Ilia Topuria dethroned featherweight great Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 on Saturday, knocking the Australian out cold in round two.

Volkanovski’s reign at 145lbs has been a storied one, and the 35-year-old was seeking a sixth straight successful title defence as he fought Topuria in Anaheim.

The champion started well, but Topuria’s knockout threat was a key narrative in the build-up to this main event, and the Georgian-Spaniard delivered on that threat.

Midway through the second round, Topuria, 27, landed a picture-perfect fight hook with Volkanovski against the cage, and the Australian collapsed to the canvas at once. With that, Volkanovski’s four-year title reign came to an end, as the unbeaten Topuria became the first UFC champion to represent Georgia or Spain.

Re-live updates and results from the UFC 298 main card and prelims, below.

UFC 298 LIVE

• Ilia Topuria knocked out Alexander Volkanovski to take featherweight title

• Topuria, 27, scored finish with perfect right hook against Volkanovski, 35, in round two

• Robert Whittaker outpointed Paulo Costa in enthralling co-main event

• Controversial Irishman Ian Machado Garry beat Geoff Neal via decision

• Merab Dvalishvili ground down ex-champion Henry Cejudo in bantamweight bout

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria

06:44 , Alex Pattle

Read our full main-event report from UFC 298, right here:

Ilia Topuria knocks Alexander Volkanovski out cold at UFC 298 to usher in new era

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria

08:30 , Alex Pattle

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria

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UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria

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UFC 298 LIVE: UFC 300 main event finally official

07:00 , Alex Pattle

Dana White finally reveals UFC 300 main event

UFC 298 LIVE: Leon Edwards almost headlined UFC 300

06:53 , Alex Pattle

UFC 298 LIVE: UFC 300 main event finally official

06:30 , Alex Pattle

UFC president Dana White has just revealed, at last, that the UFC 300 main event will be...

Light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira defending his title against ex-champion Jamahal Hill.

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria

06:25 , Alex Pattle

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria

06:20 , Alex Pattle

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria

06:14 , Alex Pattle

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria

06:09 , Alex Pattle

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria

06:05 , Alex Pattle

Volkanovski: “Obviously he has some power in his hands.

“Well done to him, he caught me. I was gonna start working everything, and he got me, so credit to him.

“He’s a hard hitter, we knew that going in. He wasn’t meant to land like that, but he did.

“He keeps mentioning Spain, maybe we do a rematch there.”

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria

06:04 , Alex Pattle

“I feel so happy, Joe, I feel so happy right now,” Topuria tells Joe Rogan. “They’re gonna tell you that you can’t do it, but guess what? Trust yourself, work tirelessly, have faith, and everything is possible.

“Look at me, look at me now. I just know my skills, Joe. I worked so hard for this. I was knowing always that one day I would become a UFC champion. Guys, it doesn’t matter where you come from if you know where you’re going.

“It’s time to take the UFC to Spain.”

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria

06:01 , Alex Pattle

Ilia Topuria def. Alexander Volkanovski via second-round KO (punch, 3:32)

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria

05:57 , Alex Pattle

Round two

Snapping jab from Volk, who also shows off some good reads and footwork to avoid a hook from Topuria.

Topuria’s face is reddened. Another great jab by Volk, but Topuria lands a left hook!

And a right brutal right hook! OH! DOWN GOES VOLK!

HE’S OUT COLD! AND NEW!!!!

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria

05:56 , Alex Pattle

Round two

A touch of gloves. More stance-switching from Volk, who just slips a straight punch from Topuria.

Topuria blocks a body kick and loads up on a right overhand, which misses the mark.

Topuria backs up Volk and lands a few body shots. Stiff jab by Volk. Topuria just about lands a cross.

Stern outside low kick by the challenger.

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria

05:52 , Alex Pattle

Round one

Another body kick by Volk, who then aims low. Topuria loads up on a flurry of shots, but none of them quite land.

