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: Merab Dvalishvili vs Henry Cejudo
Merab Dvalishvili def. Henry Cejudo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Ten wins in a row for Merab, including three on the bounce against ex-champions!
Surely a title fight is next for the Georgian. Indeed, Merab calls out champion Sean O’Malley, who looks unfazed at ringside.
UFC 298 LIVE: Merab Dvalishvili vs Henry Cejudo
Round three
Cejudo with an outside low kick. Merab misses with a wheel kick. Forward comes Cejudo with a right cross. Again he kicks low.
Cejudo’s left forearm is BADLY swollen... Merab clinches the American and drives him to the fence, where he’s throwing knees into Cejudo’s thighs and talking to UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby through the fence.
Cejudo is eventually able to get free. He kicks low yet again. Good takedown defence as Merab tries a single-leg.
Eventually Merab gets the takedown, however, picking up and slamming down Cejudo! And he will control the former champion for what’s left of this round.
UFC 298 LIVE: Merab Dvalishvili vs Henry Cejudo
Round two
Cejudo looked fantastic in that opening round. He did a great job at preventing Merab from walking him down.
Hard outside low kick by Merab, who then misses with a deep overhand right. Well-timed single-leg by Cejudo now! He has Merab against the fence, but not for long. Good body shots by Merab, but Cejudo fires back upstairs.
Merab gets through with a couple of right hands, but Cejudo lands that left hook again. OH! Both men land big shots! Cejudo’s chin is sticking right out!
Cejudo digs to the body. Merab with a clean left. Well-timed single-leg by Merab this time! Cejudo looks up at the clock. 2:20 left in this middle round.
Cejudo crawls to the fence, as Merab hangs on to his back. Cejudo stands against the cage wall but is soon dragged down.
Cejudo is losing this round, after surely taking round one. He tries for a single-leg, but he’s caught in a guillotine and eats a couple of hard knees! Merab is using the guillotine for control, not for a submission.
Now Merab is trying for the submission... He’s talking to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who is ringside!
UFC 298 LIVE: Merab Dvalishvili vs Henry Cejudo
Round one
Both men stand orthodox. Cejudo is light on his feet. Merab misses with a wheel kick. And again.
Merab kicks low, before Cejudo does the same. Cejudo just misses with a winging left hook, then he misses again with a shorter effort.
The third one lands, though, wobbling Merab!! The Georgian laughs it off...
Cejudo kicks low, and Merab returns fire. Merab shoots for a single-leg takedown, and dumps down Cejudo in the middle of the ring! Good scramble from Cejudo to stand, however!
This time it’s Merab who drops Cejudo, onto his backside, after landing a right hand! But Cejudo is able to reverse the position as Merab chases him to the canvas!
Cejudo is controlling Merab now, in the way that Merab usually controls his opponents... Merab eventually stands, but Cejudo is controlling him against the fence.
Good knees from Merab, but Cejudo lands one of his own!
UFC 298 LIVE: Merab Dvalishvili vs Henry Cejudo
Next up, it’s a potential No 1 contender’s fight at bantamweight.
Former champion Henry Cejudo, who simultaneously reigned as flyweight champion, faces Merab Dvalishvili.
American Cejudo retired in 2020 before returning last May to challenge Aljamain Sterling for the 135lbs title. The Olympic gold medalist came up short on points, and tonight marks his second bout since reversing his retirement.
Cejudo, 37, has said he will retire again if he loses here, though, and that is a very real possibility as he takes on a man on a hell of a streak.
Dvalishvili, 33, is on a nine-fight winning run, and the Georgian beat former bantamweight champion Petr Yan last time out – after defeating ex-featherweight king Jose Aldo.
Dvalishvili has relentless wrestling pressure, but that is also Cejudo’s Olympic-level realm.
The winner of this one could challenge reigning champion Sean O’Malley next – or Marlon Vera, if the Ecuadorian beats “Sugar Sean” in March.
UFC 298 LIVE: Wanderlei Silva inducted into Hall of Fame
As we wait for our next bout, Wanderlei Silva is revealed as the next inductee into the 2024 UFC Hall of Fame class.
UFC 298 LIVE: Anthony Hernandez vs Roman Kopylov
Round two
Decent counter jab by Kopylov as Hernandez backs him up. Oh, nice uppercut from the Russian now.
Hernandez lands a head kick, but it’s not clean. Great combination by Kopylov in response, ending with a body kick.
Kopylov is finding success with his rear uppercut, timing it as Hernandez ducks his head. Another harsh body kick from Kopylov, but Hernandez presses forward and gets a body lock.
And there’s the takedown for Hernandez, who is taking Kopylov’s back against the fence!
Hernandez eventually locks in the rear naked choke, and Kopylov is wincing... OH! But Kopylov is able to escape briefly...
Until Hernandez locks it in again! He nods his head, smiling knowingly! Kopylov TAPS!
Anthony Hernandez def. Roman Kopylov via second-round submission (rear naked choke, 3:23)
UFC 298 LIVE: Anthony Hernandez vs Roman Kopylov
Round one
Hernandez stands orthodox, Kopylov is southpaw. Now Kopylov goes orthodox, then back to southpaw. Hernandez comes forward with a blitz, before Kopylov reminds him of the takedown threat.
Good low kick from Kopylov. Brutal body kick now. He just misses with a head kick, then steps back to evade an overhand right from Hernandez.
Hernandez catches a body kick and chases after Kopylov with a flurry of straight punches, but Kopylov is able to circle away.
Good southpaw cross from Kopylov. Hernandez backs him up with a pair of hooks then shoots for a double-leg takedown against the fence. Hernandez has Kopylov down briefly, but the Russian stands and separates.
Again Hernandez uses hooks to set up a double-leg attempt against the fence. Kopylov is defending well, but Hernandez lands a terrific elbow – and another!
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