In the world of mixed martial arts, there's no shortage of high-stakes drama and intense competition. The upcoming UFC 298 event, set to take place on February 17, will be no exception. Alexander Volkanovski, the reigning featherweight champion, is slated to defend his title for the sixth time against Ilia Topuria, a formidable challenger who has yet to taste defeat in the UFC.
Volkanovski's Reign
Volkanovski, known for his resilience and strategic prowess, is coming off a third-round TKO victory over Yair Rodriguez. This marked his latest successful title defense, solidifying his status as one of the most dominant fighters in the division. However, the Australian isn't taking his upcoming opponent lightly. Speaking about Topuria, Volkanovski said, "He's a powerful dude, he's good everywhere. He's not one-dimensional, he's obviously very well-rounded."
Topuria's Rise
Topuria, on the other hand, has been steadily climbing the ranks, winning all six of his UFC appearances, four of which ended inside the distance. His most recent victory was a dominant performance against Josh Emmett at UFC on ABC 5 last June. Currently holding the No. 5 position in the UFC featherweight rankings, Topuria is eager to prove that he belongs at the top.
A Delayed Showdown
The Volkanovski-Topuria showdown was initially scheduled for January but had to be postponed due to concussion protocols following Volkanovski's knockout loss to Islam Makhachev. This unexpected setback occurred when Volkanovski stepped up on short notice to face Makhachev at UFC 294 after Charles Oliveira withdrew due to injury. It was a brutal head-kick knockout that marked the first time Volkanovski has been stopped since his fourth pro fight in 2013.
Regarding 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.”
Expectations High for UFC 298
Both fighters are predicting a first-round finish for the upcoming UFC 298 headliner, adding to the anticipation. Diego Lopes, a fellow fighter, acknowledged Volkanovski's courage for taking the fight against Makhachev on such short notice, but admitted his surprise at how Makhachev finished him. He said, "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 location, fans can expect an explosive clash between two of the featherweight division's top talents. As Volkanovski aptly put it, "I just believe my skills and my understanding of the game is just gonna be that little bit too much for him." Only time will tell if his confidence will translate into another successful title defense.