Brian Ortega thinks it’s Alexander Volkanovski who’s being two-faced, not the other way around.
Things are starting to heat up between the two, who just spent weeks together filming Season 29 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” UFC featherweight champion Volkanovski is expected to defend his title against Ortega in the fall, but that hasn’t stopped the two from trading barbs.
Following filming of the show, Volkanovski (22-1 MMA, 9-0 UFC) accused Ortega of being fake and awkward, claiming that he was done with him. Though he later admitted that he’s probably looking for a reason to hate him, it didn’t appear that he was too big of a fan of Ortega’s personality.
Ortega (15-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) took to Twitter to respond to Volkanovski, calling him out for what he thinks is a baseless claim.
@alexvolkanovski when you show me respect in person then turn around and get on a podcast and call me fake, says more about you then me. Even when @joerogan asked you why you had nothing to back up your statement.
— Brian Ortega (@BrianTcity) June 1, 2021
@alexvolkanovski when you show me respect in person then turn around and get on a podcast and call me fake, says more about you then me. Even when @joerogan asked you why you had nothing to back up your statement.
In a since-deleted tweet, Volkanovski responded to Ortega.
Well I did say….”Maybe I’m just looking for things to hate on him”… but I also said “he’s easily triggered”
Perhaps they’re just trying to up the ratings on the day of the TUF premiere, but Ortega isn’t usually one to try and manufacture beef. Volkanovski stated that he and his team played numerous pranks on Ortega throughout the show, trying to trigger his future foe.
Their initial bout was scheduled to take place at UFC 260 in March, but Volkanovski was forced to withdraw after contracting COVID. After filming the show’s return, expect their rescheduled bout to be a lot more highly anticipated as Ortega gets a second crack at the title.
Episode 1 of TUF 29 airs premieres Tuesday night on ESPN+.
Brian Ortega responds to Alexander Volkanovski calling him fake: ‘Nothing to back up your statement’
