UFC fans are eagerly awaiting the upcoming featherweight clash between Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria at UFC 298. The bout, scheduled for February 17, will mark Volkanovski's sixth title defense. His most recent successful defense was a third-round TKO victory over Yair Rodriguez.
Impressive Records
Both fighters boast impressive records leading up to this much-anticipated showdown. Volkanovski is known for his resilience and formidable fighting skills, while Topuria has emerged as a serious contender in the featherweight division. Undefeated in all six of his UFC appearances, four of which ended inside the distance, Topuria holds the No. 5 position in the UFC featherweight rankings. He secured a dominant victory against Josh Emmett at UFC on ABC 5 last June, further solidifying his standing in the division.
Predictions for a Quick Finish
Adding to the anticipation, both fighters predict a first-round finish for the UFC 298 headliner. Such an outcome would certainly make for a thrilling spectacle for the fans, who are eager to see these two top-tier athletes compete.
Rescheduled Due to Concussion Protocols
The fight was initially slated for January but was postponed due to concussion protocols. This followed Volkanovski's knockout loss to Islam Makhachev, a match he stepped into on short notice at UFC 294 after Charles Oliveira withdrew due to injury. This marked the first time Volkanovski has been stopped since his fourth pro fight in 2013.
In a recent interview, Volkanovski commented on the delay, stating, "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 also noted that he believes the timing for the February fight will be perfect.
Volkanovski's Confidence and Respect for Topuria
Despite his recent setback, Volkanovski remains confident about his upcoming fight against Topuria. "He's a powerful dude, he's good everywhere. He's not one-dimensional, he's obviously very well-rounded," Volkanovski said about his opponent. Despite acknowledging Topuria's skills, Volkanovski expressed confidence in his own abilities, stating, "I just believe my skills and my understanding of the game is just gonna be that little bit too much for him."
Reactions to Volkanovski's Knockout Loss
Diego Lopes, commenting on Volkanovski's surprise knockout by Makhachev, noted that Volkanovski wasn't prepared for the fight as he took it on short notice. "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," Lopes said.
The city and venue for the UFC 298 showdown between Volkanovski and Topuria are yet to be confirmed. Regardless of the location, the anticipation is high for this featherweight title clash.