THE UFC looks to continue its strong start to 2024 with UFC 298 this weekend. The show will be broadcast live from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, at 3 AM on Sunday morning for UK viewers.
The Featherweight Championship clash between Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria headlines the show, and it is shaping up to be one of the most explosive main events in recent memory. In this UFC 298 betting guide, I’m going to analyse the main event and offer my Alexander Volkanovski vs Ilia Topuria betting tips.
Current odds for the Alexander Volkanovski vs Ilia Topuria fight
Alexander Volkanovski vs Ilia Topuria is one of the toughest fights of the year to call, and this is reflected in the extremely tight odds at the top UFC bookies. To highlight how close this fight is, bet365 is currently pricing both fighters at 10/11. Some bookmakers are slightly favouring Volkanovski, with BetUK having him at 3/4 with Topuria at 21/20.
- Alexander Volkanovski to win at 11/10 with bet365
- Ilia Topuria to win at 21/20 with BetUK
Alexander Volkanovski’s winning streak
Alexander Volkanovski is at a point in his career where he can claim to be one of the greatest Featherweight fighters ever.
The fighter’s record at this weight is nothing short of astonishing, having never lost a fight. Unfortunately, he comes into this weekend’s fight on the back of two losses in three, having twice attempted to step up a weight and take on the UFC pound-for-pound number one Islam Makhachev and become one of the few UFC fighters in history to be a double champion.
It is difficult for me to say the physiological impact those two fights will have had, especially given the brutal nature of the knockout just four months ago. However, he has proven himself to be unstoppable at Featherweight. He picked up a dominant TKO victory over Yair Rodríguez at UFC 290 in his last title defence and will look to reassert his dominance over the weekend.
Ilia Topuria’s loss-free career
Ilia Topuria is a serious threat to Alexander Volkanovski’s iconic title reign. Topuria is one of the hottest rising stars in the industry, coming into the fight with a perfect 14-0 record. He arrived in the UFC in 2020 and has been mostly dominant in his six fights in the company so far.
His last time in the Octagon saw him pick up a UD victory over Josh Emmett in July 2023 in what was one of his toughest tests to date.
Volkanovski has had a firm grip on the Featherweight Championship since 2019, and El Matador could finally be the man to prize it out of his hands.
Volkanovski vs Topuria betting tips and odds
Alexander Volkanovski vs Ilia Topuria is one of the tightest and most exciting UFC main events in some time. If you are struggling to place bets on the show, one of the following could be for you.
Alexander Volkanovski by Points at 11/4 (Sky Bet)
Alexander Volkanovski has the chance to make history this weekend by becoming the first fighter over 35 to defend the Featherweight Championship successfully. If there is any fighter who can handle that pressure and bounce back from such a crushing defeat in their last fight, I believe it’s him.
Volkanovski is one of the all-time greats in his weight class, and he has been dominant in the division for years. If he can avoid Topuria’s power shots and stay on his feet, I think his experience and quality will help see him through to a decision victory. You can back Alexander Volkanovski to win by decision at 11/4 with Sky Bet.
???? Bet on Volkanovski by Points at 11/4 with Sky Bet ????
Fight to Go the Distance - Yes at 13/10 (BetUK)
Ilia Topuria presents an extremely difficult challenge for Volkanovski this weekend, and given the height and age advantage the challenger has, I can see the champion being cautious of allowing him too close.
Volkanovski is the more technical of the two fighters, and he will want to control the fight. Topuria has been using his mouth a lot in the build-up to the encounter, and Volkanovski will be hoping the fighter’s arrogance trips him up in the cage. I think there is a good chance the fight goes the distance, with Volkanovski looking to school his opponent and get the decision. If you want to back the fight to go the distance, you can do so with BetUK at 13/10.
???? Back the fight to go the distance at 13/10 with BetUK ????
Ilia Topuria by KO/TKO/Submission at 17/10 (bet365)
Ilia Topuria is coming into this weekend extremely confident, and it is clear from the odds that the bookies expect this to be an extremely tight encounter. Topuria has been dominant since arriving in the UFC, and El Matador will certainly present Volkanovski with one of the biggest threats to his title reign yet.
One of the most intriguing aspects coming into the fight will be Volkanovski’s mental state. He is stepping into the Octagon off the back of a devastating loss to Islam Makhachev, and this will be his fourth major fight in twelve months.
