The UFC 298 main event features a highly anticipated featherweight title fight between the reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski and the challenger Ilia Topuria. This matchup is portrayed as either Volkanovski’s return to dominance in his division or Topuria’s coming out party as he looks to dethrone the consensus Featherweight GOAT.
Ilia Topuria Knocks Out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298
Alexander “The Great” has established himself as one of, if not the featherweight division’s most dominant champion, boasting a record of 26-3. Volkanovski’s tenure in the UFC has been marked by a series of impressive performances, including defeating Jose Aldo, Max Holloway three times and a knockout over Yair Rodriguez in his last featherweight outing. However, a recent short-notice fight against Makhachev resulted in a knockout loss, posing questions about his recovery and readiness for this upcoming title defence.
Ilia Topuria
El Matador is unbeaten at 14-0, and has quickly risen through the ranks, showcasing a well-rounded skill set that has seen him secure victories over formidable opponents like Damon Jackson, Ryan Hall, and most recently, Josh Emmett. Topuria’s boxing and grappling have both been tested inside the Octagon, with his performance against Emmett demonstrating his ability to blend these aspects at a championship level. The key question is whether Topuria can maintain this level of performance against a champion like Volkanovski.
Both fighters come into this bout with proven track records. Volkanovski’s experience at the championship level, combined with his ability to dictate the pace and engage effectively across all ranges, makes him one of the toughest tests in the UFC. However, Topuria’s unblemished record and knockout power, along with his confidence in both striking and grappling, present a significant challenge to the champion.
Predictions for this fight are split. While Volkanovski is favoured for his experience and tactical acumen, the possibility of Topuria capitalizing on his momentum and securing a knockout victory cannot be discounted. The narrative going into this fight is that Volkanovski could be past his best, with his most recent loss by KO and being 35 years old. There may be a changing of the title with Topuria’s extreme confidence, younger age and massive following.
What Unfolded at UFC 298?
Volkanovski comes out throwing kicks from his lead-leg, landing several, while switching stances. Topuria began targeting the calf of Volk, and seemed to find early success swelling the champs leg up. Topuria caught Volkanovski with multiple big right hands, but nothing majorly significant. Both men had their moments in round one, with Volkanovski landing five more significant strikes than Topuria.
In the second round, Volkanvoski was touching Topuria up until it took a drastic turn. With his back against the fence, Topuria clips Volkanovski shutting his lights out in the second. A new era in the UFC featherweight division.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
