Alexander Volkanovski’s UFC 298 title defence location revealed
Alexander Volkanovski’s UFC 298 featherweight title defence was made official earlier this month and now it finally has a venue.
UFC
Don't miss out on the headlines from UFC. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Alexander Volkanovski’s UFC 298 featherweight title defence against Ilia Topuria finally has a venue, with UFC president Dana White confirming the bout will be held at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
The February 17 (February 18 in Australia) bout was made official earlier this month, but the UFC only made an announcement on the venue this week, with arenas in Arizona also in contention.
The fight is Volkanovski’s first bout since his first round knockout loss to Islam Makhachev as a late replacement at lightweight in October.
He most recently defended the featherweight belt with a decisive third round stoppage of Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 in Las Vegas in July.
Volkanovski and Topuria had a face-to-face confrontation as the Aussie left the Octagon that night, setting the wheels in motion for their eventual title clash.
“He tries to carry himself like he’s the champion already,” Volkanovski told this masthead.
“He thinks he’s the king already.
“I feel like I’m doing the world a favour. I feel like I’m going out of my way to humble him.”
The fifth-ranked featherweight Topuria has been on a tear since debuting in the UFC in October 2020.
Undefeated in six fights, the 26-year-old earned his shot at Volk with an impressive decision win over former interim title challenger Josh Emmett in June.
A supremely confident Topuria says he’ll knock Volkanovski out in February, before defending the belt against former champion Max Holloway.
The fight comes in a busy sporting period, with the Super Bowl in Las Vegas a week earlier, and the NRL’s season kick-off – and a possibly Tim Tszyu fight – in the same city two weeks later.
Originally published as Alexander Volkanovski’s UFC 298 title defence location revealed
Boxer facing lifetime ban for unforgivable act
An MMA fighter making his boxing debut is facing a lifetime ban and possible criminal action after a horrific act in the ring.
Zero cares: The Chimaev whispers that don’t worry Whittaker
Rob Whittaker is prepared for a hostile reception when he walks out to fight Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308, but what he does not concern him is his opponent’s history of illness and struggling to make weight.