Volkanovski (23-1) dominated the scorecards — 49-46, 50-45 and 50-44 — in his 20th consecutive victory, but the Australian still had to survive an extraordinary challenge from the relentless Ortega (15-2), who didn't quit despite a bloodied face and a clearly damaged nose.
Volkanovski largely controlled the first two rounds with his usual impressive work rate and striking but a bloodied Ortega knocked him down dramatically with a left hand in the third round.
Ortega pounced and nearly finished the champ with a guillotine choke, but Volkanovski willed his way out of it and got back on top — only for Ortega to escape and to trap Volkanovski in a triangle choke that the champ also barely escaped.
In the fourth, Ortega got another takedown and nearly landed another choke but Volkanovski gave a thumbs-up to the referee before escaping and finishing the round raining blows down on a prone Ortega, whose face was bloodied again.
"I thought he was done," Ortega said.
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