Over the course of a particularly intense press conference for UFC 266, UFC featherweight champion Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski made no secret of his intense dislike for Brian Ortega.
One reporter asked Ortega if he thought he would get along and have “a pint” with Volkanovski, the Australian champ couldn’t help but chime in.
Volkanovski “Would Have to Be Pretty Drunk” To Get Along With Ortega
“Honestly, I would have to be pretty drunk to get along with him I think. Obviously I’m known for being respectful, but there are just things that annoy me and that’s that. Everything… every word that comes out of his mouth annoys me now, so probably not.”
Volkanovski continued his tirade, reiterating his overall message from the past week: Brian Ortega is unprofessional, unlikeable, and weak.
“Mate I wanna get that finish. You know, We say that every time but I’m doing what I can to get that finish.
Right now, winning’s not enough, and then doing the whole The Ultimate Fighter with Ortega and making it a bit more personal, going out there and getting the finish would mean so much more.
So that’s definitely what I’m looking for. I’m gonna be pushing, get that pace, crumble him, get the finish.”
Ortega has been lauded recently for making serious improvements to his fight game. When asked if he’d noticed any “changes” in Ortega’s approach, Volkanovski was dismissive.
“Mate, yeah, I seen a lot of changes. When he’s with his boys or when his confidence is up, you know he’s up perking his chest, all that type of stuff.
Soon as things went downhill for him he was quiet, didn’t have much to say. That’s what I told him. I told him, keep that same energy, if things turn around, keep that same energy.
He didn’t, so that’s it. I see a lot of holes. From every time I spend time with him, I see weakness. I see weakness every time I talk to the bloke.”
Ortega, for his part, responded to these accusations. “I don’t know, I think I see life through a different lens. Some people like to be told what to do. I kinda live on my own time. As long as I get the job done, right? That’s what matters to me.
I’m already here, know what I’m saying? I’m gonna share the octagon with him whether he likes it or not. Whether he likes me or not.”
This intense rivalry will be sure to deliver a thrilling fight when Volkanovski and Ortega duke it out in the main event on Saturday night. Let us know your predictions for the fight in the comments.
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