Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria will headline UFC 298. Ahead of the bout, Topuria described ‘The Great’ as one of the easier matchups of his career, which raised the eyebrow of another undefeated featherweight in Movsar Evloev.
The unbeaten Russian took to X/Twitter to criticize Ilia Topuria’s claims.
Movsar Evloev responded to Ilia Topuria’s assertion by scoffing at the suggestion that Volkanovski, one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the world, could be one of the easier matchups of his career:
“Even he doesn’t believe these words.”
Ilia Topuria is currently undefeated, having decisively finished most of his opponents. However, Topuria’s recent win was not a finish, as he scored a unanimous decision win over Josh Emmett to secure his title shot. His performance was widely regarded as a boxing masterclass.
Much of ‘El Matador’s’ rhetoric ahead of his matchup with Alexander Volkanovski has been defined by his supreme confidence. Some, however, feel that the Georgian-Spaniard’s confidence is bordering on cockiness, with Volkanovski expressing his desire to humble Topuria.
Ilia Topuria, by contrast, has promised to finish the always-durable Volkanovski, which is a tough ask. However, the Australian star was recently knocked out by Islam Makhachev at UFC 294, which took place just four months ago. So, some observers have questioned whether Volkanovski is returning too quickly.
Regardless, the bout will prove pivotal, as it will determine the complexion of the UFC featherweight division going forward. Alexander Volkanovski is 35 years old, which is the point at which most fighters in the lighter-weight classes begin to decline. If Topuria wins, it would mark the beginning of a new era at 145 pounds.