MMA: Australia's Alexander Volkanovski retains featherweight title at UFC 266

It was Alexander Volkanovski's second successful title defence and his 20th consecutive victory. PHOTO: AFP

LAS VEGAS (REUTERS) - Alexander Volkanovski proved his championship mettle on Saturday night (Sept 25).

The Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight champion out of Australia was nearly submitted twice during the third round of his UFC 266 main event against American challenger Brian Ortega.

But after escaping the second of two chokes, Volkanovski (23-1) delivered a hellacious beating, with Ortega (15-2) saved by the horn.

Ortega's unreal toughness enabled him to go the distance in the five-round fight, but Volkanovski retained his title in a Fight of the Year candidate at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The judges scores were 49-46, 50-45, 50-44 for a unanimous decision. It was Volkanovski's second successful title defence and his 20th consecutive victory.

"All the doubters, I'm gonna keep proving you wrong, time and time again," Volkanovski said.

The evening's co-feature bout was the latest chapter in what is turning into the next dominant UFC title reign.

Women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko (22-3) of Kyrgyzstan toyed with American Lauren Murphy (15-5) for three rounds before turning up the heat and finishing things in the fourth.

A right hand dropped Murphy, then a ground onslaught finished things off at the 4-min mark. The win marked Shevchenko's sixth successful title defence.

"I'm ready for anyone, I am the champion," Shevchenko said.

While the title fights took top billing, the night's most anticipated bout was a rematch 17 years in the making between American fan favourite Nick Diaz (26-10) and former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler.

Diaz delivered one of the most memorable knockouts in MMA history at UFC 47 in 2004. On Saturday night, in a middleweight match-up, Lawler (29-15) wore down Diaz, who was fighting for the first time since 2015. A right hook was the telling blow as Lawler won via technical knockout at the 44-sec mark of the third round.

"I always had respect for Diaz, he brings it every time," Lawler said.

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