UFC 298 post-event facts: Ilia Topuria makes history with title coronation

The best facts to come out of UFC 298, which saw a number of historic feats, including Ilia Topuria’s title KO of Alexander Volkanovski.

The UFC’s second pay-per-view of 2024 was a memorable one, with UFC 298 on Saturday at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., seeing a changing of the guard in the featherweight division.

In the main event, [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) became the new featherweight champion when he delivered on his promise to knock out longtime titleholder [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC), which he did in the second round of their fight to claim gold.

For more on the numbers to come out of the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC 298.

Alexander Volkanovski calls for rematch after UFC 298 loss: ‘I’ve been a company man’

Following UFC 298, Alexander Volkanovski laid out his case as to why he should get a rematch vs. Ilia Topuria.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] gives all the credit in the world to new UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag], but he wants another go.

Saturday at Honda Center, the long-reigning titleholder Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) was knocked out by Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in the UFC 298 main event, but was in an upbeat mood as he spoke to reporters backstage at a post-fight news conference.

“He caught me,” Volkanovski told MMA Junkie and others. “That’s that. I felt good in there. I felt like I saw everything early, but he ended up catching me. I was pretty comfortable in the first round. Then we started to do more. I was just about to do more and he caught me. That’s just the game. I’m pretty confident we were probably even up through then, but that’s just the game.”

“… You can’t take anything away from Topuria. If he puts a hand on you like that, you’re going to go down. I don’t care. That’s just that. That was a clean right hand. I think no matter who you are, if you let one of those land on your chin while you’re caught there, you’re probably going down. … I won’t take nothing away from him. I won’t sit there and say, ‘It was this. It was that.’ I felt great. Camp was great. I felt good in there.”

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Volkanovski detoured away from an in-depth breakdown of what he would do differently should the two fight a second time, as to not reveal all his secrets. But one things for certain, he wants the opportunity to reveal them to the world.

“Obviously, I’ve been a champ for a long time,” Volkanovski said. “I want that rematch. That’s something that needs to happen. I’ve been reigning champ for how long? I’ve been a company man. I’ve backed up on short notice and fought Max (Holloway) three times. You name it, I’ve done it. I’ve been champ for a long time, so I think I deserve that. It’s going to be different next time.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.

UFC 298 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Alexander Volkanovski’s $42,000 tops card

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 298 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $252,000.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 298 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $243,000.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC 298 took place at Honda Center. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

The full UFC 298 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

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[autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag]: $42,000

[autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Roman Kopylov[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Amanda Lemos[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Marcos Rogerio de Lima[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Junior Tafa[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Rinya Nakamura[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Carlos Vera[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Zhang Mingyang[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Brendson Ribeiro[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Danny Barlow[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Josh Quinlan[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Oban Elliott[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Val Woodburn[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Miranda Maverick[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Andrea Lee[/autotag]: $11,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $1,093,000
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $23,800,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.

UFC 298 results: Ilia Topuria KOs Alexander Volkanovski to become champion, calls out Conor McGregor

UFC featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski was knocked unconscious by budding Spanish star Ilia Topuria.

The UFC featherweight championship is headed to Spain with a Georgian flair.

In the highly-anticipated UFC 298 main event, [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] made the most of his moment on the big stage when he knocked [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] unconscious at 3:32 of Round 2 to claim title gold. The bout headlined the pay-per-view event at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

A massive right hand early from Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in Round 2 sealed the deal after a closely contested opening five minutes. As Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) circled against the cage he walked directly into a left hand that shut the lights out.

Follow-up shots rained down, but weren’t necessary for the task at hand. Volkanovski laid unconscious on the canvas for a significant period of time before he rose to his feet to congratulate his opponent.

Topuria, 27, becomes the first Spanish and Georgian fighter. He’s believed by many to be a potential budding superstar for a market the UFC has not yet visited. UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell even flew to Spain ahead of the bout during negotiations with Topuria.

Other notable wins for Topuria include Josh Emmett and Bryce Mitchell.

Volkanovski loses at featherweight for the first time in his UFC tenure. He’s suffered knockouts in back-to-back fights, having been finished by Islam Makhachev in a lightweight title challenge in October.

After the fight Saturday, Volkanovski suggested a rematch vs. Topuria in Spain.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 298 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.

Social media reacts to Ilia Topuria’s brutal KO of Alexander Volkanovski to win title at UFC 298

The MMA community reacted to Ilia Topuria’s brutal knockout of Alexander Volkanovski to win gold in the UFC 298 main event.

[autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] began a new chapter in featherweight history on Saturday when he dethroned [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] in the UFC 298 headliner.

Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) joined a small group of fighters to claim gold with an undefeated record, and the first to do it at 145 pounds, with a second-round knockout victory over Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) in the pay-per-view headliner at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Check below for the top X (formerly Twitter) reactions to Topuria’s title coronation over Volkanovski at UFC 298.

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UFC 298 salaries: Alexander Volkanovski leads 13 fighters with six-figure payouts

Alexander Volkanovski leaves UFC 298 without his title belt, but he took home the biggest payday of the event.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Thirteen fighters who competed at UFC 298, more than half the hard, earned disclosed payouts of at least six figures, with [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] leading the pack.

California State Athletic Commission executive director Andy Foster released a full list of fighter purses Saturday to MMA Junkie. The amounts reflect the disclosed payouts only and do not include any off-contract bonuses, sponsor payments or discretionary bonuses.

In addition to Volkanovski, who earned a flat $750,000, fellow headliner [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] also took home a flat purse in the amount of $350,000. Every other fighter’s disclosed payout was based on show money and win money.

Topuria went on to claim the featherweight title by knocking out Volkanovski in the second round at Honda Center.

Scroll below to see what the 22 fighters to compete at UFC 298 were paid – disclosed amounts only.

Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria at UFC 298: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Ilia Topuria’s second-round knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag]’s second-round knockout win over [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] at UFC 298 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. (Fight and venue photos by Gary A. Vasquez, USA Today Sports)

UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria watch-along live stream with MMA Junkie Radio

Join MMA Junkie Radio’s “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” for a live-streamed watch-along of UFC 298 in Anaheim.

UFC 298 takes place Saturday headlined by a featherweight title fight, and MMA Junkie Radio’s “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” will host a live-streamed watch-along right here, which kicks off at 8 p.m. ET.

In the main event, UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) attempts another successful title defense, this time against [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC). Middleweight contenders [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag] (14-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] (24-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC) face off in a long-awaited showdown in the co-main event.

UFC 298 takes place at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

Below is the lineup of fights included in the watch-along

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Champ Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria – for featherweight title
  • Paulo Costa vs. Robert Whittaker
  • Ian Machado Garry vs. Geoff Neal
  • Henry Cejudo vs. Merab Dvalishvili
  • Anthony Hernandez vs. Roman Kopylov

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Lemos
  • Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs. Junior Tafa
  • Rinya Nakamura vs. Carlos Vera
  • Zhang Mingyang vs. Brendson Ribeiro

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.

UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria preview show live stream with Farah Hannoun

Before the fights get underway, join MMA Junkie’s Farah Hannoun for a live-streamed preview of UFC 298.

UFC 298 takes place Saturday headlined by a featherweight title fight, but before the fights get underway, join MMA Junkie’s Farah Hannoun for a preview show right here at 5 p.m. ET.

In the main event, UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) attempts another successful title defense, this time against [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC). Middleweight contenders [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag] (14-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] (24-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC) face off in a long-awaited showdown in the co-main event.

UFC 298 takes place at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

Below is the full lineup:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Champ Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria – for featherweight title
  • Paulo Costa vs. Robert Whittaker
  • Ian Machado Garry vs. Geoff Neal
  • Henry Cejudo vs. Merab Dvalishvili
  • Anthony Hernandez vs. Roman Kopylov

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Lemos
  • Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs. Junior Tafa
  • Rinya Nakamura vs. Carlos Vera
  • Zhang Mingyang vs. Brendson Ribeiro

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET)

  • Danny Barlow vs. Josh Quinlan
  • Oban Elliott vs. Val Woodburn
  • Andrea Lee vs. Miranda Maverick

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.

Video: Former UFC champ Sean Strickland keeps making headlines

Our “Spinning Back Clique” discusses the latest reasons Sean Strickland has been making headlines.

[autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] continues to make headlines in and out of the octagon, for better or worse.

Before losing the middleweight title to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297, Strickland made headlines that reached far beyond the MMA bubble because of his homophobic tirade during media day. It didn’t take long after the event for Strickland to keep his name in the news cycle.

Strickland recently sparred the popular streamer Sneako, leaving him bloodied after going way too hard on someone who is not a professional fighter, and does not remotely possess the fighting skills of a former UFC champion.

Then, at a recent Power Slap event, Strickland made headlines again for actions outside of the octagon as he got into a verbal altercation with musical artist Machine Gun Kelly.

Our “Spinning Back Clique” panel of Farah Hannoun, Brian “Goze” Garcia and Danny Segura discuss the latest with Strickland with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia, and whether or not the UFC should intervene in some capacity.

Check out their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s full episode on YouTube or in podcast form below.

https://www.youtube.com/live/DpQXebnLHXU?si=PEqd-7rByiGTULnV

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