UFC 298 was being discussed as a changing of the guard event between Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria. It got compared to Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Teofimo Lopez, or, in MMA terms, Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor, as the former aging champions faced young fighters with momentum on their side. Topuria stayed true to his word and dethroned “The Great.”
The Spaniard knocked out Volkanovski to become the new UFC featherweight champion. It was a dramatic moment, similar to Lopez and McGregor winning, with Topuria digging deep to become 15-0 with 13 finishes.
Volkanovski, who played along with those saying he was “old” by dressing as a grandpa, started strong with various leg kicks that affected Topuria. However, Topuria countered with several volume shots. It seemed as if Volkanovski took round one and was settling into round two by damaging the face of Topuria.
Then, Topuria kicked it into overdrive.
Topuria landed multiple rights to the chin of Volkanovski that dropped him. He landed a few more shots until the referee saw enough. He can be a top star in MMA, especially if the UFC heads to Spain.
ILIA TOPURIA JUST SHOCKED THE WORLD 😱 #UFC298 pic.twitter.com/PsjcpBigtP
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) February 18, 2024
“Trust yourself. Work tirelessly. Have faith, and anything is possible,” Topuria said.
MORE: Full list of confirmed bouts for UFC 300
Volkanovski is now on a two-fight losing streak. The loss ended a 13-fight losing streak at featherweight. He hopes for a rematch against Topuria down the road. Topuria, on the other hand, hopes to face someone he shared a similar road to the top: McGregor.
“Conor McGregor, if you still have some b—-, I will be waiting for you in Spain,” Topuria said.
It was a night of big moments, especially outside the octagon. Former Pride Champion Wanderlei Silva was announced for the UFC Hall of Fame, joining Frankie Edgar in this year’s class.
The co-main event was an even fight between former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa. In a back-and-forth affair, Whittaker and Costa used kicks and volume shots to entertain the fans. Costa almost won the fight with a spinning kick at the end of the first round. Whittaker had a chin of steel and used several shots to inflict damage.
“Bobby Knuckles” earned the win and wants to fight champion Dricus du Plessis in a rematch to avenge a loss and win back the title he lost against Israel Adesanya.
MORE: Whittaker scrapes by Costa after tense brawl
Ian Machado Garry continued his ascent in the welterweight rankings by beating Geoff Neal. Neal pressed Garry up by the cage, but the latter landed more volume shots. That was enough to secure a win. Garry called out Colby Covington after the fight. It is unsure how Garry, especially after that performance, would do against the top five in the division.
Merab Dvalishvili proved why he is one of the best bantamweights in MMA against former double-champion Henry Cejudo. After struggling in the first round, Merab beat up Cejudo in rounds two and three while also having fun with Mark Zuckerberg, sitting by the cage. At One point, Merab lifted him on one side of the cage, carried and dropped him in front of Zuckerberg on the other side.
Dvalishvili now waits for the winner of Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera for the UFC bantamweight title at UFC 299.
Opening the PPV, Anthony Hernandez survived an early onslaught from Roman Kopylov and submitted the Russian in the second round. He has made himself a threat in the middleweight division.
Also at the event, Zhang Mingyang landed a brutal knockout shot to beat Brendson Ribeiro, while Danny Barlow did the same against Josh Quinlan. Miranda Maverick opened UFC 298 by beating Andrea Lee, and Junior Tafa failed to win on one day’s notice against Marcos Rogerio de Lima.
The Sporting News provided full results and analysis from UFC 298. Check it out!
UFC 298 results, highlights
Ilia Topuria knocks out Alexander Volkanovski, wins gold
Round two: Volkanovski continued to strike with kicks. Topuria didn’t mind and stalked the champion. He did land a right and left, forcing Volkanovski into the cage. A big right by Topuria followed by a low kick. Jabs by Volkanovski connect. Both were being cautious as the round went on. Big right by Topuria and Volkanovski goes down. WOW! We have a new champion.
SN unofficial scorecard
Round one: High kick by Volkanovski to start. Then a low kick. He continued to land kicks as Topuria was circling the octagon. The champion’s main form of offense was kicks. Topuria hit a low kick and another. Low kicks started to affect Volkanovski. Topuria landed a huge right as Volkanovski only threw leg kicks. Topuria tried to go inside, but Volkanovski landed the better shots.
SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Volkanovski
The main event is up next. Alexander Volkanovski defends the UFC featherweight title against Ilia Topuria. Mark Zuckerberg just walked out with Volkanovski. What a time to be alive.
