UFC 298 Fight Card: PPV Schedule, Odds and Predictions for Volkanovski vs. Topuria
While the MMA world has spent a lot of time and energy looking forward to UFC 300 there's a compelling UFC 298 card headlined by Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria to whet those appetites for fisticuffs.
Volkanovski has already established himself as one of the greatest featherweights of all time. Now he's trying to fight Father Time to take that reputation to an even higher level.
The 35-year-old has continued to fight at an elite level in a division that has not been kind to aging fighters in the past. His two attempts to go up and capture the lightweight crown came up short against Islam Makhachev but he has turned away Yair Rodriguez and Max Holloway in each of his last two bouts in his home weight class.
The card is much more than a one-fight affair, too.
Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa square off in the co-main event in a fight could have huge ramifications in the middleweight division.
The fight with even bigger potential ramifications is the bantamweight bout between Merab Dvalishvili and Henry Cejudo in the bantamweight division. It could determine the next title challenger and whether Cejudo continues to fight or opts to go back to retirement.
Here's a look at the complete card and a closer look at the biggest fights of the night.
- Paulo Costa (+195) vs. Robert Whittaker (-238)
- Ian Machado Garry (-238) vs. Geoff Neal (+195)
- Henry Cejudo (+220) vs. Merab Dvalishvili (-270)
- Anthony Hernandez (-245) vs. Roman Kopylov (+200)
- Mackenzie Dern (+110) vs. Amanda Lemos (-130)
- Rinya Nakamura (-1200) vs. Carlos Vera (=750)
- Zhang Mingyang (-130) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (+110)
- Marcos Rogerio de Lima (-250) vs. Junior Tafa (+205)
- Danny Barlow (-225) vs. Josh Quinlan (+185)
- Oban Elliott (-310)) vs. Val Woodburn (+250)
- Andrea Lee (+154) vs. Miranda Maverick (-185)
Main Card (ESPN+ PPV, 10 p.m. ET)
Prelims (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET)
Early Prelims (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)
The main event featherweight matchup is either going to be yet another example of Alexander Volkanovski's greatness or the end to a storied a reign.
Volkanovski has already cemented his status as a legend, especially within the featherweight division. He has defended the title five times and that includes wins over some of the best fighters to ever compete in the weight class.
In the other corner, Ilia Topuria has shown the skills of an elite fighter but hasn't faced nearly the same level of competition. Topuria was given this title shot based on his 14-0 record with 12 finishes, but none of those wins have come against the best fighters in the division.
There is no win over Max Holloway or Yair Rodriguez to show that he is ready for this moment. There has to be some projection involved.
That doesn't mean he can't pull off the upset and end The Great's run as champion. Topuria has shown in his fights the kind of well-rounded game and versatility that has served Volkanovski so well.
The difference is Topuria is eight years younger than the 35-year-old Volkanovski and hasn't been through as many grueling rounds and fights. The smaller weight classes have not been kind to fighters the further they get into their 30s.
There could be a changing of the guard in Anaheim.
Prediction: Topuria via decision
At one point this would have been the biggest fight to make in the middleweight division. Robert Whittaker was the champion. Paulo Costa looked like a rising star with four consecutive wins by TKO and a unanimous decision win over Yoel Romero to start his UFC question.
Those days are over now, though.
Whittaker has since lost to Israel Adesanya twice and Dricus du Plessis in his last fight. Those are losses to former champions but they have still brought his stock down a little bit.
Meanwhile, Costa has not fought since August 2022. Injuries and other factors have been behind the long time between fights, but there's no denying that he needs this win to recapture any momentum he may have had.
It's hard to know where Costa will be physically and mentally after such a long layoff. He's always a dangerous striker based on his power and willingness to get into exchanges.
However, Whittaker is the more cererbal boxer of the two and that could carry the day in a bout that is going to feature a lot of striking.
Prediciton: Whittaker via decision
So much for Henry Cejudo's retirement. Not only did he flip on his 2020 decision to hang up his gloves but he's actually coming back for his second fight after the first comeback attempt resulted in a split-decision to Aljamain Sterling.
Now he'll compete in his first non-title fight since he took on Sergio Pettis in 2017.
The matchup is not a pleasant one either. Cejudo is the underdog for a reason. He prides himself on his Olympic wrestling background, but he's fighting a fighter in Merab Dvalishili who is also known for a relentless wrestling game and he's the more natural 135er.
A win for Cejudo likely gives him one more crack at a championship if he wants it. A loss could result in the real last time that we see Cejudo fight.
Dvalishvili is going to be a tough out, but it would be foolish to count out the former gold medalist.
In a matchup of wrestler vs. wrestler, it is often the better striker that ends up winning. Cejudo's background is wrestling, but he has some tactical boxing that could come into play here.
Prediction: Cejudo via decision
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