Subtle stance-switches from Volk. He just sidesteps a heavy right cross attempt by Topuria.

Now Volk troubles Topuria with a few more low kicks. Those have been massive for both men so far.

Volk ducks under a left hook and clinches Topuria. He lands a harsh knee to the body in close, after failing to secure a trip.

A good round for Volk.

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria

05:49 , Alex Pattle

Round one

Big-fight feel. The pair touch gloves, and we’re under way.

Both men stand orthodox. Topuria presses forward and blocks a high kick early on. Volk kicks to the body. Lots of feints from Volk.

A winging right hook grazes the champion. Close for Topuria there. Again Volk sees a high kick blocked. The Australian strafes.

Body kick by Volk. Hard outside low kick by Topuria! It takes Volk off balance. And another one. Topuria just misses with a right hand, but he lands more low kicks.

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria

05:45 , Alex Pattle

HERE. WE. GO!

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria

05:36 , Alex Pattle

Topuria looks very relaxed as he walks out to the sound of boos, though that sound has admittedly been diluted by cheers from travelling Spanish fans!

Topuria takes his time.

And now that familiar scene: “Down Under” by Men At Work hits the speakers, and Volkanovski emerges to the sound of cheers.

That said, the cheers weren’t always part of this scene; when Volk won the featherweight title from Max Holloway then defended it against the Hawaiian, the fans were yet to take to him.

Now, he is treasured by the vast majority of MMA fans.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is in Volk’s corner... so...

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria

05:35 , Alex Pattle

Main-event time!

That co-main was such a tense bout, and this one might feel similar, with many fans backing Alexander Volkanovski but fearing Ilia Topuria’s power and danger all round.

Volkanovski is the defending featherweight champion, unbeaten at 145lbs throughout his whole career but with a early welterweight loss in 2013 and two lightweight defeats in 2023 (both against 155lbs king Islam Makhachev).

The Australian, 35, last defended his featherweight title in July, stopping Yair Rodriguez to unify the belts.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Topuria is unbeaten at 14-0 with 12 stoppage wins. The Georgian-born Spaniard is known for the power in his hands, but he is very well rounded and in fact has more submission wins than knockouts.

Last time out, Topuria dominated Josh Emmett across five rounds in June.

UFC 298 LIVE: Robert Whittaker vs Paulo Costa

05:26 , Alex Pattle

Robert Whittaker def. Paulo Costa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

A great fight. So technical. Whittaker with a deserved win, though.

UFC 298 LIVE: Robert Whittaker vs Paulo Costa

05:21 , Alex Pattle

Round three

Final frame. This one could be in the balance. A right overhand just about lands for Costa, who then eats a jab. A frantic exchange sees both men land low kicks.

Jab and left hook on point for Whittaker. He kicks low again. Costa responds in kind. Great right hook by Whittaker.

Decent knee to the body by Costa at close range. Step-in left hook connects for Whittaker.

Costa has shown a great chin in this fight. He kicks to the body, and again. Whittaker is slowing down. Good counter jab by Whittaker. Costa with a fine jab of his own.

More jabs land for both fighters. Again Costa tries the spinning back kick, but this time he misses. Whittaker with a clean right cross to close distance.

One minute left. Costa gasps as he eats another leg kick. Whittaker has come on strong late.

UFC 298 LIVE: Robert Whittaker vs Paulo Costa

05:18 , Alex Pattle

Round two

Hard outside low kick by Whittaker, then a jab. Now a big left hook. He blocks a head kick. This is livening up again.

Blood is smeared around the Aussie’s face. He lands a good jab, though. A grazing left hook for Whittaker. Another strong jab, and an outside low kick – hammered in.

One-two by Whittaker, clean. Costa is breathing heavily. Right hand and two hard lefts by Whittaker. Costa taunts him, beckoning on the former champ.

Hard leg kick by Costa. This is nerve-wracking but fun. Again Whittaker blocks a head kick. Counter left hook by Whittaker, then another one-two.

