Volkanovski Prepares for Sixth Title Defense Against Topuria at UFC 298
In the world of mixed martial arts, there are few fighters as dominant as Alexander Volkanovski. The reigning champion is preparing to defend his title for the sixth time against rising star Ilia Topuria at UFC 298, scheduled for February 17.
Volkanovski's latest victory was a third-round TKO over Yair Rodriguez, further cementing his place at the top. However, the upcoming fight against Topuria promises to be a thrilling encounter. "He's a powerful dude, he's good everywhere. He's not one-dimensional, he's obviously very well-rounded," said Volkanovski about his opponent.
Topuria's Unbeaten Streak in the UFC
Topuria, on the other hand, has made quite an impression in the UFC. With an unbeaten record in all six of his appearances - four of which ended inside the distance - he poses a significant challenge to Volkanovski. His most recent triumph was a dominant victory against Josh Emmett at UFC on ABC 5 last June, securing him the No. 5 position in the UFC featherweight rankings.
Both fighters are predicting a first-round finish for the headliner at UFC 298, setting the stage for what promises to be a high-octane showdown.
A Delayed Showdown
The eagerly anticipated fight between Volkanovski and Topuria was initially set for January. However, it was delayed due to concussion protocols following Volkanovski's knockout loss to Islam Makhachev. This marked the first time Volkanovski has been stopped since his fourth pro fight back in 2013.
Volkanovski had stepped up on short notice to face Makhachev at UFC 294 after Charles Oliveira withdrew due to injury. The head-kick knockout win by Makhachev was a surprise to many, including Diego Lopes who noted, "He wasn't prepared for this fight... it was surprising to see how Makhachev finished him."
Speaking about the rescheduling of the fight, 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.”
Looking Forward
Despite the setback, Volkanovski remains confident about his upcoming bout against Topuria. "I just believe my skills and my understanding of the game is just gonna be that little bit too much for him," he said. "I think the timing will be perfect. I'll be back in there soon, but not too soon."
The city and venue for the UFC 298 showdown are yet to be confirmed. However, one thing is certain - fans worldwide are eagerly awaiting this clash between two of the most formidable fighters in the featherweight division.