The second PPV of 2024 is here. UFC 298 lands in Anaheim, California on Saturday night with a loaded fight card sure to delight fans after a slow start to the year. The featherweight title is up for grabs when champion Alexander Volkanovski looks to turn away his latest challenger in Ilia Topuria in the main event. Volkanovski has remarkably held the title for over four years despite a pair of challenges against lightweight champ Islam Makhachev where he came up short.
It’s been a while since Volkanovski faced this much doubt for a featherweight title defense. Volkanovski is a slight betting favorite heading to the Honda Center in Anaheim. It’s a narrow margin considering his status to some as MMA’s greatest featherweight, but he’s facing one of the sport’s fastest-rising stars. Topuria is a featherweight force with 12 stoppages in 14 undefeated fights. Damage is guaranteed even when going the distance. Just ask Josh Emmett, who Topuria scored an unfathomable 50-42 scorecard against to earn his title shot. Volkanovski’s relatively quick turnaround after getting head-kicked by Makhachev in October only compacts concerns.
“[I see myself] as one of the greatest in the featherweight division,” Topuria said during Wednesday’s UFC 298 media day. “They are going to remember me, too, as they remember Jose Aldo, Conor McGregor and Alex Volkanovski. I’m going to put myself in that book.”
Can’t get enough boxing and MMA? Get the latest in the world of combat sports from two of the best in the business. Subscribe to Morning Kombat with Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell for the best analysis and in-depth news, including a complete preview of UFC 298 in Anaheim, California, below.
“I don’t need to prove anything,” Volkanovski told UFC.com. “I’m just going to keep getting better, keep building my legacy and I’ll let the people decide that. You’re not going to get everyone on your side. That’s just impossible. Trust me, I’ve tried early in my career. I wanted everyone to know I’m a nice guy. It ain’t going to work. Even no matter how nice you are, you’re going to get haters.”
Below is the complete fight card for UFC 298 along with the latest odds. Check back all week long for the latest news, features and other content around this massive event.
UFC 298 fight card, odds
- Alexander Volkanovski (c) -130 vs. Ilia Topuria +110, featherweight title
- Robert Whittaker -250 vs. Paulo Costa +205, middleweights
- Ian Machado Garry -250 vs. Geoff Neal +205, welterweights
- Merab Dvalishvili -260 vs. Henry Cejudo +210, bantamweights
- Anthony Hernandez -240 vs. Roman Kopylov +200, middleweights
- Amanda Lemos -135 vs. Mackenzie Dern +115, women’s strawweights
- Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs. Junior Tafa, heavyweights
- Rinya Nakamura -1400 vs. Carlos Vera +800, bantamweights
- Zhang Mingyang -120 vs. Brendson Ribiero +100, light heavyweights
- Danny Barlow -220 vs. Josh Quinlan +180, welterweights
- Oban Elliott -320 vs. Val Woodburn +250, welterweights
- Miranda Maverick -185 vs. Andrea Lee +155, women’s flyweights
UFC 298 info
- Date: Feb. 17
- Location: Honda Center — Anaheim
- Start time: 10 p.m. ET (Main card)
- How to watch: ESPN+ PPV
UFC 298 countdown
- Staff predictions and expert picks for the main card
- Mahjouri: Garry dismisses rumors about his personal life
- Campbell: Why Topuria is dripping with confidence ahead of main event
- Brookhouse: Best bets to consider on the main card
- Mahjouri: Undercard fights worth watching this weekend
- Campbell: Five biggest storylines to follow in Anaheim
Who wins UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria, and how exactly does each fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks on UFC 298, all from the MMA expert who profited more than $6,200, and find out.
