Ilia Topuria News

Ilia Topuria, Alex Volkanovski, UFC 298, UFC
Ilia Topuria

Alex Volkanovski offers grim prediction for UFC 298 title fight against Ilia Topuria: "He’s going to be embarrassed"

Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 12, 2024

UFC featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski believes Ilia Topuria will have egg on his face once UFC 298 has concluded. Volkanovski is set to put his 145-pound gold at stake against Topuria inside the Honda Center in Anaheim, California this Saturday night. The featherweight championship clash will headline UFC 298. If “The Great” can emerge victorious, he’ll have secured his sixth successful UFC featherweight title defense, which would put him one shy of tying Jose Aldo’s 145-pound record.

Sean O’Malley Ilia Topuria
Sean O'Malley

Sean O’Malley vs. Ilia Topuria would be a "sweet fight," says coach Tim Welch: "Who wouldn't want to see that fight?"

Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 11, 2024

The coach of Sean O’Malley, Tim Welch, sees big potential in a clash between his fighter and Ilia Topuria. O’Malley is the reigning UFC bantamweight champion. Topuria will be fighting for UFC Featherweight Championship on February 17. He’ll attempt to take the 145-pound gold from Alex Volkanovski in the main event of UFC 298 inside the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

Ilia Topuria
Daniel Cormier

Ilia Topuria's confidence reminds Daniel Cormier of Conor McGregor ahead of UFC 298: "This dude has updated his bio with another win"

Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 9, 2024

UFC 298 headliner Ilia Topuria has confidence the levels of Conor McGregor, says UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier. Topuria will be challenging Alex Volkanovski for the UFC Featherweight Championship on February 17. The action will be held inside the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Ahead of the title fight, Topuria hasn’t been shy in talking trash about not just the 145-pound titleholder, but the entire featherweight division. It’s led many to believe that “El Matador” is either in for a meteoric rise, or an embarrassing fall.

Sean O'Malley
Ilia Topuria

Sean O'Malley plans to attend UFC 298 to set up champ-champ fight at The Sphere in September

Cole Shelton - February 6, 2024

Sean O’Malley has his eyes set on becoming a champ-champ. O’Malley is set to defend his bantamweight title for the first time in the main event of UFC 299 against Marlon Vera. Heading into the fight, ‘Suga’ has been oozing with confidence and believes he will KO Vera to defend his belt with ease.

Ilia Topuria, Paddy Pimblett
Paddy Pimblett

Ilia Topuria dismisses future fight with 'beginner' Paddy Pimblett: "His last fight was embarrassing"

Josh Evanoff - February 5, 2024

UFC featherweight contender Ilia Topuria isn’t interested in facing Paddy Pimblett in a cage. ‘El Matador’ is currently slated for the biggest fight of his life later this month at UFC 298. Fresh off a dominant win over Josh Emmett last summer, Ilia Topuria will attempt to win featherweight gold. On pay-per-view, he will face the dominant Alexander Volkanovski, back for the first time since a knockout loss to Islam Makhachev last October.

Ilia Topuria
Ilia Topuria

Ilia Topuria shares bold first-round prediction for UFC 298 title fight with Alexander Volkanovski

Harry Kettle - February 5, 2024

Ilia Topuria has provided an official prediction for his upcoming title showdown with Alexander Volkanovski. At UFC 298, Ilia Topuria faces the biggest test of his career thus far. He will challenge Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC featherweight championship in what serves as his first crack at the gold. While Volkanovski is seen by many as the favorite, others are of the opinion that Topuria is the most well-rounded contender he’s ever faced.

Ilia Topuria
UFC

Ilia Topuria responds after Yair Rodriguez takes aim at his UFC resume: “They don’t use me as a rag in the fights”

Susan Cox - January 26, 2024

Ilia Topuria is responding after former interim featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez took aim at his UFC resume. It was Rodriguez who recently took aim at Topuria, claiming that he ‘talked’ his way into a title shot.

Ilia Topuria and Sean O'Malley UFC
Sean O'Malley

Sean O’Malley says super fight with Ilia Topuria will be next if both men win their upcoming bouts

Susan Cox - January 12, 2024

Sean O’Malley is advising that a super fight with Ilia Topuria will happen next if both men win their upcoming bouts. UFC 298 takes place on Saturday, February 17th at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

Ilia Topuria and Sean O'Malley UFC
Sean O'Malley

Sean O’Malley challenges Ilia Topuria to bet on their upcoming PPV numbers: “100k cash whoever’s PPV is bigger”

Susan Cox - January 5, 2024

Sean O’Malley is challenging Ilia Topuria to bet on their upcoming PPV numbers. The current UFC bantamweight champion, O’Malley (17-1 MMA) is preparing to defend his title in a rematch against Marlon Vera (23-8 MMA) at UFC 299 which takes place on Saturday, March 9th at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.

