Alexander Volkanovski-Brian Ortega Featherweight Title Bout Set for UFC 260 on March 27

Alexander Volkanovski will defend his featherweight belt against Brian Ortega at UFC 260.

Promotion broadcast partner ESPN was first to report the pairing. UFC 260 takes place on March 29 at an as yet to be announced location. According to the report, Volkanovski vs. Ortega will serve as the co-main event because a heavyweight championship clash pitting Stipe Miocic against Francis Ngannou has been targeted for the evening’s headliner. However, that heavyweight bout has not been finalized.

Volkanovski claimed featherweight gold with a five-round verdict against Max Holloway at UFC 245 and successfully defended the crown with a contentious split verdict over the Hawaiian in their rematch at UFC 251 this past July. The 32-year-old City Kickboxing representative has won 19 consecutive fights — including nine in the UFC.

Ortega, meanwhile, will get a second shot at the 145-pound belt after taking a beating from Holloway in a fourth-round TKO defeat at UFC 231 in December 2018. After nearly two years on the sideline, “T-City” returned with a unanimous decision triumph over Chan Sung Jung at UFC Fight Night 180 on Oct. 17.