The UFC returns to the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas Saturday night as featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski defends against No. 1 contender Brian Ortega at UFC 266.
Both fighters made weight and the fight is official. Karl Roberson pulled out of the event with medical issues and has been replaced by Cody Brundage to take on Nick Maximov.
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the card.
UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMS (7PM ET/4PM PT)
JONATHAN PEARCE (10-4-0) VS. OMAR MORALES (11-1-0)
Opening the early prelims with some fireworks 🎆
🇺🇸 @JSPMMA vs 🇻🇪 @OmarMoralesJR
[ #UFC266 | Tomorrow | Early Prelims Live on ESPN+ & @UFCFightPass ] pic.twitter.com/ZJjdU4PucE
— UFC (@ufc) September 24, 2021
Andrews: Both guys are DWCS alum and Morales has more UFC experience but he’s older at 35. I think Pearce edges him if he can keep the fight standing.
Andrews Prediction: Jonathan Pearce via UD
MATTHEW SEMELSBERGER (8-3-0) VS. MARTIN SANO (4-2-1)
A welterweight showdown you won’t want to miss 👊
🇺🇸 @SemiTheJedi vs 🇺🇸 @Spartan_Sano happens TOMORROW!
[ #UFC266 | Sep 25 | Early Prelims Live on ESPN+ & @UFCFightPass ] pic.twitter.com/dgzQ5btMAI
— UFC (@ufc) September 24, 2021
Andrews: Sano is making his debut. Advantage Semelsberger.
Andrews Prediction: Matthew Semelsberger via UD
CODY BRUNDAGE (6-1-0) VS. NICK MAXIMOV (6-0-0)
#DWCS Alumni set to square off in the MW division 💢
🇺🇸 @NickMax15 vs 🇺🇸 @CodyBrundage1
[ #UFC266 | Tomorrow | Early Prelims Live on ESPN+ & @UFCFightPass ] pic.twitter.com/oQinpSqKVT
— UFC (@ufc) September 24, 2021
Andrews: Brundage is replacing Karl Roberson and making his octagon debut. Advantage Maximov.
Andrews Prediction: Nick Maximov via UD
UFC 266 PRELIMS (8PM ET/5PM PT)
#9 ROXANNE MODAFERRI (25-18-0) VS. #12 TALIA SANTOS (17-1-0)
Some flyweight action up first on the ESPNews prelims 💥
🇺🇸 @RoxyFighter vs 🇧🇷 Taila Santos
[ #UFC266 | Tomorrow | Live on ESPN+ & ESPNews ] pic.twitter.com/vWEbgsSoIh
— UFC (@ufc) September 24, 2021
Andrews: Roxanne just turned 39 and Santos looked good against Gillian Robertson.
Andrews Prediction: Talia Santos via UD
MAIN CARD (10PM ET/7PM PT)
UROS MEDIC (7-0-0) VS. JALIN TURNER (10-5-0)
These lightweights are set to light up the @UFCFightPass featured bout 🔦
🇷🇸 @UrketaraKeta vs 🇺🇸 @JalinTurner
[ #UFC266 | Tomorrow | Early Prelims Live on ESPN+ & @UFCFightPass ] pic.twitter.com/9yeAUjnKsv
— UFC (@ufc) September 24, 2021
Andrews: Medic is undefeated but Turner has fought better opponents. Slightly leaning toward Medic here.
Andrews Prediction: Uros Medic via TKO
SHAMIL ABDURAKHIMOV (20-5-0) VS. CHRIS DAUKAUS (11-3-0)
A battle of heavyweights promises to bring HEAVY action 🏋️♀️
🇷🇺 @ShamilAbrek vs 🇺🇸 @ChrisDaukausMMA
[ #UFC266 | Tomorrow | Live on ESPN+ & ESPNews ] pic.twitter.com/ZE9rxWr6uV
— UFC (@ufc) September 24, 2021
Andrews: Chris is eight years younger and while the experience advantage goes to Shamil, Daukaus will grab the upset here.
