As anticipation builds for the upcoming UFC 298, one of the most awaited fights is set to take center stage. Alexander Volkanovski, the reigning featherweight champion, is preparing to defend his title against Ilia Topuria on February 17. The match, which was initially scheduled for January, was delayed due to concussion protocols following Volkanovski's knockout loss to Islam Makhachev.
Volkanovski's Title Defense
This will be Volkanovski's sixth title defense, a testament to his tenacity and skill in the Octagon. His latest title defense saw him secure a third-round TKO victory over Yair Rodriguez, further cementing his place as one of the UFC's top fighters. Despite a recent setback against Makhachev, Volkanovski remains confident about his upcoming fight. "He's a powerful dude, he's good everywhere. He's not one-dimensional, he's obviously very well-rounded," Volkanovski said of Topuria. "I just believe my skills and my understanding of the game is just gonna be that little bit too much for him."
Topuria's Undefeated Streak
Ilia Topuria, on the other hand, holds the No. 5 position in the UFC featherweight rankings. He has an impressive record, having won all six of his UFC appearances, four of which ended inside the distance. His most recent triumph was a dominant victory against Josh Emmett at UFC on ABC 5 last June. With such a strong track record, Topuria poses a serious challenge to Volkanovski's title reign.
Rescheduled Match
The initial scheduling of the Volkanovski-Topuria fight for January was disrupted due to health concerns. Volkanovski had suffered a knockout loss to Islam Makhachev, stepping up on short notice at UFC 294 after Charles Oliveira withdrew due to injury. "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,” Volkanovski explained.
Anticipated Showdown
The anticipation for the Volkanovski-Topuria showdown is palpable. Both fighters are predicting a first-round finish, setting the stage for an explosive headliner at UFC 298. The venue and city for the event are yet to be confirmed, adding another layer of suspense to the eagerly awaited fight. Diego Lopes, commenting on Volkanovski's previous match against Makhachev, said, "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."
As the countdown to UFC 298 continues, fans around the world are eager to see how this clash of titans will unfold. Will Volkanovski successfully defend his title for the sixth time? Or will Topuria continue his undefeated streak in the UFC? Only time will tell.