UFC 298: Five Things We Learned
UFC 298 was a stacked card that was projected to be a sensational night of fights. The card did not disappoint either. The event resulted in a new champion, established contenders, and a few great scraps. Let’s discuss the five biggest lessons we learned from the event.
Ilia Topuria silences the doubters
In the UFC 298 main event, Ilia Topuria put his boxing on full display as he landed a right hand that ended Alexander Volkanovski’s title reign.
This fight silenced any Topuria doubter. It is evident that he is legitimately championship caliber and his skills were not overhyped. The threat of his boxing and power will be a task for future opponents to handle. If Volkanovski was unable to stay safe for two rounds, it is hard to imagine lesser strikers would be able to compete in striking exchanges. The Topuria puzzle will be a tough one to crack.
This bout is also a passing of a touch. The featherweight title lineage is one of the most respected in the sport. Topuria now has the belt and has the skills to defend it.
Alexander Volkanovski needs to take time off
It has been a rough string of fights for Alexander Volkanovski. In his last two outings, he has been violently knocked out. It does not help both losses occurred in a four-month span. It would be a travesty if Volkanovski rushed back into the octagon after his loss at UFC 298.
I would like to make it very clear that I do not enjoy making comments like this. I obviously wish good health to anyone who fights in the octagon and I don’t like to give health advice. I think this situation is fairly transparent, however.
At 35, Volkanovski is in a tough position because he will only age as he sits on the sideline. At the same time, if he turns around quickly and fights in four months it could be even worse.
The worst part of this situation is that Volkanovski does not seem content to sit on the sidelines and recover. Instead, in his octagon interview, he called for an immediate rematch and said he was willing to go to Spain for the fight. Hopefully, for Volkanovski’s sake, that will not take for a while.
Robert Whittaker reminds fans he is elite
In the UFC 298 co-main event, Robert Whittaker had questions to answer. The former champion was coming off the first middleweight loss of his career to a fighter outside of Israel Adesanya. It certainly did not help that it was a knockout loss. Whittaker bounced back massively in his victory over Paulo Costa.
Whittaker did a lot of great things in this fight. On the outside, his jab and leg kicks helped him control that fight. Although, he did not rest on those two weapons. Whittaker was willing to trade in the pocket against the lethal Costa. That was a serious risk, but Whittaker was able to extend his combinations and land counters. That allows him to pour even deal even more damage. It was a highly entertaining fight and Whittaker was in control for a strong portion of the bout.
It can be ignored that Whittaker ate a massively spinning wheel kick in the first round. That is certainly not ideal; however, his durability was in question entertaining this fight, and surviving that shot proved he can still take damage. What is even more impressive is that he came back and won the last two rounds.
At UFC 298, Whittaker proved he is still one of the best middleweight’s alive. For a long period, that was not a question. Whittaker was atop the division. Despite a brief moment of concern, it does not look like he is going anywhere.
Ian Machado Garry commits to limiting risk
At UFC 298, Ian Machado Garry picked up a decision win over Geoff Neal. It was not the most entertaining fight, but Machado Garry proved that he prioritizes winning over entertainment.
The game plan for Machado Garry was clear. The goal was to stay on the outside, pick at Neal with kicks, and land knees when the distance shrunk. That was followed to a tee. If he had gone off script, he would have run the risk of getting caught with Neal’s left hand. That game plan and execution resulted in Machado Garry getting his hand raised.
The book appears to be out on Machado Garry. It is clear that his number one priority is winning. That was clear in his previous fight against Neil Mangy as well. For a 26-year-old, that is a commendable trait.
The Merab Dvalishvili machine keeps running
Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili added another former champion to his resume as he defeated Henry Cejudo at UFC 298. Once again, it was a great example of how he earned his nickname.
We already knew that Dvalishvili can fight at an insane pace. That is nothing new. That said, I think this fight showed growth in his style. Dvalishvili was able to set a pace and win the later rounds without taking ridiculous risks. In previous fights, he has taken big risks and got out of control. That is a concern at the top of the division. In my eyes, this fight was a great step in the right direction.
Dvalishvili was also more efficient with his output. The Georgian went five for 11 on takedowns while landing 74 of 172 significant strike attempts, according to UFC Stats. Those marks are both more efficient than his career average. Additionally, he logged 4:23 of control time. That is a strong mark in a three-round fight.
If Dvalishvili can continue being efficient while setting a pace, he will have a much higher ceiling as a fighter.
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