UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria

The official Tapology discussion thread for the event!

I know that many people overlooks Dricus before UFC 290 and were under the impression that DDP was the “worst Ranked Top 5 in UFC History” and that he wins almost by chance and perhaps now many people will not have confidence in Whittaker and are going to call him a “ “washed fighter.” 

But, Paulo Costa is an easy matchup for Bobby Knuckles: Paulo don't have a One Punch KO Power and not even jokingly does he have Dricus's KO power, Paulo only weapons are size, throwing volume and eventually break his opponents. Costa Mobility isn't good and his cardio is terrible. Whittaker is going to school him the way he did with Vettori and Cannonier at the time and honestly Costa is going to look like a fool in octagon again. 

Costa knows how to sell a fight and has managed to stay relevant despite being 1-2 since 2020 and Pull Out in a bunch of matchups. Paulo’s biggest win was Romero (and even in a 5 Round matchup, Yoel was going to beat him after how tired Costa was during the third round) his other best wins are Washed Former UFC Champions (like Rockhold and Hendricks) and Uriah Hall: a perfect fighter to beat with Paulo's Fighting Style (Rush and Break Opponents).

Not to mention Uriah hall was jabbing costa’s face off before quitting like he always does 

I have the feeling that Topuria is going to take this.  Volk will eventually lose at FW and I feel this is the time.

Volkanovski vs. Topuria
Alexander Volkanovski, TKO, R2
Silence of the lambs ery body thinks 🔝 sleeps volk cause a 180 pound dagastany gorilla knocked him out as max Holloway would ya did yall forget about me el Matador charges himself into a Volk right hand knockout

Whittaker vs. Costa
Robert Whittaker, DEC
Speed and volume for the reaper unanimous if not late tko easy win Costas garbage

Dvalishvili vs. Cejudo
Merab Dvalishvili, DEC
Merab is the real deal I think merab also has a good chance at finishing triple c

Doubt Merab finish Henry Cejudo, Merab is one of the biggest decision fighter ever in the UFC, in 9 ufc win. Only UFC finish is a gassed out Marlon Morras,  that a 88.9% decision rate in 9 fight 

Even Belal has a better finishing rate in the UFC then Merab as he is 78.5%, only Chook, Maynard and Jotko have a higher decision percentage in the UFC

* Edited at 12.27.2023, 9:11 PM ET *

I really hope Cejudo wins this one. The whole refusing to take the title fight and waiting out for daddy Sterling really destroyed Merab's image in my eyes.

What's the confidence in Justin Tafa ? can't Marcos grind out a decision win ?

The UFC would also probably love for Cejudo to win too, because he can actually somewhat sell a fight with OMalley. 

Also, Merab is boring fighter which is ever worst than not selling fights

the ufc better cut costa if he pulls outa this one all this talk about his new contract being massive and makin him rich but wont make it to a fight to earn it

Barlow vs. Kino****a
Danny Barlow, TKO, R1
Greatest mismatch in history. Shame shame shame.

I got Garry, Tuivasa, Cejudo, Costa and Volk for this one.

Ilia Topuria vs  Alexander Volkanovski
Topuria SUB, R4

This card is the UFC prospect card pretty much.

This is my favourite card of the year, but 299 and most likely 300 are great card too, it’s a really good start of the year for MMA

just sayin

Quinlan vs. Barlow
Danny Barlow, TKO, R2
Should be fun.

I think Topuria has the momentum and a good combination of factors before the fight. But I can't believe that Volkanovski is one of the most overlooked champions in UFC history (along with Stipe Miocic and Aljamain Sterling) checking the threads anyone can see how common it was to say that ''TKZ could catch him'', that ''Ortega gonna choke him'', that ''Max was superior and was going to beat him like the second time'', that ''Yair was a good underdog because of his striking''. The same kind of fans who said that ''Figueiredo was going to be a bigger champion than DJ'', ''Usman is #1 and Covington is #2 in WW and the rest were far away'' and those who wanted start the ridiculous rhetoric of ''Adensanya is the MW GOAT over Silva'' are the same kind of people who have always minimized Volk and put the hype on every opponent of Alex, and since the fight against Korean Zombie all the title defenses in FW have been Volkanovski masterclass one after another.

Makhachev takes advantage of a gap in Volkanovski game: he is very prone to receiving headkicks due to the difference in height (as well as Holloway drops Volk in his knees in the second fight with a head kick in the second round). but against Topuria I don't think that window is open: taking into account that Volk will not be at a clear height disadvantage and that he will even have the reach advantage.

Some former champions are compared to Jones & GSP, but several of their title defenses are questionable opposition or questionable level/situations.

On the other hand, Volk beat Mendes, Aldo, Holloway (3x) but he has always been the next champion to lose his belt. The joke tells itself.

all facts 

I like Quinlan, but I don't like this matchup for him.

The Stat also can be, from lightweight and below, a fighter 35 and above have never won in 20 something fights

That doesn’t seem good for Volk