UFC 298: Alex Volkanovski knocked out to lose title to Ilia Topuria
Aussie Rob Whittaker has turned back the clock, but his compatriot was knocked out cold in a stunning result at UFC 298.
And just like that, hugely popular UFC star Alex Volkanovski’s career is at a major crossroads.
The 35-year-old lost his last fight on 11 days’ notice in a huge step up against lightweight title-holder Islam Makhachev.
Returning to featherweight was supposed to be the comfort zone for the Aussie, but instead it ended in brutal fashion, not dissimilar to the Makhachev mauling.
UFC 298: VOLKANOVSKI VS TOPURIA | SUN 18 FEB | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports. Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel is the new exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View events!
This fight at least made it to a second round, unlike the last one, but it again ended with Volk out cold after a brutal right hand to the temple from new featherweight world champion, Ilia Topuria.
If there were warning signs for the veteran Aussie after the Makhachev defeat, there are alarm bells now.
“If I was in his team, I would say take time off,” Joe Rogan said after the brutal result.
“If you’re going to fight again at 35 years of age, recover completely.”
Volkanovski gave an insight into his mentality after that Makhachev loss when he said he needs to keep fighting and have fights to prepare for to help his mental health.
It was a worrying confession and he was making the same sort of statements after this defeat.
“Obviously he has powerful hands, we knew we had to be careful of that,” he said.
“Well done to him, he caught me, credit to him. He wasn’t meant to land like that, but he did.
“He keeps mentioning Spain, maybe we’d have a rematch over there in Spain.”
The result continues a wretched run for veteran fighters attempting to defend a UFC belt.
Volkanovski’s loss drops the record of fighters 35 and over in title fights to a dismal 2-24, with 27-year-old Topuria moving to 15-0 and the Aussie slipping to 26-4.
You can see how the huge UFC 298 card unfolded below, including a career-saving return to form for Rob Whittaker.
WATCH: Ilia Topuria knocks out Alexander Volkanovski in Round 2, folded him like laundry. New champion! #UFC298https://t.co/VepIFpLHmU
— Shakiel Mahjouri (@Shak_Fu) February 18, 2024
4.58pm - Wow we have a new champ
Ilia Topuria is the real deal.
Three minutes, 32 seconds into round 2, Topuria knocked out Alex Volkanovski cold to claim his featherweight belt.
The Spaniard is undefeated and inflicted the second straight loss on the veteran Australian.
4.52pm – We’re off and running
The challenger started well, targeting Volk’s lead leg and showing far more intent.
Volkanovski was on the back foot for much of the first round, but showed his experience to gradually work his way into the contest.
“It’s a great start from Topuria, but Volk is settling the score now,” Michael Bisping said late in the round.
The Spaniard has a trickle of blood coming down his nose as round one ends.
4.40pm – The main event is here
To the sounds of Land Downunder from Men at Work, Alex Volkanovski has made the long walk and is in the Octagon.
The Australian skipped some of the way and looks like he can’t wait to get this fight started.
Boos rang out as Topuria was introduced, with the veteran Aussie the clear crowd favourite in Anaheim.
4.25pm – Whittaker takes the massive win
He’s done it, Rob Whittaker has rebounded from two losses in his last three fights to overcome Paulo Costa by unanimous decision.
It was a close run thing, with the Aussie just surviving a brutal spinning kick to the jaw right at the end of the first round.
But he took the fight with the judges scoring it 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27 in the Aussie’s favour, despite the even nature of the contest.
“This is the fight I prepared for, this is the fight I wanted,” he said afterwards.
“(The head kick was) nothing but a flesh wound. No it wasn’t fun, it was his best shot all night, for sure.
“I’m not going anywhere baby. I’m back.”
4.10pm – Aussie veteran stunned in first round
There was a cagey start to the co-main event, excuse the pun, but Rob Whittaker landed the bigger strikes in the opening round.
A series of well-timed punches and leg kicks from Whittaker had Paulo Costa smiling, but the commentators believing the Australian was in control.
Then in the dying seconds of the round, the Brazilian perfectly landed a spinning kick across Whittaker’s jaw and the Aussie was just saved by the bell.
4pm – Joe Rogan still has faith in the Aussie
Whittaker is in the Octagon for his huge fight with Costa that will likely decide his career prospects.
At 33, he has lost two of his last three fights, but commentator Joe Rogan still thinks Whittaker can cut it at the top level.
“He’s still one of the very best and I think he’s going to come back from the Du Plessis loss a better, hungrier fighter,” he said.
