- Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski faces unbeaten challenger Ilia Topuria at UFC 298.
- Volkanovski, at 35, aims to defend his title against Topuria’s confident challenge.
- The event promises thrilling matchups, including Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa and Henry Cejudo vs. Merab Dvalishvili.
Alexander Volkanovski, the featherweight champion of the UFC, showed up to the press conference for UFC 298 wearing a flat cap and old-man glasses.
It was his funny way of teasing the idea that, at 35 years old, he might be getting too old for the sport. But he’s not ready to retire just yet.
His opponent, Ilia Topuria, who’s eight years younger, played along with the challenger role by cheekily grabbing the UFC championship belt during the conference, which led to a small scuffle. Topuria is very confident he’ll end Volkanovski’s four-year reign at 145 pounds, but Volkanovski isn’t backing down.
Despite losing twice in the past year in attempts to become a two-division champion, Volkanovski has remained unbeaten in the featherweight division, which is where he feels most comfortable. He’s heading into the main event of UFC 298 with a chance to show he’s still a force to be reckoned with.
The UFC 298 fight card includes some exciting matchups, like the co-main event between Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa. Henry Cejudo, a former two-division champion, is also fighting Merab Dvalishvili in the bantamweight category.
Volkanovski could make history by becoming the first UFC fighter to successfully defend their title after two losses if he beats Topuria, who hails from Germany but trains in Spain and boasts an impressive 14-0 record.
Volkanovski has been incredibly active in recent years, fighting six times in less than two years. He’s even eyeing the UFC 300 card after this fight.
Topuria is confident in his own abilities, calling himself a UFC “World Champion” on Instagram even before winning the belt. He’s been talking about Volkanovski in the past tense, indicating his belief that he’s already won.
But Volkanovski is a tough opponent. He’s known for his relentless striking pressure, wearing down opponents with a combination of kicks and punches. His precision and timing are unmatched, something Topuria has never faced before.
Volkanovski is prepared for the fight and wouldn’t be surprised if he makes it look easy. He’s not being cocky, just confident in his abilities to dominate his opponent.
UFC 298 promises to be an exciting event, with Volkanovski and Topuria’s clash for the featherweight title as the main attraction. While Topuria is confident, Volkanovski’s experience and skill make him a formidable opponent. Fans can expect an intense battle between these two fighters.