Alexander Volkanovski told us winning wouldn’t be enough. After a potential fight of the year performance against Brian Ortega yesterday, which saw both fighters come within moments of ending the bout multiple times, he was awarded a unanimous decision victory. However,
Volkanovski saw how rattled Brian Ortega was between rounds three and four, and believes he should have been awarded a TKO win.
Volkanovski Says He’s “Claiming” a TKO Win over Brian Ortega
Speaking to the post-fight press conference, Volkanovski recounted what he saw from his corner. “I thought he was broken after the third round.
The ref decided to give him a minute to ask him questions, he wasn’t answering them right — I’m telling you because I was looking — and he was, ‘Look this way,’ and he was looking completely the other way and ‘Do this, do that.’
He answered every question wrong and they waited until they answered [something] right and then, ‘Let’s get into it. I was like, ‘What’s going on here?’ They gave him an extra minute and I was looking at his eyes and he literally couldn’t see what was going on.
That’s it. It’s over. Then I go back in there, put pressure, and he’s firing back just like he was like nothing happened. He’s tough, he’s durable and credit to him.”
It was hard even a few days ago to imagine Volkanovski giving credit, or anything other than a flurry of punches, to Brian Ortega. Volkanovski constantly told reporters how much he disliked Ortega over his behavior on The Ultimate Fighter and past PED use.
During the fight, however, Volkanovski admitted that Ortega was able to rally in round four and throw some vicious submission attempts.
“It was deep,” he said. “It was, ‘Oh, f*ck, I’m about to lose the belt’ deep But the type of human being I am, we talk about me going through adversity, always being prepared and busting my ass, never give up attitude and all that sh*t, that’s what you seen.
I was deep. That was as deep as it can get. No sh*t. I remember I was making f*cking weird noises. I don’t remember what noise I made, but it was a weird, ‘Oh, f*ck, I hope I don’t lose this belt.’”
As for the inter-round issues Ortega faced, Volkanovski believes that after Ortega had to be lifted off the mat and onto his stool, he should automatically be awarded a TKO win.
“I didn’t know about that, but that’s not allowed. You literally can’t touch them. That’s considered a TKO. I’m gonna claim it. Dana, we’re gonna claim it.”
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