Ilia Topuria News
WATCH | Ilia Topuria snatches Alexander Volkanovski belt during UFC 298 press conference
Cole Shelton - February 15, 2024
Ilia Topuria has continued the trend of touching and wearing the UFC title before he has won it. Topuria did his UFC 298 photo shoot with the belt on and now during the press conference, he snatched the belt from Volkanovski and put it in the air like he won it. That got a reaction from Volkanovski who told him to touch it all he wanted as it would be going back to Australia after Saturday night in Anaheim.
WATCH | Ilia Topuria poses with UFC belt as Alexander Volkanovski crashes photo shoot ahead of UFC 298
Cole Shelton - February 15, 2024
Ilia Topuria decided to have the UFC title wrapped around his waist before his title fight in the main event of UFC 298 against Alexander Volkanovski. Topuria has been oozing with confidence in the lead-up to his first crack at the UFC title on Saturday night. The Georgian-Spaniard has already crowned himself as the UFC champion in his Instagram bio, also claiming he’s 15-0, even though he’s only 14-0 heading into Saturday.
Brian Ortega fires back at Ilia Topuria for recent UFC title comments: "You have to win the belt for that to happen"
Fernando Quiles - February 15, 2024
Brian Ortega has responded to Ilia Topuria’s claim that he won’t give him a title shot if he defeats Alex Volkanovski for the UFC Featherweight Championship. Topuria will be challenging Volkanovski for the 145-pound gold in the main event of UFC 298 this Saturday night. Topuria has been rather brash in the buildup for this title fight. He has already declared himself as the true UFC featherweight champion. He even said he wouldn’t give, Ortega, Max Holloway, or Yair Rodriguez a title opportunity.
Alexander Volkanovski explains his motivation ahead of Ilia Topuria clash at UFC 298
Harry Kettle - February 15, 2024
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has spoken candidly about his motivation heading into his battle with Ilia Topuria. On Saturday night, Alexander Volkanovski will defend his belt in the main event of UFC 298. He’ll do so against Ilia Topuria, in an encounter that has the potential to be one of the best title fights in UFC history.
Ilia Topuria reveals brother Alexsandre has signed with UFC: "He will be become a UFC world champion"
Fernando Quiles - February 14, 2024
The brother of UFC featherweight contender Ilia Topuria has scored a UFC contract. During an interview with ESPN, “El Matador” confirmed that Alexsandre Topuria is indeed a member of the UFC roster. Alexsandre has a pro record of 5-1. His lone defeat came against Ivo Ivanov back in 2015. At the age of 28, Alexsandre is hoping that he has entered the UFC at the perfect time.
Sean O’Malley says Ilia Topuria "better hope he f*cking" defeats Alex Volkanovski at UFC 298: "He's talking a lot of sh*t"
Fernando Quiles - February 14, 2024
UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley thinks Ilia Topuria might be biting off more than he can chew, but he still wants that fight. Topuria will be challenging Alex Volkanovski for the UFC Featherweight Championship. The title fight will be headlining UFC 298, which will emanate from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The action will take place this Saturday night.
Yair Rodriguez slams "delusional" Ilia Topuria, claims his career will be "over" after UFC 298
Cole Shelton - February 12, 2024
Yair Rodriguez is not a fan of Ilia Topuria, and he expects the Spaniard-Georgian to lose on Saturday at UFC 298. Topuria is set to headline UFC 298 on Saturday as he takes on Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title. It’s an intriguing matchup and in the lead-up to the scrap, Topuria has been full of confidence that he will beat Volkanovski with ease to become the champ.
Alex Volkanovski offers grim prediction for UFC 298 title fight against Ilia Topuria: "He’s going to be embarrassed"
Fernando Quiles - February 12, 2024
UFC featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski believes Ilia Topuria will have egg on his face once UFC 298 has concluded. Volkanovski is set to put his 145-pound gold at stake against Topuria inside the Honda Center in Anaheim, California this Saturday night. The featherweight championship clash will headline UFC 298. If “The Great” can emerge victorious, he’ll have secured his sixth successful UFC featherweight title defense, which would put him one shy of tying Jose Aldo’s 145-pound record.
Ilia Topuria's confidence reminds Daniel Cormier of Conor McGregor ahead of UFC 298: "This dude has updated his bio with another win"
Fernando Quiles - February 9, 2024
UFC 298 headliner Ilia Topuria has confidence the levels of Conor McGregor, says UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier. Topuria will be challenging Alex Volkanovski for the UFC Featherweight Championship on February 17. The action will be held inside the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Ahead of the title fight, Topuria hasn’t been shy in talking trash about not just the 145-pound titleholder, but the entire featherweight division. It’s led many to believe that “El Matador” is either in for a meteoric rise, or an embarrassing fall.
