UFC 298 heats up Anaheim this weekend with a PPV title fight. Despite two unsuccessful attempts against UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, Alexander Volkanovski remains the man to beat in the featherweight division. The wounded king will find himself in a fight to retain his throne on February 17th when Ilia Topuria comes knocking on the door for the UFC featherweight belt.
Topuria, on the other hand, will have no shortage of confidence ahead of the clash as he brings a 14-fight unbeaten run to the Octagon. His demolition of Josh Emmett showcased his dual threat – fire in his fists and a shark’s instinct for submissions.
Can experience trump youthful fire? Volkanovski, the battle-hardened champion, faces his toughest test yet in Topuria, an undefeated prodigy who fights with the swagger of the invincible. This is a clash of styles and personalities, a war of experience against audacious belief. We look at the latest William Hill odds and breakdown the best betting preview for Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 16th, 1:00 A.M. (GMT)
Volkanovski enters the fray as one of the best featherweight fighters of all time, and a win might as well cement his legacy as the division’s finest. The Australian, however, is about to take on a fighter with near-unstoppable momentum and sky-high confidence. The razor-sharp odds of 1.91 for both fighters point to a barnburner of a matchup.
While both fighters have equal odds of winning the bout, Topuria’s knockout threat stands out (odds of 2.37 vs. Volkanovski’s 3.25). True to his “El Matador” moniker, Topuria methodically applies pressure with heavy strikes, seeking takedowns to either punish relentlessly or finish with one decisive blow.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 16th, 1:00 A.M. (GMT)
History suggests that Volkanovski is up for an uphill battle. Despite his stellar record, “The Great” will not be thrilled to know that no fighter older than 35 has managed to win a title fight between 125 and 145 pounds. He needs to bank on his relentless drive and technical acumen to rewrite history and fend off Topuria’s challenge.
We, however, are not convinced that Volkanovski will be able to escape the thunderous fists of his Spanish nemesis. Our recommended betting tip for this fight is a Topuria KO/TKO/DQ/submission win at 2.37. It will be a controversial result with fans eager to see Volkanovski return to his glory, but what we’ve seen from Topuria is too convincing to bet otherwise.
