As the anticipation builds, Alexander Volkanovski is set to defend his title against Ilia Topuria at the much-awaited UFC 298 on February 17. This will be a significant event for Volkanovski, marking his sixth title defense since he clinched the championship.
Volkanovski's Impressive Track Record
The reigning champion's latest victory was a third-round TKO over Yair Rodriguez, a testament to his formidable skills and resilience in the ring. However, the road leading up to this next match hasn't been without its bumps. The fight between Volkanovski and Topuria was initially scheduled for January but had to be postponed due to concussion protocols following Volkanovski's knockout loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 294.
Volkanovski had stepped up on short notice to face Makhachev after Charles Oliveira withdrew due to injury. Makhachev's head-kick knockout win marked the first time Volkanovski has been stopped since his fourth pro fight in 2013, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the sport.
Topuria's Undefeated Streak
On the other side of the octagon, Ilia Topuria comes with an impressive record of his own. Holding the No. 5 position in the UFC featherweight rankings, Topuria has won all six of his UFC appearances, four of which ended inside the distance. His dominant victory against Josh Emmett at UFC on ABC 5 last June further solidified his standing as a serious contender.
Anticipations High for a First-Round Finish
Both fighters are confident and predict a first-round finish for the upcoming UFC 298 headliner. "He's a powerful dude, he's good everywhere. He's not one-dimensional, he's obviously very well-rounded," Volkanovski said about Topuria. Yet, the champion remains confident 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."
Recovery and Preparation
Despite the delay, Volkanovski sees a silver lining. "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 explained. "I think the timing will be perfect. I'll be back in there soon, but not too soon," he added, expressing his readiness for the upcoming match.
Diego Lopes also weighed in on the situation, showing respect for Volkanovski's decision to take the fight against Makhachev 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 city and venue for the UFC 298 showdown are yet to be confirmed, adding another layer of suspense to this already thrilling matchup. As both fighters prepare for the headliner, fans eagerly await what promises to be an unforgettable night of mixed martial arts.