Robert Whittaker beats Paulo Costa in entertaining affair
12:25 a.m. ET: Costa landed an early right hand in the third, and Whittaker countered with a few shots of his own. Kick by Costa, and another. In the clinch, Costa landed a knee. Whittaker with a jab and a right hand. Costa with a few more kicks, who has positive body language. Jabs by both connect. Spinning kick almost landed. Both kick one another. A very entertaining affair thanks to a serious performance by both.
12:17 a.m. ET: Whittaker tried to go for the legs again. Costa with another head kick attempt. He used jabs to push Whittaker back. Costa used a low kick and jabs to damage Whittaker, who went back to the kicks to the legs of Costa. Thumb to the eye to Whittaker. Combinations by Whittaker, and a head kick by Costa. Robert Whittaker has a chin of steel. He took so much damage, but gave it back to Costa. Combinations from Whittaker land. Kick by Costa, as he tried to end the fight with it.
12:10: a.m. ET: Costa started with a jab while Whittaker landed a hard kick. High kick by Costa almost hit, but another did. If he hit it with full force, Costa would be the early winner. They traded shots on the inside. Right hand by Whittaker connected, followed by a jab. “Bobby Knuckles” followed it up with a right, and then attacked the leg of Costa. The leg of Costa was compromised. Volume shots by Whittaker connected. Spinning kick by Costa connected in the final ten seconds of the round. Wow.
COSTA ROCKED WHITTAKER TO END ROUND 1 😳 #UFC298 pic.twitter.com/rILE5NajcQ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 18, 2024
12:05 a.m. ET: Former world champion Robert Whittaker returns to action against Paulo Costa.
Garry called out Colby Covington after the fight.
“I want to retire you (@ColbyCovMMA) from the UFC.”
After tonight’s win, @IanGarryMMA knows exactly who he wants to see next in the Octagon! #UFC298 pic.twitter.com/mCM3af8mzF
— UFC (@ufc) February 18, 2024Ian Machado Garry edges Geoff Neal to remain undefeated
11:50 p.m. ET: Round three had Neal push Garry into the cage but missing a big shot. Garry with a high kick, as he manages to keep the distance. Combinations by Garry landed. Neal held Garry up by the corner. Using volume shots, Garry may take the third in a tight contest. He landed a knee and a shot to the body. Neal held him again by the cage, but didn’t do much before it ended. Garry won via split decision in a hard fight to judge.
11:40 p.m. ET: Round two saw both stalking the other. Garry with fast hands and kicks as Neal tried to counter. Neal had him by the cage and bullied Garry in the corner. Garry used knees to hurt Neal, who forced Garry back into the cage. Another big knee by Garry, but Neal landed a flurry of shots.
11:35 p.m. ET: Garry stalked Neal to start the first round, landing low jabs. He landed a high kick as Neal tried to press forward. Inside body shots by Garry connected, as well as a knee and a high kick. Neal landed a few left hands that pushed Garry into the cage. Garry got out of some control time and hit some tough shots.
Rivals collide as Geoff Neal finally faces Ian Machado Garry.
Cejudo said he would retire again if he lost, and had his gloves off when the result was given.
Merab Dvalishvili dominates Henry Cejudo in front of Mark Zuckerberg
11:15 p.m. ET: I have it 19-19 heading into round three. Merab talking to Mark Zuckerberg while having Cejudo in the guillotine was an amazing visual. A single leg by Dvalishvili and he pushed Cejudo into the cage. Cejudo back in the middle and landed a low kick. Dvalishvili was stalking Cejudo and landed a crisp right. He pushed forward and picked Cejudo up and dropped him in front of Zuckerberg. So cruel. Merab is now the top contender for the UFC bantamweight title.
CONFIRMED: Zuck is a BIG UFC guy #UFC298 pic.twitter.com/rFRHR5bxA2
— UFC (@ufc) February 18, 2024
11:05 p.m. ET: Dvalishvili landed a low kick and a punch to start round two. Cejudo swung around, went for a single, and then got on Dvalishvili’s back. Right hand by Dvalishvili. Single leg by Cejudo but Dvalishvili landed a huge shot that rocked Cejudo. Body shot by Cejudo and a shot the face by Dvalishvili. A single leg by Dvalishvili that dropped Cejudo. On his back, Dvalishvili ragdolled Cejudo. Back up, Dvalishvili had Cejudo in a guillotine.
