As anticipation builds towards one of the most awaited clashes in UFC's featherweight division, Alexander Volkanovski is gearing up to defend his title against Ilia Topuria at UFC 298, scheduled for February 17. This will mark Volkanovski's sixth title defense, a testament to his dominance and resilience in the octagon.
A Look Back at the Fighters' Recent Performances
Volkanovski's latest title defense was an impressive third-round TKO victory over Yair Rodriguez, further solidifying his reputation as a formidable champion. On the other hand, Topuria has been on a winning streak, triumphing in all six of his UFC appearances, four of which ended inside the distance. His performance has earned him the No. 5 position in the UFC featherweight rankings.
Topuria's recent dominant victory against Josh Emmett at UFC on ABC 5 last June only added to his growing list of accomplishments. Both fighters are now predicting a first-round finish for the upcoming UFC 298 headliner, adding more intrigue to this highly anticipated showdown.
Postponement and Preparations
The fight between Volkanovski and Topuria was initially slated for January but had to be delayed due to concussion protocols following Volkanovski's knockout loss to Islam Makhachev. Volkanovski bravely stepped up on short notice to face Makhachev at UFC 294 after Charles Oliveira withdrew due to injury. This head-kick knockout by Makhachev marked the first time Volkanovski has been stopped since his fourth pro fight in 2013.
In response to the delay, Volkanovski stated, "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 added, "I think the timing will be perfect. I'll be back in there soon, but not too soon."
Respect Between Competitors
Despite the fierce competition, respect between the two fighters is evident. Volkanovski has acknowledged Topuria's skills, stating, "He's a powerful dude, he's good everywhere. He's not one-dimensional, he's obviously very well-rounded." 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, another prominent figure in the UFC, also weighed in on Volkanovski's previous fight against Makhachev, saying, "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 city and venue for the UFC 298 showdown are yet to be confirmed, but regardless of the location, this fight promises to be an electrifying event in the world of mixed martial arts.