense staredown on Thursday. “That sh*t don’t sit well with me. You don’t deserve to be here. You’re a f*cking drug cheat.”

Ortega tested positive for drostanolone in 2014 following his first-round submission victory over Mike De La Torre at UFC on FOX 12, which has since been changed to a no contest. Ortega admitted he made a mistake, apologized, and moved on from the “haters” that still criticized him years after.

Volkanovski’s words came just minutes after he corrected a question during the press conference about Ortega deserving to share the cage with him. “Hey, he deserves to be here, I’ll give him that,” Volkanovski said. “But he ain’t taking the belt. You don’t deserve it.”

The PED history of Ortega was not mentioned by Volkanovski during the time the two fighters spent together while filming the most recent season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” It is unclear when the champ learned about his PED past, however, Volkanovski believes that his failed test adds to his previous assessment that his opponent isn’t professional enough.

“To be honest, (he’s) obviously unprofessional,” Volkanovski said in response to a question about what he learned about Ortega during the filming of TUF 29. “I’ve said it all week. Unprofessional and weakness, you know what I mean? What upsets me the most is (he’s) unprofessional. I put the hard yards in my whole life, especially in this career. That’s how I got this belt.”

“I just see weakness, unprofessional,” Volkanovski continued. “Obviously, showing weakness a few years back popping (for PEDs), producing, that sh*t annoys me. It’s unprofessional and I ain’t about that sh*t.”

Since his failed test in 2014, Ortega has successfully competed eight times without failing a test, even under stricter guidelines imposed by U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) upon UFC fighters in 2015.

Volkanovski and Ortega will share the cage in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 266 with the featherweight title on the line. The event airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN, and early prelims on ESPN+.

[pickup_prop id=”12302″]

[listicle id=1066606]

[vertical-gallery id=471390]

Video: Nick Diaz, Robbie Lawler share brief, unbothered faceoff at UFC 266 press conference in Las Vegas

After 17 years, the competitors of the five-round feature bout at UFC 265 come face-to-face again.

LAS VEGAS – The competitors of a feature five-round, non-title fight on the main card of UFC 266 had a brief faceoff on Thursday.

[autotag]Nick Diaz[/autotag] (26-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC) and [autotag]Robbie Lawler[/autotag] (28-15 MMA, 13-9 UFC) got face-to-face after answering questions from the media at Thursday’s press conference.

Check out their faceoff in the video above.

Don’t miss this rematch over 17 years in the making, which takes place Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

[listicle id=1098596]

Video: Alexander Volkanovski, Brian Ortega exchange heated words during faceoff at UFC 266 press conference

Champion Alexander Volkanovski came face-to-face with challenger Brian Ortega on Thursday evening.

LAS VEGAS – The coaches of “The Ultimate Fighter 29” will finally meet in the main event of UFC 266 with the featherweight title on the line.

Featherweight champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (22-1 MMA, 9-0 UFC) and challenger [autotag]Brian Ortega[/autotag] (15-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) got face-to-face after answering questions from the media at Thursday’s press conference.

Check out their faceoff in the video above.

Don’t miss this exciting title fight, which serves as the main event of UFC 266 on Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

Video: Valentina Shevchenko, Lauren Murphy have intense faceoff at UFC 266 press conference

The co-main event competitors shared an intense faceoff at the conclusion of the UFC 266 pre-fight press conference.

LAS VEGAS – The competitors of UFC 266‘s co-main event title fight faced off for the first time during fight week.

Flyweight champion [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag] (21-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) and [autotag]Lauren Murphy[/autotag] (15-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) got face-to-face after answering questions from the media at Thursday’s pre-fight press conference.

Check out their faceoff in the video above.

Don’t miss this exciting title fight, which takes place at UFC 266 on Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

[listicle id=1066606]

Video: UFC 266 press conference live stream with Volkanovski, Shevchenko, Diaz and more

Watch Thursday’s UFC 266 news conference with Alexander Volkanovski, Valentina Shevchenko, Nick Diaz and more at 6:30 p.m. ET.

LAS VEGAS – You can watch Thursday’s news conference from Park Theater in Las Vegas in advance of UFC 266 here on MMA Junkie at 6:30 p.m. ET.

UFC president Dana White hosts the event, which features featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski (22-1 MMA, 9-0 UFC) and challenger Brian Ortega (15-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC), who meet in the main event; women’s flyweight champ Valentina Shevchenko (21-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) and challenger Lauren Murphy (15-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC), who fight in the co-feature; and Nick Diaz (26-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC), who returns after a layoff of nearly seven years for a rematch with former welterweight champ Robbie Lawler (28-15 MMA, 13-9 UFC).

The fighters will field questions from the media with fans in attendance.

UFC 266 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and early prelims on ESPN+.

[listicle id=1066606]

[listicle id=1071053]

UFC 266 ‘Embedded,’ No. 4: Alexander Volkanovski takes issue with Brian Ortega’s lateness

The UFC returns with UFC 266, which also means the fight week video series “Embedded” is back to document the fighters behind the scenes.

The UFC returns to pay-per-view Saturday with UFC 266, which also means the fight week video series “Embedded” is back to document the fighters behind the scenes.

