Volkanovski - Topuria: weigh-in, format rounds and duration of the UFC fight
The Australian champion will be putting his title on the line against the very dangerous Spanish/Georgian challenger. The question is can he defend it?
This weekend, UFC 298 will see the current featherweight champion defending his belt against perhaps his most dangerous challenger yet. Indeed, Honda Center in Anaheim, California will play host to what many fight fans are expecting to be an epic bout. Let’s get into it.
When are the weigh-ins for Volkanovski vs Topuria?
The UFC 298 weigh-in is set to begin on Friday, February 16, at 12:00 p.m. ET. The weigh-in will be streamed live on UFC.com, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch. This as you know is among the most anticipated fight cards for 2024 so far, as it features a star-studded fight card not the least of which is the main event featuring Alexander Volkanovski (26-3 with 13 KOs) and Ilia Topuria (14-0 with 4 KOs). Indeed, as mentioned before Volkanovski will likely have his hands full as he attempts to defend his featherweight title against an opponent who has yet to taste defeat.
What’s the format for the fight?
Given that it is a title fight, the bout between Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria is set for five rounds as opposed to the typical three. Of course, whether we see all five of those rounds will be down to how hard these two fighters go at it. As for the length of rounds, each round will last for five minutes with a one-minute break between them. On average, a five-round fight will last just under half an hour, while three-round bouts tend to sit around 17 minutes.
What can we expect from Volkanovski vs Topuria?
Topuria, as we know, is both powerful and vicious when it comes to grappling. Where the stand-up game is concerned, he normally opts to fight from a boxing base with a high guard. Indeed his best punches are his hooks. With that said, you can count on him to lean heavily on his grappling for which he is rightly respected. Patient and controlled with an innate sense of when to go for a submission, he’s going to cause Volkanovski problems. If there is one issue he may face, it’s his lack of experience in front of a fighter who has been in the octagon twice as many times.
Speaking of the Australian, it’s got to be said that Volkanovski knows the floor. Extremely skilled in fighting backward and forward, look for him to try to push and pressure Topuria who has little experience in getting to five rounds with that much movement. Indeed, it’s almost certain that Volkanovski will go for such a strategy, knowing full well that his opponent will have the upper hand if the fight goes to the ground. It will be about managing distance and speed for Volkanovski, in an attempt to frustrate Topuria. How will this one shake out? We’re not sure, but that’s why we’re excited to see it!