The UFC returns to the Honda Center in Anaheim, California for its second pay-per-view of 2024, UFC 298. The featherweight title will be up for grabs in the main event as Alexander Volkanovski takes on Ilia Topuria. In the co-main, a middleweight title eliminator of sorts, former champion Robert Whittaker locks horns with former title challenger Paulo Costa. Other fights on the main card include the likes of Anthony Hernandez vs. Roman Kopylov, Ian Garry vs. Geoff Neal, and Henry Cejudo vs. Merab Dvalishvili.
Follow along as we bring you all the latest updates from UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria.
UFC 298: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria Main Card Results
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Main Event: Ilia Topuria knocks out Alexander Volkanovski (145 lbs. Title Fight)
Ilia Topuria is the first one out, as is tradition, walking out to ‘Alma de Guitarra’ by Antonio Banderas. His image on the big screen did not receive much pop but as soon as the iconic song hit, the crowd showed a pop. Soon after, the champion made his way to the Octagon for his 6th title defense to ‘Down Under’ by ‘Men at Work.’ This was also the 9th straight UFC title fight for ‘The Great.’
Round 1 – Volkanovski straight away opens up with a lead-leg head kick. The champion follows it up with more inside leg kicks and body kicks. Topuria lands with a right hand. The Spaniard is relaxed and patient. He lands a heavy leg kick on ‘Volk.’ The 27-year-old is starting to catch Volkanivski with his hands. The champion’s lead leg already seems compromised from the few leg kicks Topuria threw. ‘El Matador’ is backing up the Volkanovski in the boxing exchanges. ‘Volk’ continues to invest in leg kicks, with the damage seemingly mounting on the challenger. Round 1 comes to a close with both men having had their moments.
Round 2 – Topuria opens up more aggressively than in the previous round. He is keeping Volkanovski on the back foot, constantly head-hunting. The champion’s experience shows that he is not falling to the challenger’s feints. But Topuria is timing Volkanovksi’s kicks to land right hands. Both men keeping their composure but Volkanovski is landing solid jabs. Topuria finishes the job in another close-range boxing exchange, sending the champion face-first into the canvas. A four-punch combo with a powerful right hand on the button at the end. And new!
The similarities between Conor McGregor and Ilia Topuria were uncanny leading up to the fight. Their age, their UFC run leading up to title fights, and their overall record, now, he added another to the list with a ‘Mystic Mac’ style prediction of the fight. He said he would finish the fight with a KO, and he did. And as expected by many, he finished the night with a callout to the former featherweight champion, McGregor. Meanwhile, Volknovski was classy in defeat and expressed his intent for a rematch on Topuria’s turf in Spain.
Co-Main Event: Robert Whittaker beats Paulo Costa by Unanimous Decision [29-28, 29-28, 30-27] (185 lbs.)
Round 1 – Costa takes the center of the Octagon straight away. Early leg kicks from Whittaker. Heavy ones. Costa goes for a head kick with impressive speed. Costa attempts another one seconds later. The Brazilian’s left hook is making the former champion think twice about rushing in. Costa’s lead leg is swelling up fast. Both stars are catching each other with swift punches. Costa is wearing the effects of the left kicks early. Whittaker now leading the dance with Costa, trying to counterstrike. The former champion is growing confident, throwing combinations, as opposed to Costa throwing singular shots. Whittaker’s craftiness and speed causing problems for Costa, especially with a beat-up lead leg. Costa rocks Whittaker with a picture-perfect spinning wheel kick to the face. Costa begins to unload and Whittaker is saved by the bell.
Round 2 – Whittaker’s recovery in question from the commentary team as round 2 kicks off. ‘The Reaper’ starts off with low kicks. Costa is more composed and picking his shots. The Brazilian attempts a head kick. He defends a head-kick attempt from the former champion and taunts him. Costa is hurting Whittaker every time he lands, but the Australian is holding his ground. The referee halts progress at the end of two minutes after sensing an eye poke but resumes the show quickly after Whittaker gives the thumbs up. Costa’s jab keeps busting Whittaker up and the occasional head kick from ‘The Eraser’ continues to get a reaction from the crowd. The low kick seems to be the great equalizer for Whittaker. Whittaker’s 1-2 is finding Costa’s chin every time, but ‘Borrachinha’ is eating all of those. Costa is investing in low kicks of his own. Whittaker’s face is a mess and Costa’s lead leg is beat up as round 2 comes to a close.
Round 3 – Costa is on the chase from the onset and lands an early right hand. Whittaker defends and responds with his combinations. Costa investing in more low kicks now. Whittaker checks one of those and follows up with a left hook. Costa keeps pressuring Whittaker, investing more in kicks. Razor-thin fight as it approaches the final minute. Costa attempts a spinning head kick again, but Whittaker is wise to it. Both fighters raise their hand at the final bell, each convinced he did more than the other. Whittaker looks to be wearing more damage with a bloodied face, while Costa looks drained, with a swelled-up left leg. All up to the judges to decide the winner.
Ian Garry defeats Geoff Neal by Split Decision [30-27, 30-27, 29-28] (170 lbs.)
Ian Garry walks out to ‘Layla’ by Eric Clapton – clearly a message to those taking digs at him and his wife, Layla Ann Lee.
