UFC 298, the promotion’s second pay-per-view event of the year, promises to deliver an electrifying lineup of fights. Headlining the card is a featherweight title clash between champion Alexander Volkanovski and challenger Ilia Topuria, who has already stirred up excitement by dubbing himself ‘UFC World Champion’ on social media.
Among the other highly anticipated matchups are a middleweight about featuring former champion Robert Whittaker taking on Paulo Costa, a welterweight showdown between Geoff Neal and Ian Garry, and a bantamweight contest pitting Merab Dvalishvili against Henry Cejudo.
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During the pre-fight press conference, the fighters seized the opportunity to engage with fans and ramp up anticipation for the event. Volkanovski made a memorable entrance in his ‘Old Man’ persona, a nod to a recent commercial addressing jokes about his age, while Topuria wasted no time in exchanging verbal jabs, suggesting Volkanovski was already dressed for retirement.
The comparison between Topuria and Conor McGregor was also addressed, with both fighters sharing similar records before their first UFC featherweight title shot. Topuria expressed his singular focus on the fight, emphasizing his determination to make a mark in the history books.
As the event draws nearer, tensions between the fighters continue to escalate, with ‘El Matador’ boldly predicting a first-round knockout reminiscent of McGregor’s famous ‘Mystic Mac’ persona. With excitement building, UFC 298 promises to deliver an unforgettable night of action inside the Octagon.