Tempers flare between ‘Old Man Volk’ and Ilia Topuria at wild UFC 298 press conference

Alex Volkanovski was at his playful best as he taunted UFC rival Ilia Topuria in a fiery press conference which threatened to boil over when the title challenger exploded at the crowd.

UFC 298 press conference Volk vs Topuria. Picture: Getty Images

Alex Volkanovski hobbled into the UFC 298 press conference wearing his viral grandpa outfit – complete with reading glasses, a daggy cardigan and flatcap hat – and proceeded to put the young upstart title challenger Ilia Topuria in his place.

A massive crowd favourite, Volkanovski received the biggest cheer of the day, closely followed by Robert Whittaker and Georgian hero Merab Dvalishvili.

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Meanwhile, Topuria was met with the loudest boos of the afternoon, and when he confronted Volk onstage, the champion pretended to struggle out of his chair, holding his back.

“It’s time for this old man to teach him a lesson,” ‘Old Man Volkanovski’ said.

“I’ll give him a good spanking, that’s what’s gonna happen.

“He’s seen me in an old man outfit and he wants to act like a hard fella. I won’t be like this on Saturday night, on Saturday night I’ll be lean and I’ll wipe the floor with you. I’ll make it look easy.”

Volkanovski was a massive crowd favourite. Picture: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

A clearly agitated Topuria could barely get a word in on the microphone before the raucous crowd drowned him out with a chorus of deafening boos.

The undefeated challenger was reduced to screaming at the audience to “shut the f**k up” and pulling the finger at members of the crowd.

At one point, while Topuria was attempting to answer a question, Volkanovski ‘fell asleep’, before saying his hearing isn’t the best.

Old man Volk pretends to fall asleep at the UFC298 press conference. Picture: Getty Images

Getting more and more desperate, Topuria jumped up and grabbed Volkanovski’s belt. It was the only point in the presser the Aussie broke character.

“You might as well take advantage of it now,” he yelled. “You’re never gonna see it again. I’m gonna kick your ass and teach you a lesson.

“Maybe one day you’ll be a champion, but until then, get your hands off my belt.”

Volkanovski also doubled down on his promise to be ready for UFC 300 in April.

“I’ll hit (Dana) up about if they’ve found something for UFC 300, maybe I can save the show,” he said. “I ain’t lying about that.

“This old dog’s still got a lot of fight left in him.”

Topuria was all talk. Picture: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Cejudo-Volkanovski beef the real deal

Henry Cejudo and Alex Volkanovski laughed and shook hands when they ran into each other at the fighter hotel this week, but the American insists it’s not all sunshine and roses between them.

And that’s because, quite simply, Volkanovski has what Cejudo wants – the featherweight belt.

The former flyweight and bantamweight champ, who considers himself the greatest combat sport athlete of all time, even revealed that he planned on walking straight into a title fight with Volk when he came out of retirement last year.

“I wanted to fight him at 145 – right away,” Cejudo told this masthead. “It’s something that’s never been done.

“I’m going to talk to Dana about it, because I want that story out there. It’s about calling it, and proclaiming it.”

Henry Cejudo holding a doll with Volkanovski’s face on it last year. Picture: Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Cejudo must first get past the dangerous Merab Dvalishvili at bantamweight this weekend before he can start planning on a Volkanovski fight.

Like Topuria, Dvalishvili has a Georgian background, which puts Volk and Cejudo on the same side, but ‘Triple C’ hoses down any talk they’ve become mates.

“I’m not friends with anybody when it comes to accomplishing my goals and dreams,” he said. “Volkanovski is the man, but that’s why I want to fight him.”

Cejudo is the former flyweight and bantamweight champion. Picture: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Earlier in fight week, Volkanovski claimed Cejudo was jealous of his long title rein and the things he’s achieved in the sport.

“What? Noooo!” Cejudo laughs when asked about those comments. “I wouldn’t even put Jon Jones’ accolades over mine.

“Olympic champ, youngest in history, two division champion and defended in both – something he couldn’t do.

“Are you kidding me? Nobody’s getting close to me, especially not Volkanovski. I’ve got two Guinness world records. What records has he got?”

What might’ve been

In another life, Justin Tafa could have been lacing up a pair of footy boots and running out onto Allegiant Stadium for the NRL’s historic first game in Las Vegas in two weeks.

A former Warriors and Melbourne Storm age group player, Tafa ditched footy boots for cage fighting five years ago, and is now knocking on the door of a spot in the top 15 of the heavyweight rankings.

But the Auckland-born Tafa says rugby league has always remained close to his heart.

“I still love watching footy, and it’s good to see the NRL coming over to Las Vegas and expanding the game,” Tafa told this masthead ahead of his heavyweight clash with Marcos Rogerio de Lima at UFC 289 this weekend.

“Ever since I was young, I wanted to be an All Black, just like any other Kiwi kid growing up. But then I found rugby league and fell in love with it.

“I couldn’t sleep before games, that’s how excited I was to play.”

Justin Tafa has no regrets about quitting rugby league. Picture: Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Tafa gradually lost his passion for rugby league, but could always throw hands.

“I was probably a better fighter on the field than I was a footy player,” he joked. “But as soon as I realised I didn’t love it, and didn’t want to be great at it, I left.

“I want to be great at (fighting). I’m coming off three straight knockouts, so it’s time for a ranking.

“The way this division is going right now, even with four more wins I could slot right there in (the title) conversation.”

Right now, that means walking head first into Jon Jones – one of the greatest to ever do it.

But, Tafa says, he doesn’t think that fight will ever happen.

“You fight to beat the best, and right now, he’s the best, but realistically, I don’t think he’ll still be around by the time I reach the top 10,” Tafa said. “He said he only wants one more fight.”

Originally published as Tempers flare between ‘Old Man Volk’ and Ilia Topuria at wild UFC 298 press conference