There is a long list of fighters who turned their fortunes around after joining the UFC. That is exactly what happened with Topuria, who joined the company in 2020 and four years later became the champion of the featherweight division by defeating one of the greatest fighters in the company.

During those four years, he gained almost 2 million followers. However, before and after winning the title, he gained 1.1 million followers, bringing his total to 3.1 million followers and counting.

As per stats from Social Blade, Topuria’s monthly follower count increased by over 3000 in 2020, but in the last 30 days, he has gained over 1 million followers, indicating how defeating Volkanovski impacted his career.

There is no doubt that this is a huge turning point in his career, where he could potentially become the next Conor McGregor of the company.

Similarities between Ilia Topuria and Conor McGregor

Talking about similarities, both exude absolute confidence in their skills. However, when it comes to major similarities, notably after Conor McGregor’s first title win at age 27, he had a 15-fight winning streak, similar to what Topuria currently has.

Additionally, following the classic storyline where everyone was rooting for Volk as the people’s champ, Topuria entered the match with a persona similar to McGregor’s anti-hero image.

The Spanish fighter grabbed the belt from Volkanovski before winning it at the presser and engaged in other notorious actions, prompting many to draw comparisons between their behaviors.

Ilia Topuria and Conor McGregor #UFC pic.twitter.com/r3zNSB6o9R

— MMA UNCENSORED (@MMAUNCENSORED1) February 18, 2024

Interestingly, after winning the belt, he also challenged McGregor, and if this match happens, it will go down as one of the greatest matches in recent times. Where two of the best talents and superstars from the UFC will share the octagon for glory.

The post Ilia Topuria Hits Another 1.1 Million Milestone After Upsetting Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 appeared first on The SportsRush.

Instagram page homeoffight uploaded the video where Mackenzie Dern had the embarrassing moment. Fans roasted her in the comments section.

Dern then commented on the post, explaining what was going on in her head at the moment:

“I was praying so hard I didn’t even hear or tell the difference! haha this sucked even more! Haha”

Mackenzie Dern could not believe how she ended up celebrating. However, she claims she was praying so hard that she could not hear whose name Buffer announced.

Amanda Lemos was the clear winner at UFC 298. She dominated Dern for 3 rounds. The Brazilian ended up winning the fight via unanimous decision.

Dern’s Khabib Nurmagomedov fight-style tactic did not work on Amanda Lemos.

Mackenzie Dern failed to channel her inner Khabib Nurmagomedov against Amanda Lemos

Mackenzie Dern is a jiu-jitsu expert, and it is a big part of her game. In an interview during media day, she had explained what fight style she would use against Amanda Lemos.

Dern was coming off a loss against Jessica Andrade and felt she was not using her usual fight style. She explained how she had to channel her inner Khabib Nurmagomedov:

“I mean it’s clear to me, I kinda just need to be more like Khabib and just go forward. I mean, that’s my style you know. Keep them on their back feet and just pressuring.”

.@mackenziedern knows she needs to “be more like Khabib” after reflecting on her TKO loss to Jessica Andrade:

“That’s my style. … Just pressuring and have them concerned about the takedown.” pic.twitter.com/b7IiWhlnKc

— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) February 15, 2024

However, this tactic did not work against Amanda Lemos. Every time she applied pressure, the Brazilian responded with some beautiful counters.

One such counter landed clean on Mackenzie Dern and even dropped her. However, Dern was able to survive till the end of the round and did not get knocked out.

The post “This Sucked”: Mackenzie Dern Explains Her Fumble After Second Straight Loss at UFC 298 appeared first on The SportsRush.