Against the odds, it’s a great round for Whittaker, who might also have taken round one – depending on how that late kick by Costa was scored.

UFC 298 LIVE: Robert Whittaker vs Paulo Costa

05:15 , Alex Pattle

Round two

Whittaker did throw a few shots back after eating that kick – somehow – but how much has he recovered?

Whittaker blocks a head kick. Front kick to the body by Costa, then a slick jab. He misses with a fearsome left hook attempt. Whittaker’s nose is busted up.

More low kicks from Whittaker, then a power jab. Costa catches him on the end of a cross.

We have a brief pause in the action for an apparent eye poke by Costa.

UFC 298 LIVE: Robert Whittaker vs Paulo Costa

05:09 , Alex Pattle

Round one

Costa presses forward quickly. Low kick for Whittaker, jab by Costa. Another low kick by Whittaker. He blocks a high kick and kicks low again, but Costa checks it.

Decent counter left hook by Costa. Again Whittaker blocks a head kick. They’re coming at him very quickly...

Costa misses with a fierce left hook attempt... Both men jab well. Decent counter right hand by Costa.

Big overhand right from Whittaker. And now a clean left hook. Stinging jab by Costa. He kicks low now.

Costa already seems to be limping a little bit as a result of Whittaker’s low kicks. Whittaker throws a couple more.

Whittaker just misses with a wide right hook. Costa kicks low. This is very tense. Both men land jabs again. Whittaker blitzes well.

An overhand right is off-target for Whittaker. Nice body shots from Costa. Side kick to the body by Whittaker.

OH! Costa wobbles Whittaker with a spinning back kick just before the buzzer!!

UFC 298 LIVE: Robert Whittaker vs Paulo Costa

05:05 , Alex Pattle

A great reception for Whittaker.

Here we go!

UFC 298 LIVE: Robert Whittaker vs Paulo Costa

04:55 , Alex Pattle

Time for the co-main event!

Can former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker bounce back from his surprising loss to Dricus Du Plessis?

Whittaker was beaten by Du Plessis via TKO in July, before the latter went on to win the middleweight belt in January.

Whittaker’s only other defeats in recent years had come against divisional great Israel Adesanya – in 2019 and 2022 – and the Australian has produced masterclasses against most other opponents.

Tonight, he will try to produce another clinic against Brazil’s Costa, a former title challenger at 185lbs. This fight was due to take place months ago, but Costa withdrew and argued that the bout was never actually signed.

Costa last fought in August 2022, outpointing ex-champion Luke Rockhold in a wild fight, which marked the end of the latter’s MMA career.

UFC 298 LIVE: Ian Garry vs Geoff Neal

04:51 , Alex Pattle

Ian Machado Garry def. Geoff Neal via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)

Still unbeaten! Lots of boos in California...

“There’s one guy I want next, and I’ve been saying his name all week: Colby ‘Chaos’ Covington,” says Garry.

“I wanna retire you from the UFC, Colby. You ain’t ready to deal with the undefeated prospects. I’m gonna make you regret everything you’ve ever said.”

UFC 298 LIVE: Ian Garry vs Geoff Neal

04:45 , Alex Pattle

Round three

Final round. Neal closes range aggressively, missing with a right hand but clinching Garry against the fence.

Garry gets free and almost lands a head kick. Nice body kick by the Irishman, but Neal responds with a flurry of body shots and an uppercut upstairs.

Inside low kick by Neal. Stinging jab by Garry, who then attacks the body. Another decent knee by the “Future”.

Again Neal holds Garry against the fence. Again Garry circles away eventually. Beautifully-timed knee up the middle by Garry!

Neal is chasing Garry, who is largely skipping away but also throwing just enough strikes to keep Neal thinking.

UFC 298 LIVE: Ian Garry vs Geoff Neal

04:39 , Alex Pattle

Round two

Inside low kick by Neal. Body kick by Garry, who follows up with crisp punches upstairs. Garry just misses with a knee and a right hook, and Neal grabs a body lock. He holds Garry against the cage wall.