Sean O'Malley plans to attend UFC 298 to set up champ-champ fight at The Sphere in September
Cole Shelton - February 6, 2024
Sean O’Malley has his eyes set on becoming a champ-champ. O’Malley is set to defend his bantamweight title for the first time in the main event of UFC 299 against Marlon Vera. Heading into the fight, ‘Suga’ has been oozing with confidence and believes he will KO Vera to defend his belt with ease.
Ilia Topuria tells Max Holloway, Yair Rodriguez, and Brian Ortega to retire because he will "never give them" a title shot
Cole Shelton - February 5, 2024
Ilia Topuria has some advice for some of the top-ranked featherweights. Topuria is set to headline UFC 298 on February 17 as he takes on Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title. It’s a highly-anticipated matchup and in the lead-up to the fight, the Georgian is a slight underdog as he’s -105 to defeat the Aussie. Yet, Topuria has full confidence he will beat Volkanovski with ease.
Ilia Topuria dismisses future fight with 'beginner' Paddy Pimblett: "His last fight was embarrassing"
Josh Evanoff - February 5, 2024
UFC featherweight contender Ilia Topuria isn’t interested in facing Paddy Pimblett in a cage. ‘El Matador’ is currently slated for the biggest fight of his life later this month at UFC 298. Fresh off a dominant win over Josh Emmett last summer, Ilia Topuria will attempt to win featherweight gold. On pay-per-view, he will face the dominant Alexander Volkanovski, back for the first time since a knockout loss to Islam Makhachev last October.
Ilia Topuria responds after Yair Rodriguez takes aim at his UFC resume: “They don’t use me as a rag in the fights”
Susan Cox - January 26, 2024
Ilia Topuria is responding after former interim featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez took aim at his UFC resume. It was Rodriguez who recently took aim at Topuria, claiming that he ‘talked’ his way into a title shot.
Sean O’Malley says super fight with Ilia Topuria will be next if both men win their upcoming bouts
Susan Cox - January 12, 2024
Sean O’Malley is advising that a super fight with Ilia Topuria will happen next if both men win their upcoming bouts. UFC 298 takes place on Saturday, February 17th at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Josh Emmett reveals who he gives slight edge to for Alex Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria: "It’s hard for me to bet against ..."
Fernando Quiles - January 7, 2024
Josh Emmett doesn’t consider himself to be a modern day Nostradamus, but he does know who he’s leaning towards picking for the UFC 298 main event. Headlining that planned February 17 pay-per-view will be reigning UFC featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski. He’ll be putting his gold at stake against undefeated challenger Ilia Topuria. It’s a tough fight to call between a dominant champion, who is coming off a devastating KO loss to lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev, and the rising Topuria. As it stands now, Volkanovski is the -155 betting favorite, while Topuria is a +130 underdog, per DraftKings Sportsbook.
Sean O’Malley challenges Ilia Topuria to bet on their upcoming PPV numbers: “100k cash whoever’s PPV is bigger”
Susan Cox - January 5, 2024
Sean O’Malley is challenging Ilia Topuria to bet on their upcoming PPV numbers. The current UFC bantamweight champion, O’Malley (17-1 MMA) is preparing to defend his title in a rematch against Marlon Vera (23-8 MMA) at UFC 299 which takes place on Saturday, March 9th at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.
Ilia Topuria is predicting a “masterpiece” against Alex Volkanovski at UFC 298: “It will be one of the easier fights of my career”
Harry Kettle - December 9, 2023
UFC contender Ilia Topuria has predicted a masterpiece of a performance ahead of his fight against Alexander Volkanovski. At UFC 298 in February, Ilia Topuria will challenge Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC featherweight championship. While some feel as if this is too quick, others expect him to put up a really good showing against the champion.
Alexander Volkanovski vows to embarrass Ilia Topuria in UFC 298 return: "I am still that guy"
Josh Evanoff - December 5, 2023
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is out to prove a point against Ilia Topuria. ‘The Great’ has been out of the cage since a short-notice rematch with Islam Makhachev in October. There, Alexander Volkanovski suffered his second loss to the lightweight champion, this time by stoppage. Following the bout, he called for a fast turnaround against Ilia Topuria in January.