Is Volk Too Old? UFC 298 Results & Live Updates

Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria headline a very compelling fight card

Ilia Topuria knocks out Alexander Volkanovski

Alexander Volkanovski met his match.

Ilia Topuria knocked out Volkanovski in the second round, winning the featherweight title with a devastating right hook.

Volkanovski (26-4) was competitive until he was knocked out, but the undefeated Topuria (15-0) showed why he is such an elite striker.

The first round saw Volkanovski start off with kick after kick. But Topuria controlled the center of the Octagon, and he landed two vicious calf kicks. Topuria’s power was visible, and he fought a disciplined, smart opening round, but the champ matched him every step of the way.

Following a competitive first five minutes, Topuria opened the second round by showcasing his outstanding boxing. Volkanovski did a better job not of biting on feints in round two, and he also started to have success with his jab. But it all turned when Topuria landed his walk off jab in the second round, emphatically putting an end to Volkanovski’s title reign.

The future of the division will be interesting. Will Volkanovski get an immediate rematch? Or does this open the door for Max Holloway to reinsert himself in the title picture?

Despite the questions, the one certainty is that the division now belongs to Topuria.

---

Robert Whittaker returns to the win column

Robert Whittaker desperately needed a win at UFC 298, and he pulled off a close victory against Paulo Costa.

Whittaker (25-7), who had lost two of last three, defeated Costa (14-3) by unanimous decision.

The first round favored Whittaker, who used his speed and power to take an advantage. But the key moment came in the closing seconds of the round, when Costa drilled Whittaker with a spinning heel kick to the face.

Costa worked the jab in the second, which cut Whittaker open. Whittaker also took a thumb to the eye, but recovered quickly. Landing combinations gave Whittaker an advantage as the second round came to a close, and his leg kicks slowed Costa.

Costa took a different approach to open the third, landing low kicks. That temporarily slowed Whittaker’s movement. Costa attempted another spinning heel kick but failed to connect, and the two were evenly matched throughout the round until the waning moments. Whittaker landed more shots, concluding an extremely competitive fight.

The victory keeps Whittaker in the title picture, even if he is a healthy distance behind Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya. A bout against Sean Strickland would be interesting, while Costa remains an entertaining opponent that can add value anywhere on the card.

---

Ian Machado Garry keeps his undefeated streak

Ian Machado Garry executed a smart, effective game plan, and the end result was a split decision against Geoff Neal.

Garry (14-0) took the next step toward becoming welterweight champion, winning two of the scorecards by a 30-27 margin. Neal (15-6) was a constant threat with his power, but the speed and elusiveness of Garry, who was booed endlessly by the crowd in Anaheim, allowed him to avoid any knockout blows.

The first two rounds were both razor thin. Garry established distance and landed his vicious kick throughout the first, likely giving him an edge. Round two was even tighter, but Neal was unable to land the type of blow he wanted.

Entering the third, the numbers were close, but there was more volume from Garry. A perfectly timed knee from Garry was a defining moment in the fight, and Neal was unable to make anything of note happen in the final five minutes.

After the fight, Garry called out Colby Covington. That is the type of opponent he needs to jump into the title picture, and it would make for a very intriguing bout between the past and future of the division.

---

Merab Dvalishvili dominates final two rounds

Merab Dvalishvili has won 10 in a row, especially impressive considering the manner in which he outperformed Henry Cejudo.

Dvalishvili (17-4) defeated Cejudo (16-4) by unanimous decision, all but assuring he will be next in line for a bantamweight title shot.

While it didn’t last, this started in Cejudo’s favor. Dvalishvili did not push forward or walk Cejudo down, which seemed to play into Cejudo’s favor. Cejudo landed the first big shot with a left hook, but Dvalishvili ate it before responding with a takedown and a big shot of his own. With just under two minutes in the round, Cejudo took the top position and effectively contained Dvalishvili for over a minute.

The second round saw more striking, with Dvalishvili landing. He landed back-to-back big shots, but Cejudo managed to stay on his feet. Another takedown for Dvalishvili showed his strength, and it had to have been demoralizing for Cejudo. A guillotine choke to end the round secured it for Dvalishvili, while he was yelling toward Facebook icon Mark Zuckerberg sitting cageside, only added more intensity to the third round.

In the final round, Dvalishvili maintained his pressure. It looked like Cejudo suffered a broken left forearm, and Dvalishvili kept attacking with a ferocious pace. Dvalishvili gained an enormous edge when he picked up Cejudo, carried him across the cage, dumped him on the ground. Doing that to an Olympic gold medalist and former two division champion is remarkable, and it must have got the attention of reigning champ Sean O’Malley.

Unless he gets knocked out by O’Malley, it feels inevitable that Dvalishvili will become the next champion.

---

Anthony Hernandez submits Roman Kopylov

Anthony Hernandez is the newest contender for the middleweight title.

Hernandez (12-2, 1 NC) submitted Roman Kopylov in the second round, overwhelming him on the ground. Kopylov (12-3) had looked impressive, entering the bout on a four-fight win streak, but this was all Hernandez.

Now riding a five-fight win streak, Hernandez is ready for a top-10 opponent.

---

Is Alexander Volkanovski too old? We’ll find out tonight.

Courtesy Zuffa LLC

The over-35 curse is has been a popular narrative over the last week. In the last 33 title fights between 125-170 pounds that pitted a UFC fighter older than 35 years old, the over-35 crowd has only won twice. A record of 2-31 does not buoy the faith of any Volkanovski supporters, who was knocked out–after turning 35–to Islam Makhachev this past October.

Volkanovski, 35, has had fun with the discourse, making a commercial mocking it and dressing up like an old man at the press conference. But his opponent, the undefeated Ilia Topuria, is out for blood. And Volkanovski’s title. Is Volk too old? Or will his reign of dominance in the featherweight division continue?

A very entertaining UFC 298 has no better fight than its headliner. By the end of the night, the verdict will arrive.