UFC 298: Volkanovski Faces Tough Test Against Topuria

Alexander Volkanovski returns to action to defend his featherweight crown against undefeated Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 on February 18, looking to prove that setbacks don’t define a champion.
Australian mixed martial artist and future UFC hall-of-famer Volkanoski will be desperate to mark another win in the column following his loss to Dagestani star Islam Makhachev.

The first fight with Makhachev last February was close, with many people feeling Volkanovski deserved to see his hand raised. However, Makhachev got the decision and it left a bitter taste.
Volkanovski had struggled to cope with his new weight against a larger sized opponent. But the veteran made expert adjustments, stuffed takedowns and made himself slippery before taking the bull by the horns in the fifth round.

Makhachev acknowledged how close the fight was, and there was the lingering feeling that a sequel was needed to know the real winner.

In the meantime, Volkanovski rode that momentum into his featherweight clash with fleet-footed Yair Rodriguez, silencing his doubters with a dominant win. The Mexican had gained popularity after claiming wins against dangerous fighters such as Josh Emmett.

Rodriguez is known for his technical kicks and improvisation in the octagon. However, Volkanovski used all his experience to stifle his opponent, switching stances and making it hard for Rodriguez to mark a target and unleash.

Volkanovski took him to the ground early on, and it was clear Rodriguez was in unchartered territory. The experienced Aussie did some ground-and-pound damage.

When Rodriguez managed to get off the floor, Volkanovski smothered him against the cage, making him carry all of his 155lbs.

After spending much of the first round on his back, unable to use his lethal kicks, Rodriguez opened round two by stretching his legs to Volkanovski’s temple, but the Wollongong-born fighter stayed out of range.

Volkanovski took the fight to the ground again and mauled him with vicious elbows, opening holes in Rodriguez’s face.

He decided to stand with Rodriguez in round three, taking sharp kicks, but he responded with well-timed combinations. He also knew he had the upper hand after ragging his opponent on the ground for the first two rounds.

Volkanovski stood and traded blows until he broke Rodriguez. His experience came into play, and he took the fight back to the ground, where he delivered a barrage of undefended hits before referee Herb Dean stopped the fight. The featherweight king retained his crown.

As many people expected, there was a rematch with Makhachev that Volkanovski took on ten days’ notice, stepping in for the injured Charles Oliviera. Unfortunately, it did not go as well as the first as Makhachev put out his lights in round one with a skull-crushing high kick.

Volkanovski’s Road to Redemption

The 35-year-old fighter returned to Australia, where he was greeted by an incredible haka at the Sydney Airport. His family and friends were also there to show their support and give him a hero’s welcome following a tough loss.

“A lot of people are thinking there’s going to be a decline, that all changes when I step back in there again,” Volkanoski said as he immediately resumed training. “I’m going to show everyone, and everyone’s going to forget about this little hiccup.”

Volkavoski will now focus all his energy against the highly-touted Georgian-Spanish warrior, Topuria. The fight is a tough one to call, with many online sportsbooks unable to split them.
Punters in Australia have been eager to bet on Volkanovski, and a flurry of support has seen him backed into odds of 1.90 to win the fight.

This activity has sparked other operators into action by adding mixed martial arts odds to their platforms. For example, bookmakers like QuestBet have traditionally focused on horse racing, but Volkanovski’s exploits have forced them to expand their coverage into MMA.

They could be set to make a bumper payout to bettors if Volkanovski emerges victorious, but that will be easier said than done against an extremely talented opponent.

Ilia Topuria: Can He Topple the King?

Topuria is a dangerous fighter from a Grecko-Roman wrestling background who has worked his way up the featherweight rankings with 14 straight wins.

His first-round victories against Damon Jackson and Ryan Hall put him on the map before he delivered a performance of the night against Jai Herbert.

Herbert had a massive reach advantage and came out aggressively by dropping Topuria in the first round. However, Topuria caught him with a furious overhand right in the second round that knocked him out.

He then claimed impressive scalps against Bryce Mitchell and Josh Emmett to earn his first championship bout.

Topuria is a formidable foe for Volkanovski. His stand-up game is competent, combining hard-hitting punches with an ability to close the distance.

He is even better on the ground, having wrestled since his early days, but it will be a different ball game when he comes up against the fourth-ranked pound-for-pound fighter and reigning featherweight champion.

He will be stepping into the ring with a world-class fighter and all-time great desperate to prove his mettle. This fight is a clash of styles and generations.

Topuria, the hungry challenger, must overcome the mental hurdle of facing a legend. It is a battle for legacy and dominance and one that promises to produce fireworks.