In what promises to be a thrilling encounter, Alexander Volkanovski is gearing up to defend his title for the sixth time against Ilia Topuria. The showdown is scheduled for UFC 298 on February 17.
Volkanovski's Title Defense Journey
Volkanovski's most recent title defense was a third-round TKO victory over Yair Rodriguez, further cementing his reputation as a formidable champion. However, his upcoming fight against Topuria presents a new challenge. The bout was initially slated for January but had to be postponed due to concussion protocols following Volkanovski's knockout loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 294.
Stepping in on short notice to face Makhachev after Charles Oliveira withdrew due to injury marked a turning point for Volkanovski. Makhachev's head-kick knockout win represented the first time Volkanovski has been stopped since his fourth pro fight in 2013. Despite this setback, the champ remains confident about his upcoming match.
Topuria: A Rising Star
Ilia Topuria, currently holding the No. 5 position in the UFC featherweight rankings, has demonstrated his prowess in all six of his UFC appearances. Remarkably, four of these fights ended inside the distance. His latest triumph was a dominant victory against Josh Emmett at UFC on ABC 5 last June, underscoring his potential as a serious contender for the title.
Fighters' Predictions and Preparations
Both fighters are predicting a first-round finish for the upcoming UFC 298 headliner. Volkanovski acknowledges Topuria's skills, describing him as "a powerful dude" who is "good everywhere." He adds, "He's not one-dimensional, he's obviously very well-rounded." However, Volkanovski believes his understanding of the game will give him an edge, stating, "I just believe my skills and my understanding of the game is just gonna be that little bit too much for him."
Addressing the delay in their fight, Volkanovski explained, "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.” He further expressed confidence about the timing, saying, "I think the timing will be perfect. I'll be back in there soon, but not too soon."
Industry Reactions
Diego Lopes, commenting on Volkanovski's loss to Makhachev, expressed surprise at the outcome given that Volkanovski took the fight on short notice. He said, "All respect to him for taking the fight on ten days' notice... 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."
The anticipation for UFC 298 continues to build, with fans eagerly awaiting confirmation of the city and venue for the showdown. As two of the most skilled fighters in the featherweight division prepare to face off, the stage is set for a memorable night of UFC action.