The featherweight title no longer will be on the line at UFC 260.
Just a week prior to the scheduled bout between champion Alexander Volkanovski and challenger Brian Ortega, the promotion announced the matchup has been postponed due to COVID-19 protocols.
The news was announced on Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 21 broadcast. The issue, according to a report on the broadcast, stemmed from Volkanovski’s side. Earlier Saturday, Volkanovski teammate Brad Riddell had his UFC on ESPN 21 co-main event against Gregor Gillespie pulled due to COVID-19 protocols.
No new date for the fight was been announced.
Volkanovski (22-1 MMA, 9-0 UFC) 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 (15-1 w. 1 NC MMA, 7-1 UFC) 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.
UFC 260 takes place March 27 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.
