Issue 213

January 2025

Look into his ‘The Great’s’ eyes. There’s a moment in every fight where reality shifts, and at UFC 298, Volkanovski wore that insight like a neon sign across his stunned face. Topuria’s right hand is poised to snatch what he’s always believed was his: the championship belt. Volkanovski, mid-motion, crumpled like a marionette whose strings had been snipped. The Californian crowd erupted in cheers, gasps, and disbelief. This scene was the culmination of Topuria’s relentless combinations that created the pressure that took down a legacy. Some fans want to see a rematch, but Ilia’s brother, who is about to make his Octagon debut at UFC 312, believes there’s no point. 

“Sorry Alex, but it’s going to be the same result,” said Aleksandre Topuria when asked about his brother facing Volkanovski again in 2025. 

The image of El Matador" roaring in triumph as Volkanovski hit the canvas will remain a defining snapshot of 2024, and it’s probably not something that should be repeated. For Topuria, this moment was a coronation statement that he’s not just a star but the star in the featherweight constellation.

February 17, 2024

UFC 298, Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California