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UFC 260 adds Alexander Volkankovski vs. Brian Ortega title fight

The next UFC featherweight title fight is set.

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovksi will defend his title against Brian Ortega at UFC 260, which will take place at a location and venue still to be announced.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie on Saturday but asked for anonymity since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

The news was first reported by UFC broadcast partner ESPN, which also reported the promotion is aiming for Volkanovksi (22-1 MMA, 9-0 UFC) vs. Ortega (15-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) to be the co-main event to a UFC heavyweight title rematch between Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou.

The pay-per-view event is expected to take place March 27 and will be the promotion’s second in March, with UFC 259 taking place three weeks earlier.

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Volkanovski, 32, is riding a 19-fight winning streak into his second UFC title defense attempt. Following six straight wins to kick off his UFC tenure, Volkanovski defeated then-champion Max Holloway by unanimous decision at UFC 245 in December 2019.

Seven months later, at UFC 251 in July 2020, Volkanovski and Holloway fought for a second time. Volkanovski successfully defended his title for the first time when he defeated Holloway by split decision.

In October, Ortega, 29, returned from a 22-month absence from competition. Over the course of five rounds, Ortega dominated surging contender Chan Sung Jung for a unanimous decision and reentered the win column following a devastating title shot loss to Holloway in December 2018.

With the addition, the UFC 260 lineup includes:

  • Champion Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega – for UFC featherweight title

  • Jim Crute vs. Johnny Walker

  • Modestas Bukauskas vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk

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