3.12pm – ‘Crazy man’ showboats with Zuck in wild win
Merab Dvalishvili has claimed his 10th straight victory via unanimous decision over Henry Cejudo in an epic bantamweight clash.
Both fighters came to play, with Cejudo holding on for dear life when Dvalishvili had him caught in a squatting chokehold to finish a round.
Dvalishvili showboated throughout the fight, even chatting through the fence to Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg, who was sitting ringside.
MERAB IS TALKING TO ZUCK WHEN HES CHOKING CEJUDO LMAOOO
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) February 18, 2024
this is amazing #UFC298
Merab is a crazy man. Love it.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) February 18, 2024
At one stage the Georgian carried Cejudo across the octagon over his shoulder, leaving viewers stunned.
2.10pm – Losing fighter celebrates
Amanda Lemos narrowly defeated Mackenzie Dern in their strawweight fight with all three judges scoring it 29-28.
But Dern thought she’d done enough to win. Closing her eyes as UFC announcer Bruce Buffer read out the scores, Dern mistakenly raised her arms in celebration.
Mackenzie Dern thought she got the decision #UFC298pic.twitter.com/7OVK4totM3
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) February 18, 2024
1.35pm – Aussie ‘battered’ in tough TKO loss
Junior Tafa lost no admirers after stepping up to fill in for his older brother Justin, but his leg took a beating against Marcos Rogerio de Lima.
Tafa was in strife when de Lima landed a brutal calf kick, before another leg blow sent him to the canvas in the second round, ending the fight via TKO.
“Can’t even stand on it … he’s in agony right now,” Joe Rogan said in commentary.
“That leg is battered and bruised.”
1.16pm – Conor backs Volk
Conor McGregor has tipped Alex Volkanovski to get the win his fight with Ilia Topuria via a second round knockout.
“Volk will get hurt early but come back and KO illia. Over in 2 rounds,” he tweeted.
The Irishman also predicted Rob Whittaker and Paulo Costa to have a “good three round exchange”.
Awesome night of @ufc fights tonight! Garry is going to run thru Geoff in the first round. Volk will get hurt early but come back and KO illia. Over in 2 rounds. Costa and Whittaker will have a good 3 round exchange as will Merab and Henry. Have a good evening everyone and…
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) February 17, 2024
McGregor hasn’t fought since he broke his leg in a loss in July 2021, but he knows a thing or two about the featherweight and lightweight divisions — having won the belt in both divisions.
12.31pm – ‘Sensational’ KO to start card
China’s Zhang Mingyang has kicked off the preliminary fight card with a brutal knockout win over Brendson Ribeiro in their light heavyweight bout.
The fight began with some serious intensity but Zhang ended it inside 90 seconds with a brutal right hand-left hook combination that knocked Ribeiro out cold.
Joe Rogan described it as a “sensational” left hook.
Commentator Jon Anik said: “The ‘Mountain Tiger’ putting China on the map in the light heavyweight division.”
Scary truth behind Volk’s ‘old man’ joke
There’s a stat going around that fighters aged 35 and over have won only two out of 33 UFC title fights between the flyweight and welterweight divisions.
It doesn’t bode well for Alex Volkanovski, who is desperate to defend his home turf at featherweight and return to his best form after being knocked out by Islam Makhachev in their lightweight rematch.
Volkanovski took that fight on 11 days’ notice but his preparation is much better this time around with a full training camp under his belt.
The 35-year-old has embraced the age narrative of his matchup against 27-year-old Topuria, adopting a hilarious ‘old man’ persona and rocking up to the pre-fight press conference dressed as a pensioner.
But all jokes aside, does Volk have what it takes to rack up another title defence and prove the old man still has it?
UFC 298 FULL FIGHT CARD
Alexander Volkanovski vs Ilia Topuria — featherweight title (main event)
Robert Whittaker def Paulo Costa by unanimous decision (29-28 x 2, 30-27) — middleweight (co-main event)
Ian Garry def Geoff Neal via split decision (30-27 x 2, 28-29) – welterweight
Merab Dvalishvili def Henry Cejudo via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3) — bantamweight
Anthony Hernandez def Roman Kopylov via submission – middleweight
PRELIMS
Amanda Lemos def Mackenzie Dern (29-28 x 3) — women strawweight
Marcos Rogerio de Lima def Junior Tafa via TKO — heavyweight
Rinya Nakamura def Carlos Verga via unanimous decision (30-27 x3) — bantamweight
Zhang Mingyang def Brendson Ribeiro via KO — light heavyweight
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