Volkanovski vs Topuria

Who won Volkanovski vs Topuria?

Ilia Topuria beat Alexander Volkanovski by knockout in the 2nd round during the main event of UFC 298, on Saturday 17th February 2024 at Honda Center in Anaheim.

The fight was scheduled to take place over 5 rounds in the Featherweight division, which meant the weight limit was 145 pounds (10.4 stone or 65.8 KG).

This contest was for the UFC featherweight championship.

Volkanovski vs Topuria stats

Alexander Volkanovski stepped into the octagon with a record of 26 wins, 3 losses and 0 draws, 13 of those wins coming by the way of knock out and 3 by submission.

Ilia Topuria made his way to the cage with an unblemished record of 14 wins, 0 losses, and 0 draws, 4 of those wins coming by knock out and 8 by submission.

Alexander Volkanovski's UFC record stood at 13-3-0, while Ilia Topuria's came in at 7-0-0.

The stats suggested Volkanovski had a large advantage in power over Topuria, boasting a 50% knock out percentage over Topuria's 29%.

If the fight went to the ground, their records suggested Topuria had a massive advantage over Volkanovski, boasting a 57% submission rate over Volkanovski's 12%.

Alexander Volkanovski was the older man by 8 years, at 35 years old.

Topuria had a height advantage of 1 inch over Volkanovski. Despite this, he had 3-inch reach advantage.

Volkanovski was the more experienced professional fighter, having had 15 more fights, and made his debut in 2012, 2 years and 10 months earlier than Topuria, whose first professional fight was in 2015. He had fought 57 more professional rounds, 82 to Topuria's 25.

Volkanovski vs Topuria form

Volkanovski had beaten 3 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 2 of them, going to the judges once.

In his last fight leading up to this contest, he had lost to Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 on 21st October 2023 by knockout in the 1st round in their UFC Lightweight championship fight at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Previous to that, he had won against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 on 8th July 2023 by knockout in the 3rd round in their UFC Featherweight championship fight at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, United States.

Going into that contest, he had been beaten by Islam Makhachev at UFC 284 on 11th February 2023 by unanimous decision in their UFC Lightweight championship fight at RAC Arena, Perth, Western Australia.

Before that, he had beaten Max Holloway at UFC 276 on 2nd July 2022 by unanimous decision in their UFC Featherweight championship fight at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, United States.

He had defeated Chan Sung Jung at UFC 273 on 9th April 2022 by knockout in the 4th round in their UFC Featherweight championship fight at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville.

Topuria remained undefeated as a professional, stopping 2 of his last 5 opponents.

In his last fight before this contest, he was victorious against Josh Emmett at UFC Fight Night – Emmett vs. Topuria on 24th June 2023 by unanimous decision in their 5 round contest at : VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, United States.

Previous to that, he had won against Bryce Mitchell at UFC 282 on 10th December 2022 by submission in the 2nd round at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas.

Going into that contest, he had beaten Jai Herbert at UFC Fight Night London on 19th March 2022 by knockout in the 2nd round at 02 Arena, London, United Kingdom.

Before that, he had defeated Ryan Hall at UFC 264 on 10th July 2021 by knockout in the 1st round at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, United States.

He was victorious against Youssef Zalal at UFC Fight Island 5 on 10th October 2020 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at UFC Fight Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Activity check

In terms of activity leading into the fight, Alexander Volkanovski had been fighting more than Ilia Topuria.

Going to this contest, Alexander Volkanovski had last fought 6 months and 5 days ago, while Ilia Topuria's last outing had been 10 months and 2 days ago.

Volkanovski's last 5 fights had come over a period of 2 years and 17 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 4 months and 29 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 18 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 3.6 rounds on average.

Topuria's last 5 fights had come over a period of 3 years, 6 months and 16 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 8 months and 15 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 13 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2.6 rounds on average.

What were the odds on Volkanovski vs Topuria?

Alexander Volkanovski was a 4/5 (-130) favourite going into the contest, while Ilia Topuria made his way into the ring at 57/50 (+120) with oddsmakers.