Topuria’s relative freshness and his confidence could hugely benefit him here, and I think that if I were going to back Topuria, it would be to win by KO/TKO/Submission. I don’t see him scoring a decision win over Volkanovski, but it’s not too hard to envision a stoppage victory. If you want to back Ilia Topuria to win by KO/TKO/Submission, you can do so at 17/10 in bet365’s double chance market.
???? Wager on Topuria by KO/TKO/Submission at 17/10 with bet365 ????
How to place a bet on Volkanovski vs Topuria at UFC 298
If you want to place a bet on Alexander Volkanovski vs Ilia Topuria, you need to follow these simple steps:
- Log in or sign up for your chosen bookmaker.
- If you are a new customer, be sure to claim your welcome bonus.
- Find the UFC/MMA section in the list of sports.
- Select UFC 298 and head to the Volkanovski vs Topuria fight.
- Choose the market you want to bet on, make your selection, and add it to your betting slip.
- Enter your stake and double-check that everything is correct before hitting confirm.
- Grab some popcorn and enjoy what promises to be an explosive fight.
What’s the weight category of the Volkanovski vs Topuria fight?
Alexander Volkanovski vs Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 is going to be a Featherweight Championship fight. Fighters must weigh in between 136 and 145 lbs.
Why’s Alexander Volkanovski called “The Great”?
Alexander Volkanovksi uses the nickname ‘The Great’ in reference to Alexander the Great, the ruler of the Greek Kingdom of Macedon. Volkanovski is of Greek and Macedonian heritage and has earned the nickname through his dominant performances in the Octagon.
Why is Ilia Topuria’s nickname “El Matador”?
‘El Matador’ is a Spanish nickname that translates to ‘The Matador’. Ilia Topuria is of Spanish descent, and the nickname has been given to him to represent this. A Matador, fittingly, is also someone who fights bulls.
Who has more KOs in their career, Alexander Volkanovski or Ilia Topuria?
Both Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria are extremely respected in the Octagon. However, Volkanoviski comfortably wins the KO count. The Australian has won 13 fights by KO, while Topuria has only won 4.
It is worth noting that Topuria has only had 14 fights, while Volkanovski is much more experienced with 29.
Which fighter has more wins by submission, Alexander Volkanovski or Ilia Topuria?
Topruia has proven himself to be a deadly submission artist. He has won eight of his 14 fights by submission, more than half. Volkanovski, on the other hand, is not as comfortable with submissions, having only won three fights by submission and not submitting an opponent since 2015, the year before he joined the UFC.
Which fighter has been more active recently, Alexander Volkanovski or Ilia Topuria?
Alexander Volkanovski has fought more recently than Ilia Topuria. Volkanovski last fought in October, getting knocked out in a Lightweight Championship bout by Islam Makhachev, while Topuria last fought in June, defeating Josh Emmett by UD.
What title is on the line in the UFC 298 main event?
Alexander Volkanovski will put his UFC Featherweight title on the line against Ilia Topuria. Volkanovski has been champion since 2019 when he defeated Max Holloway by UD at UFC 245. He has successfully retained his title five times since.
UFC 298 undercard fights to look out for
UFC fans in Anaheim are in for a fun show this weekend. In the night’s penultimate fight, Robert Whittaker takes on Paulo Costa. Whittaker will look to get back on track after a devastating defeat to now Middleweight Champion Dricus du Plessis in July last year. Costa will step into the cage for the first time in 18 months after defeating Luke Rockhold in August 2022. Whittaker is the favourite for the fight, with Bet365 pricing The Reaper at 4/9 and his opponent at 15/8.
Geoff Neal and Ian Garry will square off in a fight that was originally scheduled for last August. Garry comes into the fight with a strong 13-0 record in the UFC, and he is backed to make it 14 on Saturday, with Sky Bet pricing him at 4/9, with Neal at 7/4.
One fight that will have a lot of attention from fans is Henry Cejudo vs Merab Dvalishvili. A win for Dvalishvili could cement his position as the next title challenger, while a win for Cejudo could steer him away from retirement. It promises to be an interesting stylistic clash, with Cejudo’s wrestling background coming up against Dvalishvili’s excellent ground game. Dvalishvili is favoured for the fight, with BetUK having him at 11/25, while Cejudo is at 9/5.
???? How to watch UFC 298
- Location: Honda Center, Anaheim, California
- Date and time: Sunday, February 18th, 3 AM (UK)
- TV/Streaming: TNT Sports and Discovery +
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