Andrews Prediction: Chris Daukaus via TKO
#8 DAN HOOKER (20-10-0) VS. NASRAT HAQPARAST (13-3-0)
No need to fear, @DanTheHangman vs @Nasrat_MMA is officially here 🍿
[ #UFC266 | Tomorrow | Live on ESPN+ & ESPNews ] pic.twitter.com/EDImsj8rWj
— UFC (@ufc) September 24, 2021
Andrews: Credit to both guys for pulling through to make the fight happen. Hooker has looked bad but against elite competition. Here, I think he ekes this one out.
Andrews Prediction: Dan Hooker via UD
#6 MARLON MORAES (23-8-1) VS. #11 MERAB DVALISHVILI (13-4-0)
A bantamweight BANGER awaits in the featured prelim bout 😤
🇧🇷 @MMarlonMoraes vs 🇬🇪 @MerabDvalishvil heads to the Octagon TOMORROW!
[ #UFC266 | Sep 25 | Live on ESPN+ & ESPNews ] pic.twitter.com/xI4Z2hF56h
— UFC (@ufc) September 24, 2021
Andrews: Tough one on paper. Moraes has the experience edge, but I think Merab could pull it off by decision as he doesn’t take too many chances.
Andrews Prediction: Merab Dvalishvili via UD
#1 JESSICA ANDRADE (21-9-0) VS. #5 CYNTHIA CALVILLO (9-2-1)
Top flyweight contenders go to battle with a potential title shot looming 👀
🇧🇷 @JessicaMMAPro vs 🇺🇸 @Cyn_Calvillo
[ #UFC266 | Tomorrow | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/2qE0lEEWLu ] pic.twitter.com/Fagvqf2RyY
— UFC (@ufc) September 24, 2021
Andrews: Cynthia is like a younger Jessica but the experience of Andrade should prevail here.
Andrews Prediction: Jessica Andrade via TKO
#4 CURTIS BLAYDES (14-3-0) VS. #6 JAIRZINHO ROZENSTRUIK (12-2-0)
A battle of top 10 heavyweights promises to bring the heat 🔥
🇺🇸 @RazorBlaydes265 vs 🇸🇷 @JairRozenstruik
[ #UFC266 | Tomorrow | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/2qE0lEEWLu ] pic.twitter.com/0qXTFFug1v
— UFC (@ufc) September 24, 2021
Andrews: Blaydes needs to look out for the power shots and get the fight to the ground. If he’s overconfident, he’ll lose but I think Derrick Lewis has him prepared.
Andrews Prediction: Curtis Blaydes via submission
NICK DIAZ (26-9-0) VS. ROBBIE LAWLER (28-15-0)
The rematch 1️⃣7️⃣ years in the making is a GO for Saturday 👊@NickDiaz209 vs @Ruthless_RL
[ #UFC266 | Tomorrow | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/2qE0lEWxD2 ] pic.twitter.com/MpDt2l00Uz
— UFC (@ufc) September 24, 2021
Andrews: Robbie knows he needs to win this rematch. I think he pulls it off.
Andrews Prediction: Robbie Lawler via UD
(C) VALENTINA SHEVCHENKO (21-3-0) VS. #3 LAUREN MURPHY (15-4-0)
The flyweight title is officially 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚.
🏆 @BulletValentina vs 🍀 @LaurenMurphyMMA go head-to-head TOMORROW!
[ #UFC266 | Sep 25 | Live on E+ PPV: https://t.co/2qE0lEWxD2 ] pic.twitter.com/p7byN5yNuy
— UFC (@ufc) September 24, 2021
Andrews: Murphy made me a believer at the press conference with her confidence but I still think Valentina takes her out with strikes.
Andrews Prediction: Valentina Shevchenko via TKO
MAIN EVENT
(C) ALEXANDER VOLKANOVSKI (22-1-0) VS. #2 BRIAN ORTEGA (15-1-0, 1NC)
It gets settled TOMORROW 🔥
🏆 @AlexVolkanovski vs @BrianTCity
[ #UFC266 | Sep 25 | Live on E+ PPV: https://t.co/2qE0lEEWLu ] pic.twitter.com/YqzQ7o9NKA
— UFC (@ufc) September 24, 2021
Andrews: I love Ortega and his ability to take a punch and his ground game but I think Volkanovski is going to take the starch out of him and finish him late with strikes.
Andrews Prediction: Alexander Volkanovski via TKO
