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Welcome to information.com.au’s stay protection of UFC 298 at California’s Honda Centre.
Two of Australia’s biggest ever fighters put their careers on the road in what’s arguably the best stakes card for Aussie combat followers in historical past.
Alex Volkanovski returned to featherweight for his sixth title defence in the primary occasion in opposition to undefeated No. 1 contender IIia Topuria, nevertheless it didn’t go effectively.
UFC 298: VOLKANOVSKI VS TOPURIA | SUN 18 FEB | Order Now with Major Occasion on Kayo Sports activities. Major Occasion on Kayo Sports activities and Foxtel is the brand new unique house of UFC Pay-Per-View occasions!
Robert Whittaker defeated Paulo Costa within the co-main occasion to make sure he stays greater than related within the middleweight division in his bid to earn one other title shot.
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Comply with under for stay updates.
5.14pm – Volk swiftly requires a rematch
The outcome continues a wretched run for veteran fighters making an attempt to defend a UFC belt.
Volkanovski’s loss drops the file of fighters 35 and over to a dismal 2-24, with 27-year-old Topuria transferring to 15-0.
Afterwards, Volkanovski may solely give credit score to his opponent.
“Clearly he has highly effective palms, we knew we needed to be cautious of that,” he stated.
“Properly completed to him, he caught me, credit score to him. He wasn’t meant to land like that, however he did.
“He retains mentioning Spain, possibly we’d have a rematch over there in Spain.”
4.58pm – Wow we’ve a brand new champ
Ilia Topuria is the actual deal.
Three minutes, 32 seconds into spherical 2, Topuria knocked out Alex Volkanovski chilly to assert his featherweight belt.
The Spaniard is undefeated and inflicted the second straight loss on the veteran Australian.
4.52pm – We’re off and working
The challenger began effectively, focusing on Volk’s lead leg and displaying much more intent.
Volkanovski was on the again foot for a lot of the primary spherical, however confirmed his expertise to steadily work his means into the competition.
“It’s a fantastic begin from Topuria, however Volk is settling the rating now,” Michael Bisping stated late within the spherical.
The Spaniard has a trickle of blood coming down his nostril as spherical one ends.
4.40pm – The principle occasion is right here
To the sounds of Land Downunder from Males at Work, Alex Volkanovski has made the lengthy stroll and is within the Octagon.
The Australian skipped a few of the means and appears like he can’t wait to get this combat began.
Boos rang out as Topuria was launched, with the veteran Aussie the clear crowd favorite in Anaheim.
4.25pm – Whittaker takes the huge win
He’s completed it, Rob Whittaker has rebounded from two losses in his final three fights to beat Paulo Costa by unanimous determination.
It was a detailed run factor, with the Aussie simply surviving a brutal spinning kick to the jaw proper on the finish of the primary spherical.
However he took the combat with the judges scoring it 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27 within the Aussie’s favour, regardless of the even nature of the competition.
“That is the combat I ready for, that is the combat I needed,” he stated afterwards.
“(The top kick was) nothing however a flesh wound. No it wasn’t enjoyable, it was his greatest shot all night time, for certain.
“I’m not going wherever child. I’m again.”
4.10pm – Aussie veteran shocked in first spherical
There was a cagey begin to the co-main occasion, excuse the pun, however Rob Whittaker landed the larger strikes within the opening spherical.
A collection of well-timed punches and leg kicks from Whittaker had Paulo Costa smiling, however the commentators believing the Australian was in management.
Then within the dying seconds of the spherical, the Brazilian completely landed a spinning kick throughout Whittaker’s jaw and the Aussie was simply saved by the bell.
4pm – Joe Rogan nonetheless has religion within the Aussie
Whittaker is within the Octagon for his enormous combat with Costa that can doubtless determine his profession prospects.
At 33, he has misplaced two of his final three fights, however commentator Joe Rogan nonetheless thinks Whittaker can lower it on the prime degree.
“He’s nonetheless one of many absolute best and I feel he’s going to return again from the Du Plessis loss a greater, hungrier fighter,” he stated.
3.12pm – ‘Loopy man’ showboats with Zuck in wild win
Merab Dvalishvili has claimed his tenth straight victory by way of unanimous determination over Henry Cejudo in an epic bantamweight conflict.
