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: Volkanovski vs Topuria
Here’s another push for our main-event preview:
Alexander Volkanovski, Ilia Topuria, and the UFC’s devastating ‘curse’
Will Volkanovski’s era-defining title run continue at UFC 298, or will he again fall victim to a worrying statistic?
UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria
Here’s how the main card looks:
Alexander Volkanovski (C) vs Ilia Topuria (featherweight title)
Robert Whittaker vs Paul Costa (middleweight)
Geoff Neal vs Ian Machado Garry (welterweight)
Merab Dvalishvili vs Henry Cejudo (bantamweight)
Anthony Hernandez vs Roman Kopylov (middleweight)
UFC 298 LIVE: Amanda Lemos vs Mackenzie Dern
Amanda Lemos def. Mackenzie Dern via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
There are some boos, but 29-28 either way would have been a fair decision. Lemos is ecstatic.
And with that, the prelims are in the books! Next up, the main card...
UFC 298 LIVE: Amanda Lemos vs Mackenzie Dern
Round three
OH! Dern comes out strong early in this final round, dropping Lemos with a big right hand!
Lemos grapples Dern against the fence to buy time to recover, but Dern pulls guard...
Dern works on an armbar... but Lemos does a good job at escaping! Dern targets the leg instead now, but Lemos is well positioned to fire off punches in the meantime!
Dern is able to transition into half-guard, where she is in control and landing a few sharp elbows now!
She wants an arm triangle... but Lemos stays composed. Eventually the Brazilian is able to stand and trip Dern, and now Lemos is on top.
Dern is looking for a leg lock... but the final buzzer sounds!
UFC 298 LIVE: Amanda Lemos vs Mackenzie Dern
Round two
Lemos goes southpaw for now, flicking out a side kick to the body. Now she sidesteps a wild striking entry from Dern.
Another hard low kick at Dern, who stumbles. OH! And Dern rushes onto a counter right, which drops her to a knee!
Lemos chases Dern to the canvas and pours on punches! Dern’s nose is badly bloodied, but she JUST survives!
Lemos finally elects to let Dern stand, after controlling the American but without advancing the position or dealing much damage.
Dern blocks a high kick. She eats a low one, though, and again she hobbles. Not only is Dern’s nose bloodied, but her right eye is severely bruised.
Lemos secures a trip, but Dern is able to sweep her on the canvas!
UFC 298 LIVE: Amanda Lemos vs Mackenzie Dern
Round one
Both women stand orthodox. Hard body kick from Lemos. Dern keeps pressing forward and eats a short one-two.
Now Lemos kicks low. Dern wings a one-two and misses by some margin. Clean cross by Lemos, who then sees a body kick blocked.
Lemos kicks low and hard. Dern’s lead leg is already sporting some significant bruising. The American absorbs a harsh body kick from Brazilian Lemos.
Dern with a well-timed takedown! She succeeds and has Lemos against the fence, on the canvas. Good punches from Dern, who is looking to progress from half-guard.
Lemos with a really nice move, raising Dern over her.
UFC 298 LIVE: Amanda Lemos vs Mackenzie Dern
Next up, ex-title challenger Amanda Lemos takes on Mackenzie Dern in a women’s strawweight bout!
Here we go.
UFC 298 LIVE: Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs Junior Tafa
Round two
De Lima floors Tafa with a leg kick immediately. Tafa springs back up and covers up, as De Lima wings punches to his body.
Tafa’s corner wanted him to go southpaw, and he only complies now. Again Tafa hits the canvas after a heavy low kick, and De Lima pours on hammer fists – and that’s all she wrote!
The referee steps in! A clinical win for De Lima.
Marcos Rogerio de Lima def. Junior Tafa via second-round TKO (leg kicks and hammer fists, 1:14)
UFC 298 LIVE: Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs Junior Tafa
Round one
Good low kicks by De Lima. “Tafa” is the chant in the arena. De Lima is backing up Tafa and narrowly misses with a right cross.
Tafa misses with a hook and is caught clean by a left hook from De Lima! Tafa takes it well. More low kicks from De Lima, who is on the front foot here.
Oh!! A calf kick hurts Tafa, who winces and hobbles, and... De Lima shoots for a takedown? What? Such a strange decision.
Tafa is eventually able to get off the fence, but De Lima maintains pressure, attacking the body with a kick and now a flurry of heavy hooks!
Now De Lima gets a takedown against the fence. He’s into half-guard. Good strikes from above, and De Lima ends the round in control.
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