Ilia Topuria’s win came as a shock to many who doubted him. Topuria’s family themselves were shocked as a video of them reacting to his win went viral on X.

you have to love Ilia Topuria’s family reaction to his win #UFC298 pic.twitter.com/8UPEdEw7oO

— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) February 18, 2024

Here’s what fans had to say about the reaction that went viral on the internet:

“It is awesome seeing the families and countrymen react to new champions”

It is awesome seeing the families and countrymen react to new champions

— MegaDrive (@MegaDriv3) February 18, 2024

One user had this to say about Ilia Topuria’s family:

“I f*ckn loved watching that fr”

I fuckn loved watching that fr

— Ethan Newton (@ethanwnewton) February 19, 2024

Another user stated:

“This is BEAUTIFUL”

This is BEAUTIFUL

— Tyler Briskie (@TyBRISKIE) February 18, 2024

One user stated that Ilia Topuria’s family was wholesome:

“I love watching this kind of stuff, wholesome af”

I love watching this kind of stuff, wholesome af

— Paweł Pęczlaski (@huffypufy) February 19, 2024

Ilia Topuria feels divided on whether he should give Alexander Volkanovski a rematch

Ilia Topuria is now the champion and will now be thinking of who he should fight for his first title defense. The first name that pops to mind is Alexander Volkanovski, for an immediate rematch.

The Spaniard could look to solidify his legacy by giving ‘Volk‘ the rematch and beating him again. However, per MMA Junkie on X, the champ feels divided:

“I’m going to give him a rematch because he’s a good person, but at the same time, it’s time to move on. It’s time to clean up the division.”

Ilia Topuria is torn on the idea of a rematch with Alexander Volkanovski after his #UFC298 title win. pic.twitter.com/vx4ecw4bZy

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) February 19, 2024

Ilia Topuria has a big decision to make. However, one thing is for sure, no matter the opponent, he will make his first title defense in Spain, in front of his home crowd.

Following his victory against Alexander Volkanovski, he called out Conor McGregor in his octagon interview. The Spaniard wants to fight McGregor in the historic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

The post “Fu*kn Loved That”: Wholesome Video of Ilia Topuria’s ‘Beautiful’ Family Reacting to UFC 298 Win Has Fans in Awe appeared first on The SportsRush.

Ilia Topuria turned all his words into action at UFC 298. Topuria knocked Volkanovski out cold in the second round to become the new champion.

MMA Journalist Manouk Akopyan got a hold of the fighter pay and bonuses filed by the UFC with the California State Commission.

I obtained the guaranteed minimum purses and bonuses for #UFC298, as filed with the CSAC.

Alexander Volkanovski: $750,000
Ilia Topuria: $350,000

Here’s the earnings recap for the rest of the 11-fight card. pic.twitter.com/w9rOJQ52fY

— Manouk Akopyan (@ManoukAkopyan) February 17, 2024

As per the report, Alexander Volkanovski is the highest-earning fighter of the card with a whopping $750,000. The UFC did not list any win bonus for the main event.

Ilia Topuria had a base salary of $350,000, making him the second-highest-earning fighter on the card. The Spaniard’s win made him the new Featherweight Champion of the world.

Topuria did not hold back following his win. He called out to all the people that doubted him and did not believe that he could beat Volkanovski.

Ilia Topuria silences haters after knocking Alexander Volkanovski out

Ilia Topuria wasted no time in calling out the people who doubted him. The Spaniard was extremely confident, leading up to the fight, that he would become the champion.

Topuria called it his destiny and claimed it was something he worked his entire life for. During his Octagon interview with Joe Rogan, he expressed:

“I feel so happy right now, they gonna tell you you can’t do it they gonna knock you down and doubt you……Look at me, look at me now.”

“Look at me now!”@Topuriailia believed in himself and got it done! #UFC298 | Live on TNT Sports & discovery+ pic.twitter.com/PSwmWNrQYY

— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) February 18, 2024

Ilia Topuria went on to say how it was purely his hard work and consistency that made him a champion. The Spaniard was very emotional as he spoke with the belt on his shoulder.

On the other hand, Alexander Volkanovski hoped to secure a rematch against Topuria in Spain. However, the Spaniard has his eyes on Conor McGregor.

The post UFC 298 Purse and Payouts: How Much Money Did Ilia Topuria Make After Title Win Against Alexander Volkanovski? appeared first on The SportsRush.

Paulo Costa looked impressive in the first round as he bloodied up his opponent with lightning-fast leg kicks. But Whittaker battled back, and the fight was worth every dollar of the PPV.

MMA Journalist Manouk Akopyan reported the base salaries and bonuses for UFC 298 on X. According to the reports, Robert Whittaker is set to earn a whooping $300,000 base purse.

I obtained the guaranteed minimum purses and bonuses for #UFC298, as filed with the CSAC.

