Tag: Alexander Volkanovski

UFC 298 ‘Embedded,’ No. 3: Get up in your feelings, ’cause Geoff Neal’s luggage is all of us

On the third episode of UFC 298 “Embedded,” Geoff Neal arrives and shows off his lucky luggage – taped, but hangin’ in there.

The UFC is back for its second pay-per-view of 2024, and the popular “Embedded” fight week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 298 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

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.

Also on the card, a grudge match between [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) and [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] (15-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) finally materializes after [autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) and [autotag]Merab Dvalishivili[/autotag] (16-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) jostle for position atop the bantamweight division.

The third episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

“Champ Alexander Volkanovski and challenger Ilia Topuria train in LA. Geoff Neal chats with former champions. Ian Machado Garry and Henry Cejudo check in; Paulo Costa gets in a sweat.”

Also see:

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

UFC 298 pre-event facts: Alexander Volkanovski can make history with post-KO title defense

The best facts and figures about UFC 298, which sees Alexander Volkanovski take on the rare task of a title defense after a knockout loss.

The octagon returns to Anaheim, Calif., for the first time in more than two years and ninth time in its history on Saturday with UFC 298, which goes down at Honda Center with a main card on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

An anticipated featherweight championship bout gets top billing. Champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) returns to the division he rules following a knockout loss to lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev in October when he takes on unbeaten contender [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC).

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about UFC 298.

Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria

Yair Rodriguez bothered by Ilia Topuria’s brashness before UFC 298: ‘I respect everybody but this guy’

As far as Yair Rodriguez is concerned, Ilia Topuria cannot afford to lose to Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 – not after all his talking.

[autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag] doesn’t think [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] can afford to lose to UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag].

Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) challenges Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 298 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. Topuria’s brash nature has rubbed Rodriguez the wrong way. The undefeated contender said if he dethrones Volkanovski, he won’t defend his title against Rodriguez, Max Holloway, or Brian Ortega. Instead, he’ll go after Conor McGregor, and Rodriguez thinks he’s delusional.

“He’ll talk sh*t about whomever,” Rodriguez said on “The MMA Hour.” “He’s mentioning Canelo (Alvarez), he’s mentioning (Conor) McGregor. Why do you think he’s doing that? Because he’s marketing. He’ll never get to face somebody like McGregor. He’ll never get to face somebody like Canelo. Of course not.”

With everything Topuria has said, including his prediction of a first-round knockout, Rodriguez thinks a loss would be a terrible look for him.

“His career will be over after this fight against Volkanovski,” Rodriguez said. “He’s been talking so much sh*t, saying so many things, and people are going to f*cking be laughing at him after this.”

Rodriguez (16-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) runs things back with Ortega (15-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) in a UFC Fight Night co-headliner Feb. 24 in Mexico City. Although he’s picking Volkanovski to win, he isn’t necessarily rooting for him.

“I’m like neutral, you know? Whomever wins, wins, whatever,” Rodriguez said. “But I don’t really see Topuria winning. That’s my honest opinion.”

Rodriguez won’t campaign for Topuria right away if he loses to Volkanovski. However, he’d love to get his hands on him at some point.

“If I win my fight against Brian Ortega, which I’m planning on doing, and Alexander Volkanovski wins, I would like to face Volkanovski, of course,” Rodriguez said. “Because why would I face (Topuria coming off a loss)? Like, he has nothing to offer.

“But anyway, I would like to face him at some point. I would like to f*ck him up. Especially like if UFC plans and goes to Spain, f*ck, man, I’ll f*cking fight in Spain because it’s his house. I would love to f*cking beat him in his f*cking house. I respect everybody but this guy.”

[lawrence-related id=2711434,2709909,2714921,2714078]

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

Alexander Volkanovski: Henry Cejudo ‘a piece of sh*t’ for firing his coach on camera – if it’s legit

Alexander Volkanovski goes off on Henry Cejudo for firing his coach on camera ahead of UFC 298.

[autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag], like many in the MMA community, was puzzled to see [autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] fire his long-time coach, [autotag]Eric Albarracin[/autotag], on camera.

