Ilia Topuria is oozing confidence ahead of UFC 298.
Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) challenges featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) in the Feb. 17 headliner at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
Despite losing twice to lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, Volkanovski has been unstoppable during his featherweight title reign. However, Topuria plans on walking him down and bringing the fight to him.
“He doesn’t stand a chance. He has zero opportunity,” Topuria told ESPN Deportes. “I don’t see any holes, but I can tell how he attacks. The only attack I see is that he is going to kick my legs. That’s the only thing that he can do.
“He has good cardio, but everyone has good cardio when they’re not under pressure. When you’re walking forward, you’ll have good cardio. But when you’re in trouble, cardio tends to fade away, and this will be the case. He will have someone in front of him that never goes back.”
Undefeated Topuria has been on a roll himself, earning bonuses in his past three showings against Jai Herbert, Bryce Mitchell and Josh Emmett.
“I think it’s going to be perfect,” Topuria said. “It’s going to be a masterpiece, to hit and don’t get hit. That’s what you will see in this combat. You’ll see an authentic mixed martial artist.”
Not only is Topuria predicting dominance, he’s making a bold prediction.
“I don’t have any doubt that the finish will come, and it will be one of the easier fights of my career so far,” Topuria said.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.
Ilia Topuria ahead of UFC 298: Alexander Volkanovski ‘will be one of the easier fights of my career’