Alexander Volkanovski: $750,000
Ilia Topuria: $350,000

Here’s the earnings recap for the rest of the 11-fight card. pic.twitter.com/w9rOJQ52fY

— Manouk Akopyan (@ManoukAkopyan) February 17, 2024

This makes him the third-highest base purse of the evening. His opponent, Paulo Costa, comes in at $250,000 as his base salary.

However, the bonus for winning the fight was $100,000 meaning, Robert Whittaker will earn a total of $400,000 including the winning bonus.

Robert Whittaker had a strong response to Costa in the second round, to make it a highly competitive fight. The former champion claims he has found his fire again.

Robert Whittaker claims he has found his fire again as he gets back to winning ways

Robert Whittaker looked like a different animal inside the octagon. The former Champion showed fans flashbacks of his prime when he faced Paulo Costa.

Despite being hurt badly in the first round, he rallied back for a unanimous decision victory. During his post-fight interview, Joe Rogan asked him how he felt. He responded by saying,

“Yeah this was the exact fight I prepared for, this was the fight that I wanted. I told you I’d take the fight to him, I looked for his scalp the whole 15 minutes but he’s a tough dude.”

Classy as always @robwhittakermma #UFC298 | Live on TNT Sports & discovery+ pic.twitter.com/LI1tthniUS

— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) February 18, 2024

Robert Whittaker will now look to build on his win and secure another title shot. The former champion has only one goal, and that is to win the title back.

UFC 298 proved to the entire division that he is still very much one of the most dangerous fighters in the division.

The post UFC 298 Purse and Payouts: How Much Money Did Robert Whittaker Earn Beating Paulo Costa? appeared first on The SportsRush.

Tristan Tate, like his brother Andrew Tate, is a former kickboxer and avid MMA fan. He sent Alexander Volkanovski a message on X, saying:

“Hoping @alexvolkanovski takes care of business. Impossible to dislike the guy as both a fighter and a man.”

Hoping @alexvolkanovski takes care of business.

Impossible to dislike the guy as both a fighter and a man.

— Tristan Tate (@TateTheTalisman) February 17, 2024

Volkanovski responded by saying:

“Appreciate mate.”

Appreciate mate.

— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) February 17, 2024

Alexander Volkanovski has been very calm and focused ahead of his title fight at UFC 298. Topuria, on the other hand, has been extremely vocal and done a lot of trash-talking.

Volkanovski is looking to settle things in the ring and does not care about the trash-talking. The Australian shut Topuria’s trash talk down in the press conference.

Alexander Volkanovski shuts Ilia Topuria’s trash talk down with ‘old man costume’

Alexander Volkanovski showed up at the UFC 298 press conference dressed up as an old man. The Australian fed into the doubts of whether he was too old to be champion.

Topuria, on the other hand, channeled his inner Conor McGregor by showing up in a suit. He asked ‘Volk’ to humble him and ‘do something’. The Champ responded by saying,

“You’re getting worked up buddy. He’s seen me in an old man outfit and now he wants to be a hard fella eh, how about that?”

How Alexander Volkanovski stood up in the old man outfit pic.twitter.com/fPmfRefSDu

— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) February 16, 2024

Alexander Volkanovski’s old-man outfit was the highlight of the press conference. Ilia Topuria’s numerous attempts to rile up the champion fell flat on its face.

‘The Great’ seems laser-focused ahead of his title fight and will look to remind people who he is on Saturday night. The Australian wants to finish Topuria inside the octagon.

UFC 298 promises to be fireworks with both fighters predicting a finish. Only time will tell whether the champ can hold on to his title or the challenger can dethrone the king.

The post Alexander Volkanovski Responds in ‘Two Words’ After Unlikely Support From Tristan Tate to Beat Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 appeared first on The SportsRush.

In the United States, UFC 298 will be broadcast live on ESPN+. The Pay-Per-View cost for the event is $79.99 for current ESPN+ subscribers. New members will have to pay $134.98 for the PPV as well as the subscription.