UFC 266 takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and early prelims on ESPN+.

The main event features a featherweight title bout between “The Ultimate Fighter 29” coaches. Champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (22-1 MMA, 9-0 UFC) takes on challenger [autotag]Brian Ortega[/autotag] (15-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC).

In the co-main event dominant women’s flyweight champion [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag] (21-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) will attempt to defend her title for a sixth time when she meets the surging [autotag]Lauren Murphy[/autotag] (15-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC).

In addition, Nick Diaz (26-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC) returns from a layoff of nearly seven years for a rematch with former welterweight champ Robbie Lawler (28-15 MMA, 13-9 UFC).

The fourth episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters as they go throughout their fight week. Here is the description from YouTube:

Lauren Murphy, Robbie Lawler and Brian Ortega arrive in Las Vegas to get their fight weeks underway. Alexander Volkanovski does a high-energy photo shoot; Ortega takes questions from his girlfriend. Lawler and Nick Diaz open up about their rematch.

Also see:

[vertical-gallery id=324412]

MMA Junkie Radio #3195: UFC 266 preview, Instagram trolls, Conor McGregor, more

Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.


Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.

On Episode 3,195, the boys look ahead to Saturday’s UFC 266 card, which features two title fights, the return of [autotag]Nick Diaz[/autotag] and several other big fights. They also tackle George vs. Instagram trolls; [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag]’s first pitch, if you can call it that; Tuesday’s Dana White’s Contender Series results; the next UFC Hall of Fame class; and more. Tune in!

Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at OmnyStudio. You can also catch it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.

Guram Kutateladze urges American embassies to facilitate visa process for fighters in open statement

“Many of us are missing our opportunities to fight on the suitable events just only because of the complicated visa policies.”

[autotag]Guram Kutateladze[/autotag] is one of many fighters who have struggled to obtain U.S. visas.

With the majority of UFC events now taking place in the United States, Sweden-based Kutateladze has voiced his frustration on behalf of all fighters struggling to get their U.S. visas approved in time for their fights and thinks it’s about time the process got expedited.

Things have gotten even more difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic and Kutateladze saw his most recent fight booking against Don Madge in July fall through partially due to his ongoing visa issues.

“With this letter I’d like to address American embassies and raise our voices about American-visa-issue that becomes more and more painful these days for the fighters (moreover in this pandemic circumstances). So I believe to address them not only from myself, but be representing a common problem that unfortunately many fighters are facing and sometimes this little visa issue can turn into a life changing thing.

Being a fighter and choosing fighting other people as your career is not the same as being an engineer or a doctor or a teacher. This is not that kind of job where you as a professional individual become better and better after years pass by. Being an active professional MMA fighter is a short journey that may last for several years only and that’s why in this journey every year and every month counts.

“Working experience” in our MMA profession is different, because we depend much on our physical condition and the peak of it is too short. Of course as all others, we gain knowledge through the time, but still your actual fighting career inside the octagon is very limited with your body condition.

Many of us are missing our opportunities to fight on the suitable events just only because of the complicated visa policies. For some of us it may take months or an year or even years to get the American visa. It took me several months to get the interview for my American working visa, even though I had one tourist visa before. And not to mention how many fight offers were missed for this reason. I truly believe that our career is too short to go through this long bureaucratic procedures. At the same time, I’m not meaning that fighters should be visa free, but I believe that our promotion such as UFC with its resources is doing their best to help fighters with the US visa application and assist to make the process smoother, but we still hope for a better cooperation from all sides, including the embassies.

Seeing how fighters are tweeting and tagging embassies, asking them for the interview appointment – feels wrong. Seeing how embassies respond and make appointments through tweets – also feels wrong. Having a very limited number of years for your fighting career and spending a big part of it just waiting for visas – feels wrong too.

Kind regards , Guram K.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CUIfBHjMwsU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Kutateladze’s message comes in the wake of Dan Hooker and Nasrat Haqparast’s struggle to get their U.S. visas approved in time. While both fighters ended up obtaining themm ahead of their UFC 266 matchup Saturday, they are set to arrive just hours before they weigh in due to the lagged process.

Since joining the UFC roster in October 2020, Kutateladze has only competed once in a big debut win over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 254. A slew of injuries – including knee surgery – as well as visa issues have kept him on the sidelines.

[listicle id=1066606]

The MMA Road Show with John Morgan, No. 339: UFC 266 preview, including Robbie Lawler, Lauren Murphy

Episode No. 339 of “The MMA Road Show with John Morgan” podcast is now available for streaming and download.

Episode No. 339 of “The MMA Road Show with John Morgan” podcast is now available for streaming and download.

MMA Junkie lead staff reporter John Morgan hosts the show while traveling the world to cover the sport.

Morgan, Cold Coffee and Hot Tea (aka the World MMA Award-nominated Oscar Willis) are all back together again to help preview an absolutely stacked UFC 266 event. With International Fight Week loading the schedule, they’re coming at you a day early, too! Along the way, hear from featured fighters [autotag]Robbie Lawler[/autotag] and [autotag]Lauren Murphy[/autotag].

Check it out on iTunes or at themmaroadshow.com. You can also subscribe via RSS.