UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria fight updates and results tonight
Re-live updates as Alexander Volkanovski defended his featherweight title against Ilia Topuria
Ilia Topuria dethroned featherweight great Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 on Saturday, knocking the Australian out cold in round two.
Volkanovski’s reign at 145lbs has been a storied one, and the 35-year-old was seeking a sixth straight successful title defence as he fought Topuria in Anaheim.
The champion started well, but Topuria’s knockout threat was a key narrative in the build-up to this main event, and the Georgian-Spaniard delivered on that threat.
Midway through the second round, Topuria, 27, landed a picture-perfect fight hook with Volkanovski against the cage, and the Australian collapsed to the canvas at once. With that, Volkanovski’s four-year title reign came to an end, as the unbeaten Topuria became the first UFC champion to represent Georgia or Spain.
Re-live updates and results from the UFC 298 main card and prelims, below.
UFC 298 LIVE: Robert Whittaker vs Paulo Costa
Round two
Whittaker did throw a few shots back after eating that kick – somehow – but how much has he recovered?
Whittaker blocks a head kick. Front kick to the body by Costa, then a slick jab. He misses with a fearsome left hook attempt. Whittaker’s nose is busted up.
More low kicks from Whittaker, then a power jab. Costa catches him on the end of a cross.
We have a brief pause in the action for an apparent eye poke by Costa.
UFC 298 LIVE: Robert Whittaker vs Paulo Costa
Round one
Costa presses forward quickly. Low kick for Whittaker, jab by Costa. Another low kick by Whittaker. He blocks a high kick and kicks low again, but Costa checks it.
Decent counter left hook by Costa. Again Whittaker blocks a head kick. They’re coming at him very quickly...
Costa misses with a fierce left hook attempt... Both men jab well. Decent counter right hand by Costa.
Big overhand right from Whittaker. And now a clean left hook. Stinging jab by Costa. He kicks low now.
Costa already seems to be limping a little bit as a result of Whittaker’s low kicks. Whittaker throws a couple more.
Whittaker just misses with a wide right hook. Costa kicks low. This is very tense. Both men land jabs again. Whittaker blitzes well.
An overhand right is off-target for Whittaker. Nice body shots from Costa. Side kick to the body by Whittaker.
OH! Costa wobbles Whittaker with a spinning back kick just before the buzzer!!
UFC 298 LIVE: Robert Whittaker vs Paulo Costa
A great reception for Whittaker.
Here we go!
UFC 298 LIVE: Robert Whittaker vs Paulo Costa
Time for the co-main event!
Can former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker bounce back from his surprising loss to Dricus Du Plessis?
Whittaker was beaten by Du Plessis via TKO in July, before the latter went on to win the middleweight belt in January.
Whittaker’s only other defeats in recent years had come against divisional great Israel Adesanya – in 2019 and 2022 – and the Australian has produced masterclasses against most other opponents.
Tonight, he will try to produce another clinic against Brazil’s Costa, a former title challenger at 185lbs. This fight was due to take place months ago, but Costa withdrew and argued that the bout was never actually signed.
Costa last fought in August 2022, outpointing ex-champion Luke Rockhold in a wild fight, which marked the end of the latter’s MMA career.
UFC 298 LIVE: Ian Garry vs Geoff Neal
Ian Machado Garry def. Geoff Neal via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
Still unbeaten! Lots of boos in California...
“There’s one guy I want next, and I’ve been saying his name all week: Colby ‘Chaos’ Covington,” says Garry.
“I wanna retire you from the UFC, Colby. You ain’t ready to deal with the undefeated prospects. I’m gonna make you regret everything you’ve ever said.”
UFC 298 LIVE: Ian Garry vs Geoff Neal
Round three
Final round. Neal closes range aggressively, missing with a right hand but clinching Garry against the fence.
Garry gets free and almost lands a head kick. Nice body kick by the Irishman, but Neal responds with a flurry of body shots and an uppercut upstairs.
Inside low kick by Neal. Stinging jab by Garry, who then attacks the body. Another decent knee by the “Future”.
Again Neal holds Garry against the fence. Again Garry circles away eventually. Beautifully-timed knee up the middle by Garry!
Neal is chasing Garry, who is largely skipping away but also throwing just enough strikes to keep Neal thinking.
UFC 298 LIVE: Ian Garry vs Geoff Neal
Round two
Inside low kick by Neal. Body kick by Garry, who follows up with crisp punches upstairs. Garry just misses with a knee and a right hook, and Neal grabs a body lock. He holds Garry against the cage wall.
Some boos ring around the arena. Garry is able to free himself and skip away. He almost lands a knee but is tagged with a punch over the top. Body kick by Garry.
Again Neal kicks low. He barely misses with an overhand left. Now Neal clinches again and drives Garry to the fence. The grappling continues but out in the open, where the welterweights separate.
Neal with a clean cross upstairs. Front kick to the head by Garry! Now a body kick and a knee up the middle.
Neal closes range and lands a decent right hook, but he can’t put more punches behind it. More high-fiving between the fighters.
Close round.
UFC 298 LIVE: Ian Garry vs Geoff Neal
Round one
Garry is orthodox, Neal is southpaw as usual. Garry takes the centre of the ring, Neal kicks low and bounces around.
Again Neal kicks low, then he blocks a high kick. Front kick to the body by Garry. Neal is chasing Garry around the ring.
Body kick by Neal, who then goes low as Garry tries for a cross. Neal loads up big and misses with a winging shot. A high-five ensues.
Neal backs up Garry and lands a one-two, before the Irishman clinches him in defence. Eventually Garry is able to reverse the position, but Neal gets him back against the cage before long.
Garry slips free and circles away, but he’s tagged with a one-two as he does so. Oblique kick, high kick and front kick by Garry.
Step-in knee by Garry now. Another front kick. Decent right straight by Neal.
UFC 298 LIVE: Ian Garry vs Geoff Neal
Garry emerges to “Layla” by Eric Clapton – a nod to his wife, whom he kisses at ringside.
Neal joins the unbeaten Garry in the ring. This one could be a lot of fun.
Here, we, go!
UFC 298 LIVE: Ian Garry vs Geoff Neal
Next up, controversial Irish welterweight Ian Machado Garry faces the hard-hitting Geoff Neal.
These two were due to fight in August, but Neal withdrew from the bout, and Garry went on to fight Neil Magny instead.
Garry, 26, beat Magny comfortably on points, and his profile has risen immensely in the time since – despite his bout with teammate Vicente Luque falling through in December.
Will the “Future” keep climbing, or will American Neal, 33, put an end to his rise?
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