Last week, the UFC released its “Countdown” show in the lead up to UFC 298, which featured many of the usual activities fighters engage in just before a fight. However, UFC 298 “Countdown” came with an unusual wrinkle as Cejudo decided to break the news to Albarracin that he was not going to be part of the team heading into Feb. 17 against Merab Dvalishvili.

This had many upset with the way Cejudo decided to handle letting go of Albarracin, including Volkanovski.

“What? Is that legit or what? Is this some weird way of marketing or promoting?” Volkanovski told The MacLife. “I just don’t get it. In front of the cameras just seems so weird.”

Volkanovski was so taken away by Cejudo’s actions that he questions if the whole thing was just a publicity stunt. But if indeed real, the UFC featherweight champion admits to losing respect for Cejudo.

“I thought he looked like he was taking it in, but I just don’t get it,” Volkanovski said. “You’re an absolute prick if you’re doing that and thought, ‘This would be good content, and I’m going to make the most of this,’ and go out and do that.

“Henry, if this is legit, you are a piece of sh*t, let me tell you that right now. That’s crazy to me. That’s why I don’t believe it. I don’t think he’s that much of a sh*tbag to do that. I don’t think he is.

“I don’t get it. I really don’t get it. It’s crazy to me. Maybe he’s just all about himself, so full of himself that he doesn’t care about anyone around him. Maybe, I don’t know.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788]

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

UFC 298 ‘Embedded,’ No. 2: ‘This old man’s still going, trust me.’

In the second episode of UFC 298 “Embedded,” champ Alexander Volkanovski promises to prove he’s still got it against Ilia Topuria.

The UFC is back for its second pay-per-view of 2024, and the popular “Embedded” fight week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 298 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

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.

Also on the card, a grudge match between [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) and [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] (15-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) finally materializes after [autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) and [autotag]Merab Dvalishivili[/autotag] (16-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) jostle for position atop the bantamweight division.

The second episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

“Ian Machado Garry and Paulo Costa land in LA. Merab Dvalishvilli spars and takes in the Super Bowl with friends. Champ Alexander Volkanovski hits the mats. Ilia Topuria trains with his brother; Robert Whittaker heads to Beneil Dariush’s gym.”

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

UFC 298 ‘Embedded,’ No. 1: Ian Machado Garry, Charles Oliveira bring in the birds

In the first episode of UFC 298 “Embedded,” Ian Machado Garry and Charles Oliveira play with birds in Brazil.

The UFC is back for its second pay-per-view of 2024, and the popular “Embedded” fight week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 298 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

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.

Also on the card, a grudge match between [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) and [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] (15-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) finally materializes after [autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) and [autotag]Merab Dvalishivili[/autotag] (16-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) jostle for position atop the bantamweight division.

The first episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

“Ian Machado Garry trains with Charles Oliveira. Robert Whittaker games with his dad. Ilia Topuria and Merab Dvalishvilli wrap up camps in Vegas. Champ Alexander Volkanovski arrives in LA.”

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

Joe Lopez says ‘hulk’ Alexander Volkanovski’s strength will surprise Ilia Topuria at UFC 298

Alexander Volkanovski’s coach thinks Ilia Topuria will have a hard time dealing with his strength.

[autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag]’s coach thinks [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] will have a hard time dealing with his strength.

Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) defends his featherweight title against Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in the UFC 298 main event Feb. 17 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Joe Lopez, Volkanovski’s longtime head coach, warns Topuria that things won’t go well for him if the fight hits the mat.

“Let’s see how Ilia feels when Volk is in front of him – and even worse, when Volk puts his hands on him,” Lopez said in an interview with It’s Time For Sports. “If Alex grabs him, he’s going to feel the strength and why back in the day they used to call him ‘The Hulk.’ He’s got this incredible strength.”

Lopez is aware of the dangers Topuria brings with his heavy hands, but is confident Volkanovski can outlast him. Volkanovski held his own in his first fight against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 284. Although he lost a close decision, Volkanovski was able to put the exhausted champion in unfamiliar deep waters.

Lopez thinks Volkanovski can do the same to Topuria.

