UFC 298

 

Volkanovski V Topuria In the Main Event is High Reward, Even Higher Risk

By Dustin Schlagel

Volkanovski Dressed as an Old Man in a Pre-Fight Press Conference Thursday. (The Score)

 ANAHEIM, CA (Feb. 17, 2024) – Since the end of 2019, the Featherweight Division of the UFC has been primarily controlled by one fighter: Australia’s Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski (26-3). In his four years as featherweight champ, Volkanovski has collected wins from greats like Jose Aldo (31-8), Max Holloway (25-7), and the “Korean Zombie” Chang Sung Jung (17-8). Although the 35-year-old veteran is looking to add another notch to his championship reign with a win over 27-year-old Ilia Topuria (14-0), the brash Spaniard has been vocal about his confidence in dethroning the Featherweight champ.

 

 

“You’re [Volkanovski] old, it’s time to retire”, said Topuria in a tweet he sent out last month. “It is time to move on and make way for the new era of Topuria”.

 

 

In Volkanovski’s almost five-year run as champion, he has managed to defend his featherweight title successfully six total times. However, with the undersized Aussie dropping his last two fights in non-title bouts against Lightweight Champ Islam Makhachev (25-1), the odds of another successful title defense against the younger, undefeated Topuria are looking slimmer than usual for the former rugby star.

 

 

Although Volkanovski hasn’t lost a featherweight fight since becoming champion, Topuria could potentially be one of the hardest fights in his tenured career. With 4 knockouts and 8 submissions in 14 total wins, the rising star has proven to be a jack of all trades when getting the finish inside of the octagon. Topurias Jiu-Jitsu expertise could prove to be a challenge for Volkanovski’s stand-and-brawl style of fighting.

 

 

The main event of UFC 298 in Anaheim proves to be a huge turning point in the careers of both fighters. If Volkanovski suffers a third straight loss and Topuria ends his reign as Featherweight champion, there could be serious concerns about whether the 35-year-old knockout artist will return to the Octagon again. On the other hand, a win here could cement Volkanovski’s Hall of Fame resume and potentially keep him competing as long as he’s the champion of the division.

 

With Topuria, the stakes have never been higher in his short career. A win against a future Hall of Famer like Volkanovski would put Topuria on the map as one of the best fighters currently in the UFC, and with a short roster in the Featherweight division, eliminating Volkanovski from the title picture could start a very long and dominant rain for Topuria. However, if Topuria loses, it could be detrimental to the momentum he’s had so far in his career. With only 6 of his 14 fights being in the UFC, losing his first title fight, and fight in general, could bring into question the legitimacy of the 0 in Topuria's loss column.

 

 

The stakes will be as high as ever as these two face off against each other this Saturday in Anaheim.