Round 1 – Neal is staying outside Garry’s striking range, opting for well-timed shots. Garry is resorting to push kicks, keeping Neal at range, while ‘Handz of Steel’ has taken a liking to inside leg kicks on Garry’s lead leg. Garry is starting to open up with more kicks. Hard left from Neal backs Garry into the fence. The Irishman initiates the clinch. Neals fires a left hand that partially lands and Garry blitzes away from the clinch. Garry is starting to find his rhythm from the distance. Knees and kicks finding their mark for ‘The Future’ as round 1 comes to a close.
Round 2 – Neal putting the pressure on from the get-go. Garry effectively fighting on the back foot. Takedown attempt from the American at the end of the first minute. Garry defending well with his back against the fence. Uneventful few minutes as both stars stick to their game plan and wait for their moment. Garry’s kicks continue to give him the edge. Neal keeps pressuring the Irishman and lands in the closing minute of the round.
Round 3 – Garry tries to blitz just as the crowd boos the seeming lack of action. Neal back to the inside leg kicks again. Jabs from Garry followed by a knee up the middle. Neal backs Garry into the fence with another left hand. Textbook clinch work against the fence from both welterweights before separation. Garry acknowledges a left from Neal. Ian Garry is displaying excellent shot selection with push kicks, body kicks knees, and punches. Garry’s jab makes Neal think twice about pressuring. Garry is ahead on points, Neal is trying to go big in the final seconds. The round and the fight ends with them hugging it out, clearly a sign of respect between the welterweights.
Garry gets the split decision win and calls out Colby Covington for a co-main event bout on the projected Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler fight.
Merab Dvalishvili beats Henry Cejudo by Unanimous Decision [29-28, 29-28, 29-28] (135 lbs.)
Round 1 – Cejudo opens the round with a leg kick. Dvalishvili tries to fire back with a spinning heel kick. Neither wrestler has attempted a takedown a minute into the fight. Cejudo rocks Dvalishvili with a right hand in the second minute. Dvalishvili takes the Olympic gold medalist down in the third minute but cannot keep him down. The Georgian drops Cejudo with a left hook and follows him to the ground. Cejudo recovers fast and gains top control over ‘The Machine.’ Cejudo takes the back but fails to make anything of it. Dvalishvili takes the fight to the fence, separates, and the last few seconds of round 1 ends with exchanges on the feet.
Round 2 – Cejudo keeps mixing things up. Briefly takes the back before separating again. Both stars a finding a home for their strikes. Dvalishvili takes Cejudo down three minutes into the round. Cejudo takes a look at the clock. Dvalishvili is dominating the wrestling department, and Cejudo appears tired. Fight returns to the feet with a minute to go in the round. Dvalishvili finishes the round with a guillotine attempt, laughing and smiling at Mark Zuckerberg who is sitting cage side. As the bantamweight return to their corner. Cejudo seems to be running on fumes.
Round 3 – Dvalishvili attempts a spinning back kick. Cejudo’s left hand seems to be injured. Dvalishvili attempts to take Cejudo down after catching his kick, takes the back and grinds him against the fence. Halfway through the last round, Dvalishvili has around 50 significant strikes against Cejudo’s 14. Absolute dominance from Dvalishvili with two minutes to go. He picks up Cejudo, walks around, and slams him on the canvas to secure a takedown. The rest of the fight is all Dvalishvili as he showboats and defends Cejudo’s last-ditch takedown attempts.
Dvalishvili shouts out Topuria to get the win later in the evening and calls for a shot at the bantamweight title next. Umar Numragomedov congratulates the Georgian on X and predicts a title fight against him in the near future.
Anthony Hernandez submits Roman Kopylov (185 lbs.)
Round 1 – Both fighters start strong on their feet. Kopylov defends a takedown attempt around the 2-minute mark. Kopylov seems to have more success on the feet. Hernandez goes for another takedown 3 minutes in, but Kopylov defends again. Hernandez is finding success with his right hook, following it up with takedown attempts. First round ends with both stars in the clinch against the fence.
Round 2 – Kopylov continues to edge Hernandez on the feet. But ‘Fluffy’ turns the tables after securing a takedown and successfully takes the Russian’s back. Despite Kopylov’s gritty attempts at defense, he is forced to tap with less than two minutes remaining in the second round.
Prelims Results
115 lbs. – Amanda Lemos defeats Mackenzie Dern (Round 3 Unanimous Decision)
265 lbs. – Marcos Rogerio De Lima defeats Junior Tafa (Round 2 KO/TKO)
135 lbs. – Rinya Nakamura defeats Carlos Vera (Round 3 Unanimous Decision)
205 lbs. – Zhang Mingyang defeats Brendson Ribeiro (Round 1 KO/TKO)
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170 lbs. – Danny Barlow defeats Josh Quinlan (Round 3 KO/TKO)
Early Prelims Results
170 lbs. – Oban Elliott defeats Val Woodburn (Round 3 Unanimous Decision)
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125 lbs. – Miranda Maverick defeats Andrea Lee (Round 3 Unanimous Decision)
Watch This Story: Alexander Volkanovski reveals the dark truth about his drinking
