'F--k the belt': Brian Ortega's ominous warning for Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 266
Australian UFC champion Alexander Volkanovski and his opponent Brian Ortega came face-to-face one more time ahead of their huge fight this Sunday.
Both made weight at the official UFC 266 weigh-in today, ahead of tomorrow's blockbuster.
There has been no love lost between the two, with the usually respectful Volkanovski unleashing a tidal wave of insults towards his opponent over the past weeks and months.
READ MORE: Aussie UFC star's promise to 'spoiled brat'
READ MORE: Volko slams 'drug cheat' rival ahead of fight
"No more words - tomorrow, f--k the belt, I'm coming for your head," Ortega said, while Volkanovski screamed, "Let's go!"
A few boos rang out for the Aussie as he was handed the microphone.
"He reckons he's gonna bring it? I want him coming, guns blazing. Everyone back home in Australia, stay strong, I'm bringing that belt back to Australia," Volkanovski said.
It was a much more wholesome experience earlier on in the proceedings, when Kiwi Dan Hooker and his German opponent Nasrat Haqparast put an arm around each other following their face-off.
Dan Hooker after arriving in Las Vegas. Getty
Miraculously, both men made weight despite only arriving in Las Vegas a few hours earlier, thanks to visa issues plaguing both.
Hooker will spend a few days in Las Vegas afterwards, before heading back, but said the system has to change for his fellow New Zealand-based fighters, and that he had "definitely" looked at relocating to the US in the short-term future.
READ MORE: Kiwi UFC star wins 'wild' visa battle to get to Vegas
READ MORE: Volkanovski firm favourite going into UFC 266
"We had the discussion as a team now. There's a lot of people that have been talking about it or thinking about it, myself of making a move stateside. But now we've had the discussion as a team," Hooker said.
"We're kind of just planning the logistics of it. Obviously it's going to be left up to our coaches, but yeah, it looks like me and the family will be moving stateside with the team. It has to happen. This last one was getting a little bit crazy."