Each fighters got here to play, with Cejudo holding on for expensive life when Dvalishvili had him caught in a squatting chokehold to complete a spherical.
Dvalishvili showboated all through the combat, even chatting by the fence to Fb boss Mark Zuckerberg, who was sitting ringside.
At one stage the Georgian carried Cejudo throughout the octagon over his shoulder, leaving viewers shocked.
2.10pm – Shedding fighter celebrates
Amanda Lemos narrowly defeated Mackenzie Dern of their strawweight combat with all three judges scoring it 29-28.
However Dern thought she’d completed sufficient to win. Closing her eyes as UFC announcer Bruce Buffer learn out the scores, Dern mistakenly raised her arms in celebration.
1.35pm – Aussie ‘battered’ in robust TKO loss
Junior Tafa misplaced no admirers after stepping as much as fill in for his older brother Justin, however his leg took a beating in opposition to Marcos Rogerio de Lima.
Tafa was in strife when de Lima landed a brutal calf kick, earlier than one other leg blow despatched him to the canvas within the second spherical, ending the combat by way of TKO.
“Can’t even stand on it … he’s in agony proper now,” Joe Rogan stated in commentary.
“That leg is battered and bruised.”
1.16pm – Conor backs Volk
Conor McGregor has tipped Alex Volkanovski to get the win his combat with Ilia Topuria by way of a second spherical knockout.
“Volk will get damage early however come again and KO illia. Over in 2 rounds,” he tweeted.
The Irishman additionally predicted Rob Whittaker and Paulo Costa to have a “good three spherical alternate”.
McGregor hasn’t fought since he broke his leg in a loss in July 2021, however he is aware of a factor or two in regards to the featherweight and light-weight divisions — having received the belt in each divisions.
12.31pm – ‘Sensational’ KO to start out card
China’s Zhang Mingyang has kicked off the preliminary combat card with a brutal knockout win over Brendson Ribeiro of their mild heavyweight bout.
The combat started with some severe depth however Zhang ended it inside 90 seconds with a brutal proper hand-left hook mixture that knocked Ribeiro out chilly.
Joe Rogan described it as a “sensational” left hook.
Commentator Jon Anik stated: “The ‘Mountain Tiger’ placing China on the map within the mild heavyweight division.”
Scary reality behind Volk’s ‘outdated man’ joke
There’s a stat going round that fighters aged 35 and over have received solely two out of 33 UFC title fights between the flyweight and welterweight divisions.
It doesn’t bode effectively for Alex Volkanovski, who’s determined to defend his house turf at featherweight and return to his greatest kind after being knocked out by Islam Makhachev of their light-weight rematch.
Volkanovski took that combat on 11 days’ discover however his preparation is significantly better this time round with a full coaching camp below his belt.
The 35-year-old has embraced the age narrative of his matchup in opposition to 27-year-old Topuria, adopting a hilarious ‘outdated man’ persona and rocking as much as the pre-fight press convention dressed as a pensioner.
However all jokes apart, does Volk have what it takes to rack up one other title defence and show the outdated man nonetheless has it?
UFC 298 FULL FIGHT CARD
Alexander Volkanovski vs Ilia Topuria — featherweight title (predominant occasion)
Robert Whittaker def Paulo Costa by unanimous determination (29-28 x 2, 30-27) — middleweight (co-main occasion)
Ian Garry def Geoff Neal by way of break up determination (30-27 x 2, 28-29) – welterweight
Merab Dvalishvili def Henry Cejudo by way of unanimous determination (29-28 x 3) — bantamweight
Anthony Hernandez def Roman Kopylov by way of submission – middleweight
PRELIMS
Amanda Lemos def Mackenzie Dern (29-28 x 3) — girls strawweight
Marcos Rogerio de Lima def Junior Tafa by way of TKO — heavyweight
Rinya Nakamura def Carlos Verga by way of unanimous determination (30-27 x3) — bantamweight
Zhang Mingyang def Brendson Ribeiro by way of KO — mild heavyweight
Initially printed as UFC 298 stay: Alex Volkanovski knocked out to lose title to Ilia Topuria
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