The featherweight and women’s flyweight titles will be on the line on Sept. 25 inside the T-Mobile Arena
3 min read
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.
The Aussie enters on an incredible 19-fight win streak that includes nine inside the UFC Octagon. He’s beaten some of the biggest names in the sport — Max Holloway twice as well as Jose Aldo — en route to capturing the 145-pound title. Now, he takes on the latest challenger in Ortega after seeing some bad blood spill over from their duties as coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter”. Ortega enters red hot after bouncing back from a loss to Holloway in a title challenge in 2018 thanks to a dominant win over the Korean Zombie.
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UFC kept its tradition of stacking up International Fight Week going with this card. Just beyond the main event, women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko returns to the Octagon once more to defend her 125-pound title against Lauren Murphy. Shevchenko, 33, has been an unstoppable force since moving down in weight three years ago with seven straight victories and four stoppages.
Plus, the legend returns for the first time in nearly six years when Nick Diaz makes the walk to the Octagon to take on a familiar foe in former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler. Diaz has not fought since a decision defeat to Anderson Silva in January 2015. Lawler enters on a four-fight losing skid. The pair of veterans agreed mid-week to meet 15 pounds above their usual weight class and fight at middleweight.
CBS Sports will be with you throughout the week in Las Vegas with the latest news and updates surrounding this fight card. Be sure to stay tuned to this page all week long for everything you need to know about UFC 266, plus fight night coverage and analysis just before the event begins.
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) -180 vs. Brian Ortega +155, featherweight championship
- Valentina Shevchenko (c) -1500 vs. Lauren Murphy +850, women’s flyweight championship
- Robbie Lawler -160 vs. Nick Diaz +135, middleweights
- Curtis Blaydes -340 vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik +270, heavyweights
- Jessica Andrade -240 vs. Cynthia Calvillo +200, women’s flyweights
- Merab Dvalishvili -260 vs. Marlon Moraes +210, bantamweights
- Dan Hooker -155 vs. Nasrat Haqparast +130, lightweights
- Chris Daukaus -195 vs. Shamil Abdurakimov +165, heavyweights
- Talia Santos -420 vs. Roxanne Modafferi +330, women’s flyweights
- Uros Medic -125 vs. Jalin Turner +105, lightweights
- Manon Fiorot -270 vs. Mayra Bueno Silva +220, women’s flyweights
- Nick Maximov -135 vs. Cody Brundage +115, middleweights
- Matthew Semelsberger -500 vs. Martin Sano +380, welterweights
- Omar Morales -155 vs. Jonathan Pearce +130, 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)
UFC 266 countdown
- Staff predictions and expert picks for the main card
- Brookhouse: Three best bets to consider on Saturday night in Las Vegas
- Campbell: Ortega ready to not waste second opportunity at featherweight title
- Resume Review: ‘Morning Kombat’ looks back at Nick Diaz’s career
- Brookhouse: An in-depth look at every bout on the main card in Las Vegas
- Campbell: Five biggest storylines to watch during International Fight Week
Who will win Volkanovski vs. Ortega? And how exactly does each UFC 266 fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks from Kyle Marley, who’s up over $14,000 on MMA picks in the past 31 months, and find out.