10:55 p.m. ET: Cejudo looked calm as he landed leg kicks in round one. Dvalishvili tried to intimidate Cejudo. Cejudo with a left hand out of nowhere. Dvalishvili went for a takedown and got it. Back up, Cejudo tried to go on offense, and reversed a shot and landed on top of Dvalishvili. It is a game of cat and mouse, and only a three-round fight. By the cage, Cejudo wouldn’t give Dvalishvili a chance to breathe.
10:45 p.m. ET: Top bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili faces former double-champion Henry Cejudo. With friend Aljamain Sterling no longer champion, Dvalishvili could finally secure a title shot with a win.
Former Pride Champion Wanderlei Silva will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. Pride Never Die!
Welcome to the #UFCHOF, @WandFC 👏
He’s the 2nd member of the UFC Hall of Fame Class of 2024! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/GOBf6ViHXS
— UFC (@ufc) February 18, 2024Anthony Hernandez submits Roman Kopylov in entertaining UFC 298 PPV opener
10:30 p.m. ET: Round two saw Kopylov return to the leg kicks and straight punches. Hernandez tried outpunching him, but Kopylov drilled him with a kick. Hernandez was on his back, and finally properly took him down. By the cage, Hernandez secured a choke and Kopylov got out of it… but not for long. Hernandez got the choke back in and forced him to tap. What an ending!
10:25 p.m. ET: The crowd was a big fan of “Fluffy” Hernandez, the hometown hero. Kopylov used his kicks to inflict damage early. He landed a straight left and a kick to the gut that pushed Hernandez back. Hernandez landed a punch and tried to take him down, but Kopylov used his superb takedown defense to avoid it. Hernandez landed crisp rights. Hernandez with a successful takedown before the end of the first round.
10:15 p.m. ET: The first fight of the main card is Anthony Hernandez vs. Roman Kopylov. Hernandez came out to Por Ti Volare, putting him at the top for Song of the Night.
10 p.m. ET: The main card has started.
9:30 p.m, ET: The last prelim of the night is Amanda Lemos vs. Mackenzie Dern. Dern was compromised right away, with her leg bright red and overreaching. She recovered well in the third but it wasn’t enough to secure the win.
9:10 p.m. ET: Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs. Junior Tafa is next. Fight is hard to predict now that Junior came in on one days notice. He takes over for his brother Justin. Tafa’s legs were shot right away after de Lima chopped him down. The end result was inevitable, as de Lima went back after the legs and Tafa was forced to the floor.
8:40 p.m. ET: College hoops ended so there are more fans watching UFC 298 now. Just in time for Rinya Nakamura vs. Carlos Vera. Vera appeared injured following the first round and Nakamura bullied him through the fight. Nakamura with an easy unanimous decision win.
8:20 p.m. ET: Zhang Mingyang made an immediate impact in his first U.S. fight, winning via knockout. The fighter could be the next big thing to come from China.
Zhang Mingyang with a NASTY hook 🪝 #UFC298 pic.twitter.com/tYemtjRjv5
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) February 18, 2024
8 p.m. ET: The prelims have begun, with Zhang Mingyang facing Brendson Ribeiro in light heavyweight action.
7:45 p.m. ET: To end the early prelims, Danny Barlow beat Josh Quinlan following vicious shots in the third round.
BARLOW WAS RELENTLESS 😳
Stream #UFC298 NOW on ESPN 📺 pic.twitter.com/qhydMfmsUB
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) February 18, 2024
7 p.m. ET: In the early prelims, Miranda Maverick defeated Andrea Lee via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28), while Oban Elliott impressed against Val Woodburn, beating him via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).
Hello everyone, and welcome to The Sporting News’ live coverage of UFC 298.
UFC 298 results
Main card
Ilia Topuria def. Alexander Volkanovski (c) via KO (3:36 into round two) for the UFC featherweight title Rob Whittaker def. Paulo Costa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)Ian Machado Garry def. Geoff Neal via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27) Merab Dvalishvili def. Henry Cejudo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Anthony Hernandez def. Roman Kopylov via rear-naked choke submission (3:28 into round two)
Prelims
Amanda Lemos def. Mackenzie Dern unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Marcos Rogerio de Lima def. Junior Tafa via TKO (1:14 into round two)Rinya Nakamura def. Carlos Vera via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Zhang Mingyang def. Brendson Ribeiro via KO (1:41 into round one)
Early Prelims
Danny Barlow def. Josh Quinlan via TKO (1:18 into round three)Oban Elliott def. Val Woodburn via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) Miranda Maverick def. Andrea Lee via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)