A look back at some of @borrachinhamma’s most devastating finishes in the Octagon

Paulo Costa is set to battle Robert Whittaker tomorrow night in the UFC 298 Co-Main Event#UFC298 | Saturday | LIVE on TNT Sports and discovery+ pic.twitter.com/5kzUZeavNK

— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) February 16, 2024

In the United Kingdom, the main card is also available on TNT Sports for a price of £19.99. The prelims will also be available on UFC Fight Pass.

UFC 298 is a huge event for the year, with a title fight on the line. The main event of the evening has the potential to alter the entire hierarchy of the featherweight division.

See. You. Tomorrow. #UFC298 pic.twitter.com/4ya6TgfMxi

— UFC (@ufc) February 17, 2024

The middleweight division also has two of its biggest threats facing each other, Paulo Costa and Robert Whittaker. Both fighters looking to stake their claim to a title shot next.

Another match-up this weekend had fans rolling in tears after their hilarious interaction on stage went viral.

Henry Cejudo and Merab Dvalishvili have a hilarious interaction during UFC 298 face-off

Henry Cejudo will look to get back to winning ways on Saturday night at UFC 298. The former two-division champion is taking on Merab Dvalishvili.

The Georgian is Aljamain Sterling’s training partner, the man Cejudo lost to in his last fight. During their face-off at the ceremonial weigh-ins, they had a hilarious interaction.

A closer look at this hilarious face-off between Merab Dvalishvili and Henry Cejudo

Henry: *speaks russian*

Merab: HEY IM GEORGIAN, I DONT SPEAK RUSSIAN.

Henry: You’re going to Saturday night

Merab: ILL TALK IN SPANISH, OKAY#UFC298
pic.twitter.com/y8UHotBwFH

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) February 17, 2024

Dvalishvili stood in front of Henry Cejudo and yelled, “Let’s go”. In response to that, Cejudo said something in Russian to intimidate him.

However, the Georgian had to remind Cejudo that he is Georgian, and he does not speak Russian. The former champion then said he’d make him speak in Russian on UFC 298 fight night.

The conversation ended with Merab Dvalishvili saying he’d speak in Spanish, alluding to Cejudo’s Mexican heritage.

The post UFC 298 Pay-Per-View: How Much Does UFC 298 Cost? appeared first on The SportsRush.

The purses for UFC 298 are not officially out yet. However, Akopyan obtained the guaranteed minimum purses that the organization filed with the California State Athletic Commission.

I obtained the guaranteed minimum purses and bonuses for #UFC298, as filed with the CSAC.

Alexander Volkanovski: $750,000
Ilia Topuria: $350,000

Here’s the earnings recap for the rest of the 11-fight card. pic.twitter.com/w9rOJQ52fY

— Manouk Akopyan (@ManoukAkopyan) February 17, 2024

Here are the guaranteed purses for UFC 298:

Alexander Volkanovski: $750,000
Ilia Topuria: $350,000
Robert Whittaker: $300,000
Paulo Costa: $250,000
Ian Garry: $55,000
Geoff Neal: $108,000
Merab Dvalishvili: $105,000
Henry Cejudo: $150,000
Mackenzie Dern: $200,000

Alexander Volkanovski naturally has the highest guaranteed purse despite the result. This is because the UFC 298 card is based around ‘Volk‘. He is the main PPV attraction.

The Spaniard comes in at second place as the other name in the main event. Following closely behind is former champion and UFC veteran Robert Whittaker.

Paulo Costa comes in at third, which is not bad for his return to the UFC after a long lay-off. Mackenzie Dern comes in after Costa to secure a $200k payout at UFC 298.

Now with the stage almost set, Alexander Volkanovski is out to silence the Spaniard on Saturday night. He sent Topuria a final message ahead of the fight.

Alexander Volkanovski sends a final message to Ilia Topuria ahead of their UFC 298 main event

Alexander Volkanovski was a picture of tranquility as he went on stage for the ceremonial weigh-ins and the face-off. The Australian looked laser-focused on the stage.

Joe Rogan asked Volkanovski how he felt about Ilia Topuria being brash throughout the build-up to UFC 298. ‘The Great’ responded by saying:

“Yeah mate all that’s all over now. Now he’s gotta step in the octagon with me and I’m gonna show him. He crumbled at the presser, he’s gonna crumble tomorrow as well, And Still, let’s go.”

