Alexander Volkanovski vs Ilia Topuria Picks and Prediction – 2/18/2024

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Featherweight Champion Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski will look to defend his title against No. 3 ranked Ilia “El Matador” Topuria at UFC 298 on Saturday at Honda Center, Anaheim, California. Get ready for everything UFC with our UFC Picks.

Volkanovski last fought in October, suffering a first-round knockout loss to Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 in October. Topuria’s last bout was in June when he scored a decisive unanimous decision win over seventh-ranked featherweight Josh Emmett.

Volkanovski, a 35-year-old Australian mixed martial artist, is 26-3 overall. He is 13-2 in the UFC with both losses coming to Makhachev at lightweight. Volkanovski has 13 wins by TKO/KO and three by submission. He was only stopped once outside of the UFC, suffering a TKO loss early in his career in 2013.  

Topuria, 27, is a German-born fighter of Georgian descent now fighting out of Spain. He is undefeated in his professional MMA career at 14-0 with four wins by TKO/KO and eight by submission. Topuria is 6-0 in the UFC with three wins by knockout and one by submission.

Volkanovski lands an average of 6.19 significant strikes per minute and takes 3.42. He also scores 1.84 takedowns per 15 minutes and has defends 70% of takedown attempts. Topuria averages 4.44 significant strikes landed per minute while taking 3.05. He also averages 2.19 takedowns and 1.5 submission attempts per 15 minutes. His take down defense is at 92%.