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UFC 298: Ilia Topuria flattens Alexander Volkanovski

Yahoo Sports Staff
4

It was a marquee fight night as UFC 298 offered a little bit of everything with a top-heavy card that was expected to deliver some fireworks.

Well, it was ultra-confident elite contender Ilia Topuria who brought the show. He knocked out Alexander Volkanovski, 35, in the second round to claim the UFC featherweight belt.

Fighters 35 and over moved to just 1-22 in UFC title fights against younger competitors in all the divisions south of middleweight. Volkanovski was strong early, but got caught with a crushing right hand that ended the fight at 3:32 of the second.

Topuria talked liked a champion before the fight and looked every bit the part to improve to 15-0.

For Volkanovski, it is a second consecutive brutal knockout, and it calls into question what he might have left. Historically, fighters in the lighter weight classes age very quickly and can seem to lose it overnight.

Robert Whittaker, a former middleweight champ, was looking to rebound after a tough loss as he faced Paulo Costa. All that took place was the second-best fight of the night. Whittaker landed crisp combinations and powerful leg kicks as he got the best of a very game and in-shape Costa, defeating him by unanimous decision.

Welterweight prospect Ian Machado Garry won a snoozer over veteran Geoff Neal that had the crowd antsy and booing.

Former flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo gave it his all but lost a unanimous decision to Merab Dvalishvili, whose cardio and relentlessness were too much to overcome.

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 17: Ilia Topuria knocks out Alexander Volkanovski of Australia in their featherweight title fight during UFC 298 at Honda Center on February 17, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Ilia Topuria knocks out Alexander Volkanovski in their featherweight title fight during UFC 298 at Honda Center on Feb. 17, 2024, in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Main card (Start time 10 p.m. ET, ESPN+ PPV)

(All lines from BetMGM)

• Featherweight championship: Ilia Topuria defeats Alexander Volkanovski via KO at 3:32 of the second round
• Middleweight: Robert Whittaker defeats Paulo Costa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
• Welterweight: Ian Machado Garry defeats Geoff Neal via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
• Bantamweight: Merab Dvalishvili defeats Henry Cejudo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Middleweight: Anthony Hernandez defeats Roman Kopylov via rear naked choke at 3:23 of Round 2

Prelims (Start time 8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+)
• Women's strawweight: Amanda Lemos defeats Mackenzie Dern via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Heavyweight: Marcos Rogerio de Lima defeats Junior Tafa via TKO at 1:14 of Round 2
• Bantamweight: Rinya Nakamura defeats Carlos Vera via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Light heavyweight: Zhang Mingyang defeats Brendson Ribeiro via KO at 1:41 of Round 1

Early prelims (Start time 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
• Welterweight: Danny Barlow defeats Josh Quinlan via TKO at 1:18 of Round 3
• Middleweight: Oban Elliott defeats Val Woodburn via unanimous decision via (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Women's flyweight: Miranda Maverick defeats Andrea Lee via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER54 updates
  • Yahoo Sports Staff

    Volkanovski-Topuria: Topuria flattens Volk!

    Topuria knocks out Volkanovski late in the second round!

  • Yahoo Sports Staff
  • Yahoo Sports Staff

    Volkanovski-Topuria: Very close first round

    It was a high-level, very tactical first round. This could be a really close fight. This is very skillful fighting.

  • Yahoo Sports Staff
  • Yahoo Sports Staff
  • Yahoo Sports Staff
  • Yahoo Sports Staff
  • Yahoo Sports Staff

    Costa looks good

    Paulo Costa actually being in great shape is the real upset