Reigning UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has hit the ground running in Las Vegas, declaring he can’t wait to shut down rival Brian Ortega.
Volkanovski and his team got in on Saturday, and entered the bubble on Tuesday ahead of media, weigh-ins and other obligations.
“It’s going to be a very busy week, but bring it on. I enjoy the process, I haven’t been able to do all of this for over a year,” he told Wide World of Sports.
“You probably don’t hear a lot of fighters say they’re enjoying the media side of things, but I am. It lets me know we’re fighting this weekend, we’re defending that belt – I’m just taking it all in.”
This fight was originally set to take place in March, before Volkanovski tested positive for COVID, writing off weeks and months of preparation.
“It sucks – all the hard work that goes into it, time away from your family, there’s a lot that goes in to it for not only me but my team, my coaches, my family,” Volkanovski said.
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“It was definitely hard but mentally you tell yourself that these things happen and you need to accept it. Let’s not cry about it and think it’s the end of the world.
“It wasn’t meant to be, you have to accept these things.”
The rivalry was then amplified by a stint as opposing coaches on the latest season of The Ultimate Fighter, where the two butted heads. Volkanovski went as far as to call Ortega a ‘spoiled brat’.
But now, six months on from their original date, they will finally get their hands on one another.
“This one will be even sweeter. You don’t usually spend this much time with your opponent. I’m looking forward to getting in there and just showing him what I told him. That belt isn’t going anywhere, I told him that.”
Volkanovski watched The Ultimate Fighter back after it aired, and said that every little verbal jab from Ortega throughout the show just motivated him even more.
“You end up hearing all these things, and not only that, you learn a lot about him as well, and his training advice and his corner advice.
“I just think he’s a douchebag, you know what I mean? While we were going through the process there were things that annoyed me and then watching the show and hearing him in interviews just made me want to go out there even more and put a beating on this bloke.”
The 32-year-old goes into this fight as a favourite, but plenty are giving the challenger a chance. It’s a dynamic that the Aussie is used to after being written off by many in his last few fights, only for each to end the same way, with his hand being raised.
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“I’m aware he’s dangerous, but we prepare for these things and then we nullify that,” Volkanovski said.
“You’ve seen me do this time and time again. How many times have people gone ‘how’s he gonna deal with this, how’s he gonna deal with that?’ And then I completely shut them down.
“We’re too prepared, and I believe we’re ahead of the game and we’ve shown that.”
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You could make an argument the Australian is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC at the moment, rattling off consecutive wins against Max Holloway, who many consider the GOAT of the division.
Despite this, and other impressive wins in what has been an undefeated career in the UFC, people still look to poke holes in his game – not that he cares.
“They’re going to say that all the time, but I use it as fuel, it motivates me. Let them hate, let them doubt. Obviously I’m not the underdog, but I’ve been the underdog my whole life,” he said.
“People never thought I’d make it to where I am, but how many times have I proved them wrong? I love it.”
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