UFC 298 video: Ilia Topuria tries to grab Alexander Volkanovski’s title after faceoff

Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria came face-to-face for the first time since their UFC 298 bout was announced.

LAS VEGAS – UFC 298 is a little over two months away, but its main event competitors squared off for the first time Friday at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Two of six participants in the promotion’s seasonal press conference, UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) and next challenger [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) went face-to-face ahead of their Feb. 17 bout at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

After exchanging words during their first staredown, Topuria tried to grab the featherweight title off Volkanovski’s shoulder.

Check out the faceoff between Volkanovski and Topuria above.

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