Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega react to UFC 260 bout cancellation
COVID-19 once again made its presence felt in the mixed martial arts world this past weekend.
On Saturday night, it was announced during the UFC Fight Night broadcast that the featherweight title fight between champion Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega scheduled for this weekend’s UFC 260 was off due to COVID-19 protocols. Volkaovski later revealed that he had tested positive for the virus and was unable to compete.
“So devastated to share that I’ve tested positive for COVID-19 and my fight is off and will be rescheduled,” Volkanovski wrote in a statement on social media. “I tested negative leaving Australia, negative before entering the UFC bubble but my latest test was positive.
“We have worked so hard getting ready for this fight and I’m absolutely gutted this has happened. We followed every policy and process to remain COVID-free but it wasn’t meant to be this time.
“Thanks to everyone here in the States for your support since arriving and to everyone back home and around the world for your positive messages. To my fans, I’m certain I’ll be bouncing back stronger than ever.”
Following the news, Ortega also took to social media to offer his thoughts on the situation.
“So you guys all heard, I don’t have to tell you anymore. But, Volkanovski tested positive for Covid,” Ortega said in a video on Instagram. (H/T BJPenn.com) He’s done everything right. We’ve done everything right. I know you (Alex Volkanovski) would have taken the fight, even with Covid. That’s the type of human you are. I respect that. I hope you get better. I hope you heal up fast, and we’ll postpone it, and we will just reschedule it to when we’ve got to. Stay sharp. We’re staying sharp, and whenever this sh*t is meant to happen, it will happen.”
The 32-year-old Alexander Volkanovski has won an incredible 19-straight fights and is coming off back-to-back decision victories over former champion Max Holloway, although both decisions were somewhat controversial. Ortega, meanwhile, recently returned from a lengthy layoff and scored a one-sided decision victory over Chan Sung Jung last October.
UFC 260 will be headlined by a rematch between heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou.
