Topuria plans to 'dominate' Volkanovski and surprises by naming the next target after the champion

Ilia Topuria in action at UFC (Photo: Instagram/iliatopuria)

With just over a week left until the long-awaited UFC 298, Ilia Topuria has been exuding confidence for the main fight of the event against the champion Alexander Volkanovsky, winning the organization's featherweight belt (up to 65,7 kg).

During his appearance on the 'MMA Hour' podcast, Topuria once again assured that he will make it look easy and knock out Volkanovski in the first round to prove that 'there are levels'.

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“It will be a knockout in the first round, you will see. He (Volkanovski) talks a lot of shit: 'there are levels, I have this, I have that, bla bla bla'. He's right, there are levels. There are levels and then there is me. I will show you what the levels are. I will dominate you in all areas. I'll make him look like a punching bag. You'll see. I will be dancing on February 17th”, said the challenger.

Owner of five featherweight belt defenses, Alexander Volkanovsky rivals José Aldo for the title of the biggest name in the history of the category and held the position of the UFC's best pound-for-pound fighter for a long time. Topuria, however, believes the Australian's time has come to an end and says he is ready to prove it on February 17th.

“You are talking to the best fighter in the world. I am the best. He (Volkanovski) is one of the best. He was a great champion, he was the best pound for pound and one of the greatest, without a doubt. One of the greatest featherweights in history. He will always be remembered like this and I'm happy to be the man who gives him the bad news on February 17th: he's old. It's time for the new generation. He's old, he's already lost. He has all the signs that he needs to retire. I represent the evolution of mixed martial arts,” said the Georgian-Spanish.

The confidence in victory is such that Ilia Topuria He has even thought about his first target if he becomes champion. This is not about any fighter ranked in the featherweight division, but about the biggest star in the history of MMA: Conor McGregor.

“The way I'm going to defeat him won't give us room to talk about a rematch. Conor McGregor It's the fight I'm looking for. He has a big fight with Michael chandler. If he doesn't have his ass kicked, he'll have the pleasure of sharing the octagon with me. Maybe at UFC Spain. We're both from Europe and he'll be able to get home in time to say to his wife, 'Baby, take off your red panties. Topuria kept us rich,'” he concluded.

Alexander Volkanovsky e Ilia Topuria face each other for the featherweight belt in the main fight of the UFC 298, on February 17th, in Anaheim, California, in the United States.