Volkanovski to Make Statement Return to Featherweight Division at UFC 298

Some MMA fighters simply pay lip service to the ‘anyone, anywhere, anytime’ credos, but Alexander Volkanovski took it and owned it in 2023.

Barely 12 weeks after successfully defending his UFC featherweight title against Yair Rodriguez in July, he was back in the Octagon at UFC 294 against lightweight king Islam Makhachev.

And while that bout didn’t go as planned for the Australian, he deserves huge credit for stepping in at such late notice for the injured Charles Oliveira. He’ll be rewarded by Dana White with a headline bill at UFC 298 against Ilia Topuria.

Staying Vigilant

For somebody who’s dominated the featherweight division, it’s no surprise that Volkanovski is such a warm favorite. According to the outright markets – for those online betting in the UK – the sportsbooks make him a likely victor at a price of -175. For perspective, an odds calculator reveals that a $10 wager would net $5.71 in profit; confirmation of his superiority.

But Volkanovski won’t be resting on his laurels despite his expected dominance. Topuria is something of a submission specialist, ending eight of his 14 contests (all wins) by forcing his opponent to tap out. His unique background – the 26-year-old was born in Germany, lived in Georgia for a number of years, and now fights out of Spain – ensures he has enjoyed a diverse array of training partners over the years, hence his excellence on the mat.

Mark your calendars @AlexVolkanovski vs @TopuriaIlia for the featherweight title is set for February 17th at the @HondaCenter!

[ Register your interest —- https://t.co/YzVPhXLDjF ] pic.twitter.com/dzGX8p6l5z

— UFC (@ufc) November 24, 2023

Whether Topuria can use that to gain an edge over Volkanovski remains to be seen. The Australian has never been tapped in his lengthy MMA career that dates back to 2012 and boasts a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu as confirmation of his technical expertise. The fact that he also defeated fellow grappling specialists Rodriguez and Brian Ortega is also a testament to the fact that Volkanovski is a formidable opponent on the mat.

Naturally heavier and rangier, the 35-year-old should hold all the aces against Topuria – but he won’t be resting on his laurels against such a slippery customer.

Opportunity Knocks Second on the UFC 298 bill is a contest that will help to shape a hectic month or so for the heavyweight division.

Sean Strickland will defend the gold against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297 later in January, before Robert Whittaker, ranked three in the 186lb category, tackles Paulo Costa, currently ranked sixth, at UFC 298.

Sean Strickland admits he was “boiling” from Dricus du Plessis’ “off limits” comments.

https://t.co/LMinEQL7fI pic.twitter.com/frS1PnG5sg

— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) January 2, 2024

That’s a pair of fights that will determine who fights who later in the year, and while the likes of Israel Adesanya and Jared Cannonier will be keen to interject themselves in such matters, the winner of Whittaker and Costa could secure a title shot later in 2024.

They were originally billed to battle as far back as April 2021, but injuries and contract disputes have set the pair back on two separate occasions – the forever-delayed meeting looks finally set to go ahead in California.

Whittaker, the former middleweight champion, has lost two of his last three fights, and while it would be foolish to suggest he’s now in the last chance saloon, another loss would be devastating to his hopes of getting his hands back on the gold.

As for Costa, an ill-fated move up to light heavyweight has been canned, and now he will focus his attention on getting back into a position to challenge for the middleweight strap – he too was a victim of Adesanya the last time he was in a title contest.

There’s lots to lose and everything to gain for these two proud fighters – exactly as MMA bouts should be