As the world of mixed martial arts gears up for another high-octane event, all eyes are on Alexander Volkanovski as he prepares to square off against Ilia Topuria at UFC 298. This fight, scheduled for February 17, will see Volkanovski defending his title for the sixth time.
A Streak to Defend
Volkanovski's latest title defense saw him triumph with a third-round TKO victory over Yair Rodriguez. The Australian fighter has been a force to reckon with in the octagon, and this upcoming match promises to be another thrilling chapter in his career.
Rising Star on the Horizon
On the other side of the cage, Ilia Topuria is an emerging talent who has yet to taste defeat in his UFC journey. With six victories under his belt, four of which ended inside the distance, Topuria is making waves in the UFC featherweight division. Currently holding the No. 5 position in the rankings, Topuria showcased his prowess with a dominant victory against Josh Emmett at UFC on ABC 5 last June.
Predictions and Anticipation
Both fighters are confident, predicting a first-round finish for the UFC 298 headliner. It's a bold claim that only adds to the anticipation surrounding this bout. However, it's worth noting that this showdown was initially slated for January but had to be postponed due to concussion protocols following Volkanovski's knockout loss to Islam Makhachev.
An Unexpected Turn of Events
Volkanovski had stepped up on short notice to face Makhachev at UFC 294 after Charles Oliveira withdrew due to injury. The fight concluded with Makhachev delivering a head-kick knockout, marking the first time Volkanovski has been stopped since his fourth pro fight in 2013.
Speaking about the rescheduling, Volkanovski said, "Yeah, obviously, it was scheduled for January... We want to follow all protocols and do everything right, obviously, after the last one and I'm lucky enough to have a great team around me, who've dealt with a lot of concussions in football and what-not. So I’ve got the right team around me, and we just thought that January was a little bit too soon.”
Respect Among Rivals
Despite the competitive tension, there is a mutual respect between the fighters. Commenting on his opponent, Volkanovski stated, "He's a powerful dude, he's good everywhere. He's not one-dimensional, he's obviously very well-rounded." But he also expressed confidence in his abilities, saying, "I just believe my skills and my understanding of the game is just gonna be that little bit too much for him."
Diego Lopes, a fellow fighter, commended Volkanovski for taking the Makhachev fight on ten days' notice. He said, "All respect to him for taking the fight... He wasn't prepared for this fight. But yeah, it was surprising to see how Makhachev finished him. I think we all expected Makhachev to wrestle him all the fight."
As we inch closer to UFC 298, the city and venue for this highly anticipated showdown are yet to be confirmed. Regardless of where it happens, this match promises to be an exciting spectacle for MMA fans worldwide.