Ilia Topuria, Conor McGregor
Ilia Topuria

Ilia Topuria lays out plan to fight Conor McGregor after beating Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298

Cole Shelton - January 4, 2024

Ilia Topuria is expecting to have a massive 2024. Topuria is set to headline UFC 298 on Feb. 17 in Anaheim, California against Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title. With still over a month to go to the fight, Topuria is a small +130 underdog, which implies a 43.5% chance of winning the fight.

Ilia Topuria
Ilia Topuria

Ilia Topuria is predicting a “masterpiece” against Alex Volkanovski at UFC 298: “It will be one of the easier fights of my career”

Harry Kettle - December 9, 2023

UFC contender Ilia Topuria has predicted a masterpiece of a performance ahead of his fight against Alexander Volkanovski. At UFC 298 in February, Ilia Topuria will challenge Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC featherweight championship. While some feel as if this is too quick, others expect him to put up a really good showing against the champion.

Alexander Volkanovski
Ilia Topuria

Alexander Volkanovski vows to embarrass Ilia Topuria in UFC 298 return: "I am still that guy"

Josh Evanoff - December 5, 2023

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is out to prove a point against Ilia Topuria. ‘The Great’ has been out of the cage since a short-notice rematch with Islam Makhachev in October. There, Alexander Volkanovski suffered his second loss to the lightweight champion, this time by stoppage. Following the bout, he called for a fast turnaround against Ilia Topuria in January.

Ilia Topuria
Ilia Topuria

Ilia Topuria already eyeing Max Holloway after Alexander Volkanovski: "It's going to happen"

Josh Evanoff - November 23, 2023

UFC featherweight contender Ilia Topuria wants Alexander Volkanovski, then he wants Max Holloway in Spain. ‘El Matador’ and ‘The Great’ are currently slated to face off at UFC 298 in February. That bout will be Alexander Volkanovski’s first since a knockout loss to Islam Makhachev in October. Due to that knockout defeat, there were questions if the featherweight champion would be able to fight Ilia Topuria in early 2024.

Ilia Topuria and Alexander Volkanovski
Ilia Topuria

Alexander Volkanovski looking forward to humbling Ilia Topuria at UFC 298: "The man to do that"

Josh Evanoff - November 10, 2023

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski believes he’s the right man to humble Ilia Topuria. ‘The Great’ has been out of action since a short-notice rematch with Islam Makhachev last month. The lightweight champion was first expected to face Charles Oliveira, but ‘Do Bronx’ withdrew due to injury. As a result, Alexander Volkanovski stepped up on two weeks notice.

Sean O'Malley
Dricus du Plessis

Opening odds released for newly announced title fights at UFC 297, UFC 298 and UFC 299

Harry Kettle - November 7, 2023

A string of odds have been released in the wake of an announcement made by Dana White regarding UFC’s first three PPV main events of the year. Last night, Dana White made a string of blockbuster announcements regarding the first few pay-per-view events of the year for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria.
Ilia Topuria

Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topruria featherweight title fight targeted for UFC 298 in February

Fernando Quiles Jr. - November 5, 2023

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski may not be fighting in January, but he is factored into plans for a February title bout. Volkanovski had asked for a quick turnaround after suffering a head kick knockout loss in his rematch with UFC lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev. After the defeat, an emotional Volkanovski said he needs to fight again soon because without something scheduled he loses direction.

Bryce Mitchell and Ilia Topuria
Ilia Topuria

Bryce Mitchell claims his loss to Ilia Topuria "don't count" because he was sick: "Wasn’t even me in there"

Cole Shelton - September 21, 2023

Bryce Mitchell says he shouldn’t have fought Ilia Topuria as he was too sick. Mitchell suffered his first career defeat back in December as he lost by second-round submission to Topuria at UFC 282. It was a lopsided performance from Topuria and after the fight, Mitchell revealed he was sick and should have pulled out.

Ilia Topuria, Max Holloway, UFC
Max Holloway

Max Holloway responds after Ilia Topuria suggests it’s time for him to retire following win at UFC Singapore

Fernando Quiles Jr. - August 28, 2023

Max Holloway will not be heeding Ilia Topuria’s advice. Topuria was paying attention to Holloway’s recent outing against “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung. Holloway won the fight with a walk-off KO. The featherweight scrap headlined UFC Singapore this past Saturday. After the fight, Topuria hopped on Twitter to suggest it’s time for “Blessed” to hang up his MMA gloves.