UFC CEO Dana White spread some holiday cheer with a trio of fight announcements including more details about the previously reported featherweight championship fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria.
On Thursday, White took to social media to name the date and location of Alexander Volkanovski’s next title defense. UFC 298 will take place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Feb. 17 and feature the heavily anticipated 145-pound bout as its headliner.
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria
Alexander Volkanovski is returning to the featherweight division after a short-notice trip to 155 pounds to challenge Islam Makhachev for the lightweight strap at UFC 294. Although Alexander “The Great” gave Makhachev all he could handle in a split decision loss earlier in the year, the rematch did not go nearly as well for the City Kickboxing standout as he would suffer a first-round knockout.
In between the pair of attempts to capture lightweight gold, Alexander Volkanovski defended his featherweight title against interim champion Yair Rodriguez via third-round TKO. This will Alexander Volkanovski’s sixth defense of his crown.
Ilia Topuria will enter the Octagon with an undefeated record and a wave of momentum capped off by a dominant decision victory over Josh Emmett in June.
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Bobby Green vs. Jalin Turner
The main card of UFC Austin is getting a makeover ahead of its Dec. 2 date. An injury has forced Dan Hooker out of his co-main event spot in what was a pivotal lightweight contest opposite Bobby Green. Number 12 ranked Jalin Turner has agreed to step in to face Green on nine days’ notice.
Bobby Green is enjoying a three-fight unbeaten streak that includes a 33-second upset knockout win over Grant Dawson and a third-round arm triangle submission win against former interim champion Tony Ferguson. Those wins earned the 47-fight veteran his first spot in the top 15 since his promotional debut in 2013.
Jalin Turner is hoping to right the ship after back-to-back split decision losses to Mateusz Gamrot and Hooker.
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Joe Pyfer vs. Jack Hermansson
Joe Pyfer will be rewarded for his impressive run in the middleweight division with a main-event spot against Jack Hermansson at a Fight Night card on Feb. 10. The event will take place at the UFC Apex Center in Las Vegas.
After securing a contract with a second-round knockout of Ozzy Diaz in July of last year on the Contender Series, Pyfer has found finishes in all three of his fights in the Octagon. He most recently submitted Abdul Razak Alhassan in October.
Jack Hermasson is hoping to rebound from a second-round finish at the hands of Roman Dolidze last December. “The Joker” has alternated wins and losses since a 2019 victory over Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.
