I have been looking forward to this UFC 266 card for a while now and it’s sure to be one of the best cards of the year where we will see 2 title fights in the main and co-main events. This PPV would have been must-buy for those 2 fights alone but before those fights we will see the long awaited return of one NICK DIAZ when he takes on “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler in a rematch 17 years in the making. Let’s get right into the fights ..
Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski (-160) VS Brian “T-City” Ortega (+135)
Alexander The Great (22-1-0) is coming off back to back decision wins over former featherweight champ Max Holloway (albeit alot of people think Halloway won the last fight if not both decisions) and will be making only his second title defense since winning the belt in December of 2019. Volkanovski has not lost a fight in over 8 years and is undefeated since joining the UFC in 2016 other than Halloway he also has wins over Jose Aldo, Chad Mendes and Darren Elkins to name a few. Now he faces a re-focused Ortega who looked like a new and improved version of himself when dominating the Korean Zombie after almost a two year haitus from the octagon.
Brian Ortega ( 15-1-0, 1 NC) lost the title fight to Max Holloway in December of 2018 and was embarrassed by the outcome. He came back towards the end of 2020 and like I said just looked new and improved. Two knock downs, 3 takedowns and landed 127 strikes (his most ever in UFC). After a two year layoff he received a title shot after just 1 win, thats how impressive it was. He is in the prime of his career and his head seems to be in the right place for a seocnd crack at the title and then set-up the Holloway/Ortega rematch we all want to see. Prediction: Ortega to win
Valentina “Bullet” Shevchenko (-1600) VS Lauren “Lucky” Murphy (+800)
Let’s face facts, Valentina Shevchenko (21-3-0) is not going to lose this fight. She is a -1600 favorite for a reason and as much as I like Lauren Murphy (15-4-0) and think she is a fantastic fighter she just isn’t in the same league as Valentina. And your not gonna take her at -1600 so you should look for some prop bets. I been seeing Shevchenko to win by KO/TKO at around -135 to -150 and if you can get that I would take it. And just hope she doesn’t win by submission. PREDICTION: Shevchenko dominates. TKO/KO
Nick Diaz (+115) VS Robbie Lawler (-135)
How awesome is it that this rematch is happening in 2021, 17 years after we saw Nick Diaz (26-9-0, 2 NC) beat “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (28-15-0, 1 NC) via 2nd Round TKO in his 3rd fight in the UFC? Admittedly neither fighter is entering the octagon in his prime, Lawler losing his last 4 fights and 5 of 6 and Diaz hasn’t fought since losing a UD loss to Anderson Silva back in January 2015 but then being deemed a no contest cause both fighters failed a drug test. But the Stockton, Cali native has a huge following and fans have been clamoring for a Nick Diaz return. For the fans that are unaware of Nick Diaz, just go youtube him it’ll be worth it. And when you consider that he taught his younger brother Nathan everything he knows, you know he is just gonna come forward and take 2-3 punches just to get off a good Stockton slap. Again neither fighter is gonna take a win here and turn it into a last title run or anything but this is gonna be an awesome fight that is really a coin toss. PREDICTION: Diaz wins