Ilia Topuria has no doubt that he will beat Alexander Volkanovski in their upcoming UFC 298 bout. This is surprising given that the Aussie is one of the greatest UFC featherweights ever and has never lost a fight in the UFC at 145 pounds.

However, Topuria has repeatedly called Volkanovski old and advised him to retire and focus on his cooking. However, former middleweight champion Michael Bisping thinks, despite all the hyperbole, he will find Volkanovski a very difficult opponent, especially in one department.

Bisping thinks Topuria is no match for Alexander Volkanovski on the ground

Discussing their February 17 UFC 298 headline bout for the featherweight title, Bisping analyzed the grappling and ground game of both men. He was impressed by Topuria’s technique and explosiveness when going for takedowns.

“He’s [Topuria has] been Greco-Roman wrestling from a very very early age. He’s got a great double-leg take-down, he explodes from halfway across the octagon and he still manages to get it. So he’s got great technique and great explosive ability.” the former middleweight champion said.

However, he pointed out that Volkanovski had held his own remarkably well in his first clash against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Bisping said that he had defended very well against takedowns from the Dagestani, who is perhaps the best grappler in the division and even managed to score some of his own takedowns in their UFC 284 clash. Adding to this, the fact that ‘Volk’ moved up a weight class to fight Makhachev. Bisping contended that Topuria does not have much of a chance against the Australian in the grappling department.

“But you gotta remember Volkanovski just fought Isam Makhachev twice in a row, okay. And in the first one where he had a full camp he gave Islam everything he could handle he was able to nullify almost everything. He was able to get his own takedowns, he could drop him… So if Islam couldn’t take full advantage and that’s with him stepping up a weight-class, then I think Topuria struggles there. Jiu-Jitsu-wise I think the same kind of rules or things that I just said the points that I made kind of apply as well,” he added. Bisping, however, thinks Topuria is a very dangerous striker as he stated in his podcast last week.

Poetry in motion: Bisping on Topuria’s striking

Bisping was really impressed with Topuria’s striking abilities and felt that the power he carried in his hands was vicious as evidenced by his past performances. He was also struck by the grace and ease with which ‘El Matador’ carried himself in the Octagon.

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“The hands are good, they’re powerful. They’re strong, and they’re dangerous. I mean, the way he knocked out Bryce Mitchell, that was sickening again, absolutely flatlined him but he kind of loads up and he swings. He could not touch a glove on Ilia Topuria. He glides around the Octagon. The man is poetry in motion and let me tell you, he hits hard,” he added. What are your predictions for Volkanovski vs. Topuria?

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