UFC 266: Alex Volkanovski angry at ‘unprofessional’ Brian Ortega as featherweight title fight gets heated
- Australian champion fired up over American challenger’s previous failed drugs test, saying ‘I ain’t about that’
- ‘I’ve put the hard yards in my whole life, especially in this career. That’s how I got this belt. And he half-a**es it, turns up training late,’ Volkanovski says
Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is fired up, to say the least, heading into his second title defence opposite Brian Ortega in Saturday night’s UFC 266 main event.
The two were forced to be together on a daily basis throughout filming season 29 of The Ultimate Fighter, the iconic reality television show which returned to screens in June after nearly three years away.
The 30-year-old American challenger Ortega (15-1, one no contest) has remained mellow throughout the process, as is his wont, whereas the Australian title-holder is admittedly frustrated.
“What upsets me the most is unprofessionalism,” Volkanovski said at Thursday’s UFC 266 press conference in Las Vegas.
“I’ve put the hard yards in my whole life, especially in this career. That’s how I got this belt. And he half-a**es it, turns up training late. You name it.
“Obviously, showing weakness a few years back, popping [failing a drugs test], producing, you know what I mean? S*** like that. That s*** annoys me. It’s not professional, and I ain’t about that s***.”