“(Things change) once he puts his hands on you and you feel his weight and his strength, and just his scrambling abilities,” Lopez said on Volkanovski. “The thing is, some people can do it for a minute or two or three, but he can honestly do it for 25 minutes straight and not get – I mean he’ll get tired obviously, but he just grinds people. He’s different.”

[lawrence-related id=2714095,2714080,2713899,2712617]

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

Alexander Volkanovski’s prediction for Ilia Topuria fight: ‘I crumble him in the first’

Alexander Volkanovski thinks he sends Ilia Topuria a message early.

[autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] thinks he sends [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] a message early.

Featherweight champion Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) will look to notch his sixth title defense when he takes on Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in the UFC 298 headliner Feb. 17 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Topuria is oozing confidence ahead of his first title fight, going as far as saying Volkanovski will be one of the easier fights of his career. Volkanovski is ready to give the undefeated contender a rude awakening.

“Prediction is, I teach him a good lesson,” Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel. “He’s going to be embarrassed, he’s going to eat some of his words, and it’s going to be maybe be the start of his journey. He’s young. He is confident. I’ll humble him. He’ll bounce back and start after I give him a good ass beating. Round 2, I think. I think I crumble him in the first.

“I’m not saying it’s going to be an easy fight, but I think just how confident he is, he hasn’t been able to prove that. I prove that every time I step in this gym – I’m pushing myself to the limit. I don’t know if he does. He doesn’t act like it. So I’m going to push him, and I think I crumble him inside one, and I get the finish soon after that.”

Topuria also is predicting an early finish, vowing to knock out Volkanovski in Round 1. The 27-year-old is coming off back-to-back beatdowns of Bryce Mitchell and Josh Emmett.

[lawrence-related id=2714848,2714095,2714080,2713899]

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

Video: UFC 298 ‘Countdown’ for Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria

Check out the UFC 298 “Countdown” main event video preview for Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria.

Did you miss the debut of UFC 298 “Countdown” or just want to watch it again? Check out the main event preview now.

The segment takes a special look at the featherweight title fight between champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC), from Australia, and unbeaten Spanish challenger [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC), from Germany.

UFC 298 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. “Countdown” goes behind the scenes with the two fighters, and you can watch the full segment above. And don’t miss the entire episode in the video below.

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

Eugene Bareman didn’t watch Alexander Volkanovski vs. Islam Makhachev 2: ‘I was too scared of what could happen’

Eugene Bareman admits he couldn’t get himself to watch Alexander Volkanovski vs. Islam Makhachev 2 at UFC 294.

Eugene Bareman admits he couldn’t get himself to watch [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] 2 at UFC 294.

Bareman was unable to corner Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) for his title-fight rematch against lightweight champion Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) this past October.

After almost beating Makhachev in their first fight at UFC 284, featherweight champion Volkanovski stepped in on short notice for their rematch. Bareman was against the idea, and didn’t even watch the fight when it happened.

“From a competitive standpoint, I told him, ‘Forget it,'” Bareman said in an interview with “She Loves The Gloves.” “Yes, of course, we as a team will do our best to use this time and get you as prepared as one can be on a week’s notice. Realistically, we don’t have much of a chance. But if the UFC offers you, say, this, this, or this – sure, think about it and maybe we can figure something out.

“I’ll watch the tape and design the game plan that would give us the best chance of getting the win. And so that’s what happened. The UFC came back with a good offer and he agreed. But I didn’t even have the time to get to Abu Dhabi and corner him. It all happened so fast, I had prior commitments that I couldn’t just cancel. I didn’t even watch the fight – I was too scared of what could happen.”

Bareman’s worst fear happened. Volkanovski was knocked out by Makhachev in the first round.

“I had a feeling it could be something like this,” Bareman said. “I obviously didn’t want to be right, but unfortunately, I was. Once again, in different circumstances, I really believe that even on a short notice the result may have been different. But of course, we have to also give credit to Islam. His skills are outstanding and he deserved that win.”

Volkanovski defends his featherweight title against Ilia Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in the UFC 298 main event Feb. 17 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

[lawrence-related id=2712607,2713819,2707352,2689446]

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