Alexander Volkanovski is slightly favored against Ilia Topuria at UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria on Saturday, February 17 in Anaheim, California. This event is one of five fights on the main pay-per-view card. Volkanovski is 26-3 in his career, including 13-2 in the UFC, while Topuria is 14-0 in his career, including 6-0 in the UFC. There are a total of 12 fights with five on Pay-Per-View, four on ESPN/ESPN+, and three on ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass at UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria. Let’s look at the bout between Volkanovski and Topuria and UFC predictions.
UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria takes place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California on Saturday, February 17 with 12 fights with five Pay-Per-View, four on ESPN/ESPN+, and three on ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.
UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria Betting
Alexander Volkanovski (26-3, 13-2 UFC)
Volkanovski came into the UFC with a record of 13-1 and he has 13 wins and two losses in the UFC. In his last six fights, he has four wins and two losses. He defeated Brian Ortega by unanimous decision, Jung Chan-sung by TKO, Max Holloway by unanimous decision, and Yair Rodríguez by TKO; while losing to Islam Makhachev twice with once by unanimous decision and once by KO. Volkanovski has been a pro since 2012 and he has 13 wins by TKO/KO and three by submission. He has seven first round finishes.
Volkanovski said this to mmajunkie.usatoday.com about his upcoming fight against Topuria, “Prediction is, I teach him a good lesson. He’s going to be embarrassed, he’s going to eat some of his words, and it’s going to be maybe being the start of his journey. He’s young. He is confident. I’ll humble him. He’ll bounce back and start after I give him a good ass beating. Round 2, I think. I think I crumble him in the first. I’m not saying it’s going to be an easy fight, but I think just how confident he is, he hasn’t been able to prove that. I prove that every time I step in this gym – I’m pushing myself to the limit. I don’t know if he does. He doesn’t act like it. So I’m going to push him, and I think I crumble him inside one, and I get the finish soon after that.”
Ilia Topuria (14-0, 6-0 UFC)
Topuria came into the UFC with a record of 8-0 and he has six wins and no losses in the UFC. He defeated Youssef Zalal by unanimous decision, Damon Jackson by KO, Ryan Hall by KO, Jai Herbert by KO, Bryce Mitchell by arm-triangle choke submission, and Josh Emmett by unanimous decision. Topuria has been a pro since 2015 and he has four wins by TKO/KO and eight by submission. He has nine first round finishes.
Striking Stats
Strikes landed per minute: Volkanovski 6.19 / Topuria 4.44
Striking Accuracy: Volkanovski 57% / Topuria 46%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Volkanovski 3.42 / Topuria 3.05
Defense: Volkanovski 58% / Topuria 67%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Volkanovski 1.84/ Topuria 2.19
Takedown Accuracy: Volkanovski 37% / Topuria 56%
Takedowns defended: Volkanovski 70% / Topuria 92%
Submission average: Volkanovski 0.2/ Topuria 1.5
UFC Picks
I am not sure Volkanovski is getting enough respect in terms of the UFC betting odds. I know he lost twice to Makhachev, but that was at a different weight and it didn’t seem that Volkanovski was properly motivated. There doesn’t seem to be any question that Volkanovski is motivated for this fight. Topuria has done nothing wrong in his career, winning all of his fights, but he has never fought anyone as good as Volkanovski. I’ll take Volkanovski to get this win. The rounds are listed at 3.5 for this fight and I am a little surprised at this number and the over is actually favored. Topuria has only seen two of his fights go the distance and based on what Volkanovski said, it seems unlikely this fight is going to see a decision. I will also take the rounds to go under the total.
| DATE | FIGHTERS | MONEY LINE |
| 02/17 | Ilia Topuria | -110 |
| Alexander Volkanovski | -120 |
| 02/17 | Paulo Costa | +178 |
| Robert Whittaker | -228 |
| 02/17 | Henry Cejudo | +172 |
| Merab Dvalishvili | -220 |
| 02/17 | Geoff Neal | +170 |
| Ian Machado Garry | -217 |
| 02/17 | Mackenzie Dern | +110 |
| Amanda Lemos | -140 |
| 02/17 | Justin Tafa | +120 |
| Marcos Rogerio de Lima | -150 |
| 02/17 | Carlos Vera | +583 |
| Rinya Nakamura | -995 |
| 02/17 | Brendson Ribeiro | +109 |
| Mingyang Zhang | -137 |
| 02/17 | Andrea Lee | +150 |
| Miranda Maverick | -190 |
| 02/17 | Val Woodburn | +231 |
| Oban Elliott | -305 |
| 02/17 | Josh Quinlan | +156 |
| Danny Barlow | -197 |
| 02/17 | Roman Kopylov | +152 |
| Anthony Hernandez | -192 |
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! Real-time spreads, totals, props, and money lines are all available so start betting with BookMaker today.
Check out the latest odds at BookMaker
