UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski is eager to crush Ilia Topuria’s ego at UFC 298.
The bout will mark Volkanovski’s return to the Octagon following a devastating KO loss to Islam Makhachev back at UFC 294. In the lead-up to the bout, the undefeated Topuria has pulled no punches when discussing “The Great.”
From dissing his fighting style to describing him as the new 145lbs champion already on social media, Topuria has been brasher than ever heading into the biggest fight yet of his career.
‘I Want This To Be A Humbling Experience’ – Alexander Volkanovski
During a recent interview on Israel Adesanya’s YouTube channel, Alexander Volkanovski was asked about Topuria’s social media antics.
“The Great” promised that he will humble both Topuria and critics saying Alexander Volkanovski is coming back too soon after his knockout loss last year. “The Great” was also asked about Topuria’s audacious Instagram bio.
“I want this to be a humbling experience, not only for him, for a lot of people,” Volkanovski explained. “There’s a lot of people trying to tell me how to live my life, I should be coming back in so soon, and they’re probably only doing it because they care. But that’s- you know, it’s like don’t- look, I’ve been, you know, running my life and it’s been going well. You see me on 11 days’ notice, something happens and then you’re going to try to tell me how to live my life? You know so I need to remind people, there’s a- you know, I need to humble this guy, so I see that excites me that I know he has to change that [his Instagram bio].”
“The Great” went on to call the fight “a lesson” as he will teach “El Matador” a lesson in respect when they collide in the Octagon. Volkanovski also made clear that he wants to see Topuria change his Instagram bio if he fails to actually become champion at the event.
“This is going to be a lesson,” Alexander Volkanovski asserted. “I’m gonna go out there, teach him a lesson, it’s going to be a humbling experience, his time’s not now. This is tough love, this is out of respect and tough love.”