Ilia Topuria is the new UFC featherweight champion of the world after brutally knocking Alexander Volkanovski out cold.
El Matador became the bull and the 145-pound king delivered on his pre-fight promise to end it early. His concussive power was the difference against a man eight years his senior, who had ruled the roost so dominantly in the division and had tech billionaire Mark Zuckerberg in his corner on the night.
this ending made the ufc 300 announcement shit tbh pic.twitter.com/Un3E13Gs12
— Dovy🔌 (@DovySimuMMA) February 18, 2024
Ilia Topuria became the new featherweight champion with a sensational knockout win at UFC 298.
The 27-year-old knocked 145lb legend Alexander Volkanovski out cold with just one punch inside California’s Honda Center on Saturday night.
Volanovski started the bout by aiming kicks at all areas of his opponent’s body during a feeling-out process that coincided with the crowd cheering his name.
Topuria began to have success with calf kicks as the round progressed and impressed UFC commentators Joe Rogan and Michael Bisping with his early performance.
Gold looks good on you, @TopuriaIlia 🏆#UFC298 pic.twitter.com/cxvQ9r28Ik
— UFC (@ufc) February 18, 2024
However, all three judges scored the frame against him.
Not that it mattered. Topuria closed the show in the second stanza.
‘El Matador’ trapped Volkanovski against the fence before rushing in with a combination that included a picture-perfect right hook to the chin.
‘The Great’ dropped to the floor unconscious but he took a few extra shots from Topuria before the referee stepped in and waved things off.
Topuria is the first UFC champion from Spain.
#AndNew @Topuriailia #UFC298 pic.twitter.com/WkuPIt8cTU
— danawhite (@danawhite) February 18, 2024
The Georgian-born fighter, who relocated to Alicante with his family 15 years ago, wants his first featherweight title defence to be history-making.
