Alexander Volkanovski tänker överväldiga Brian Ortega i deras titelmatch.
Lovar att avsluta Ortega
Fjäderviktsmästaren Volkanovski (22-1 MMA, 9-0 UFC) kommer försvara sin titel mot Ortega den 27 mars vid UFC 260 i den delade huvudmatchen i Las Vegas.
Efter att ha besegrat Max Holloway två gånger i rad är Ortega nu näste man på tur vilket Volkanovski ser framemot. Ortega är dock inte bara en tidigare titelutmanaren utan är även en förbättrad version vilket han visade när han utklassade Chan Sung ’Korean Zombie’ Jung på ett imponerande sätt.
Volkanovski erkänner de framsteg som Ortega (15-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) gjort i sitt game. Mästaren sade följande till MMA Junkie:
The guy’s always been a good fighter. I talk about his improvements as if he wasn’t good. He’s always been a great fighter and he’s always had a lot of good skills. But I believe he has evolved. This whole ‘Ortega 2.0,’ I believe it. I’ve seen a different fighter in there – even though he’s always been dangerous. He’s always been good at timing and picking the right shots, but right now all the in-betweens he’s just got down pat at the moment. There’s a lot of things that I’ve seen that was impressive, so I’m expecting a new challenge, a tough challenge and a different challenge.
I’m not going to sit there and roll around on the ground and play jiu-jitsu with him. Let’s be realistic with that. He’s a type of guy, you slip up on the ground, that’s it – over. So the respect is there for Ortega. I’m ready for a challenge. But at the same time, I’m too confident in my abilities and I know where I’m at. I just don’t believe anyone is there with me, and if I’m on on the day, no one can beat me. Ortega has improved, but I just have to prove that I’m on a whole other level.
Volkanovski hoppas knäcka Ortega trots fightern endast avslutats en gång där han fick bryta matchen på grund av ett igensvullet öga. Mästaren tror dock att hans pressande kommer att bli för mycket för Ortega och kommer leda till ett avslut i mitten av matchen:
Come fight time, I’m going to be fit. I’m going to put on a pace. A pace is definitely something we’re going to see. It’s going to be a high-paced fight that no one can deal with, and I don’t care who it is in front of me: When I put that pace on, they’re going to slow down. I guarantee it.
I’m putting on a pace that no one can deal with, and we know he’s got a great chin and he’s tough and he’s a goer, and even when he’s hurt, even when he’s tired, he’s still swinging. So there’s going to be a lot of opportunities there. There’s going to be a lot of opportunities to get the finish. I know he’s tough and he’s shown fitness. But again, I’m going to put a whole other pace. I’m in good nick and the stuff I’m doing in the gym right now, no one’s going to be able to keep up, and I think I’m getting him mid-rounds. That’s truly what I believe, and that’s what I’m seeing. I’m just going to go out there and do my thing, and I’m expecting a mid-rounds finish.
Volkanovski blev mästare år 2019.