“AND STILL!”@AlexVolkanovski is ready to defend the featherweight title tomorrow night at #UFC298 pic.twitter.com/EGFngj6UpH

— UFC (@ufc) February 17, 2024

Alexander Volkanovski is done with the trash talk and the media. He can not wait to get into the ring against Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 and silence him once and for all.

The post UFC 298 Purse and Payouts: Reports Reveal $750,000 to $200,000 Payday for ‘Alexander Volkanovski vs Ilia Topuria’ Fighters appeared first on The SportsRush.

UFC 298: MMA Pros Predictions For Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria 

Here’s what MMA Pros predicted sharing their thoughts to James Lynch on his YouTube channel:

Geoff Neal

Geoff Neal, who is also fighting on the same card against Ian Garry, stated that he’ll always be on Volkanovski’s side until he retires when asked about who he thinks will win.

Neal Magny

Neal Magny stated that despite Volkanovski’s last fight against Islam Makhachev, where his lights went off, he now believes that with full-time preparation, Volkanovski will retain his belt at UFC 298.

Randy Brown

Although Volk is surely a favorite to win the fight, it’s not like no one sees Topuria as the winner. Talking about the ‘El Matador’ winning, Randy Brown stated that he sees the Spanish fighter becoming the new champion. 

Trey Ogden

Trey Ogden, who has not tasted victory in his last two fights, talking about the fight, stated that if Volk hadn’t lost to Makhachev, he would surely go with him. But now that he has been defeated, according to him, Topuria has a solid chance.

Jan Błachowicz, Ben Askren, Paul Craig, Yadong Song, and Others

Paul Craig, Jan Błachowicz, Yadong Song, and Brian Kelleher, when asked about their predictions, shared one-word replies expressing their thoughts. They unanimously stated that the current featherweight champion is unstoppable at 145lbs. Meanwhile, Askren added that he wouldn’t be surprised if Topuria gets the win.

Eric Nicksick -Sean Strickland’s coach

While the fighters have shared their thoughts about the fight, it will be interesting to see what the coach is thinking. Sean Strickland’s coach, Eric Nicksick, shared his thoughts, stating that while he leans towards Volkanovski, he thinks that the last knockout can also be a factor in this fight. Not just that, he stated, Topuria is also a real deal in this fight.

The post UFC 298 Predictions: MMA Pros’ Picks for Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria Featherweight Title Fight appeared first on The SportsRush.

Talking about UFC 298 in a recent MMA Hour interview with Ariel Helwani, Topuria stated that he’ll make the champion look like a punching bag. However, this statement didn’t sit well with one of his contemporaries. Evloev, who showcased his class at UFC 297 against Arnold Allen, responded with a solid reply. In an attempt to silence Topuria’s bold claims, he shared an iconic line from Tyson. He said,

“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”

Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth…. https://t.co/2jb0ZLyZjy

— Movsar Evloev (@MovsarUFC) February 6, 2024

To set the context, when a reporter asked Tyson about Evander Holyfield and his fight plan, he simply replied with the above quote. Now, Evloev has used this against Topuria, who is making a bold claim of having a brutal plan to destroy Volkanovski with ease. However, achieving this will not be easy, considering Volkanovski has never lost in the featherweight division.

Topuria, who is set for his ultimate test against Alexander ‘The Great’, appears unfazed by the toughest challenge ahead. Instead, he is making the match against Volkanovski look as if it is a cakewalk for him. In a bold move, he has already updated his bio on Instagram to reflect his status as a UFC champion, a feat he has yet to achieve.

Ahead of the UFC 298 fight against Alexander Volkanovski, Ilia Topuria already labeled himself as the champion

There is no doubt that Volkanovski is the greatest featherweight fighter in the history of the company, and the way he has dominated his career is astonishing, putting any of his opponents in awe. However, Topuria seems to have confidence that is over the top. On Instagram, before the fight, he has already labeled himself as a UFC champion.

But what he is already claiming has failed to be achieved by many fighters, including Max Holloway, who is known for his boxing skills. However, if he succeeds, it will change all the dynamics of the division, as it will introduce a new champion face.

The post UFC 298 Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria: Undefeated Fighter Mocks ‘El Matador’ With Iconic Mike Tyson Phrase appeared first on The SportsRush.