Some boos ring around the arena. Garry is able to free himself and skip away. He almost lands a knee but is tagged with a punch over the top. Body kick by Garry.

Again Neal kicks low. He barely misses with an overhand left. Now Neal clinches again and drives Garry to the fence. The grappling continues but out in the open, where the welterweights separate.

Neal with a clean cross upstairs. Front kick to the head by Garry! Now a body kick and a knee up the middle.

Neal closes range and lands a decent right hook, but he can’t put more punches behind it. More high-fiving between the fighters.

Close round.

UFC 298 LIVE: Ian Garry vs Geoff Neal

04:33 , Alex Pattle

Round one

Garry is orthodox, Neal is southpaw as usual. Garry takes the centre of the ring, Neal kicks low and bounces around.

Again Neal kicks low, then he blocks a high kick. Front kick to the body by Garry. Neal is chasing Garry around the ring.

Body kick by Neal, who then goes low as Garry tries for a cross. Neal loads up big and misses with a winging shot. A high-five ensues.

Neal backs up Garry and lands a one-two, before the Irishman clinches him in defence. Eventually Garry is able to reverse the position, but Neal gets him back against the cage before long.

Garry slips free and circles away, but he’s tagged with a one-two as he does so. Oblique kick, high kick and front kick by Garry.

Step-in knee by Garry now. Another front kick. Decent right straight by Neal.

UFC 298 LIVE: Ian Garry vs Geoff Neal

04:25 , Alex Pattle

Garry emerges to “Layla” by Eric Clapton – a nod to his wife, whom he kisses at ringside.

Neal joins the unbeaten Garry in the ring. This one could be a lot of fun.

Here, we, go!

UFC 298 LIVE: Ian Garry vs Geoff Neal

04:21 , Alex Pattle

Next up, controversial Irish welterweight Ian Machado Garry faces the hard-hitting Geoff Neal.

These two were due to fight in August, but Neal withdrew from the bout, and Garry went on to fight Neil Magny instead.

Garry, 26, beat Magny comfortably on points, and his profile has risen immensely in the time since – despite his bout with teammate Vicente Luque falling through in December.

Will the “Future” keep climbing, or will American Neal, 33, put an end to his rise?

UFC 298 LIVE: Merab Dvalishvili vs Henry Cejudo

04:12 , Alex Pattle

Merab Dvalishvili def. Henry Cejudo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Ten wins in a row for Merab, including three on the bounce against ex-champions!

Surely a title fight is next for the Georgian. Indeed, Merab calls out champion Sean O’Malley, who looks unfazed at ringside.

UFC 298 LIVE: Merab Dvalishvili vs Henry Cejudo

04:11 , Alex Pattle

UFC 298 LIVE: Merab Dvalishvili vs Henry Cejudo

04:08 , Alex Pattle

Round three

Cejudo with an outside low kick. Merab misses with a wheel kick. Forward comes Cejudo with a right cross. Again he kicks low.

Cejudo’s left forearm is BADLY swollen... Merab clinches the American and drives him to the fence, where he’s throwing knees into Cejudo’s thighs and talking to UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby through the fence.

Cejudo is eventually able to get free. He kicks low yet again. Good takedown defence as Merab tries a single-leg.

Eventually Merab gets the takedown, however, picking up and slamming down Cejudo! And he will control the former champion for what’s left of this round.

UFC 298 LIVE: Merab Dvalishvili vs Henry Cejudo

04:01 , Alex Pattle

Round two

Cejudo looked fantastic in that opening round. He did a great job at preventing Merab from walking him down.

Hard outside low kick by Merab, who then misses with a deep overhand right. Well-timed single-leg by Cejudo now! He has Merab against the fence, but not for long. Good body shots by Merab, but Cejudo fires back upstairs.

Merab gets through with a couple of right hands, but Cejudo lands that left hook again. OH! Both men land big shots! Cejudo’s chin is sticking right out!

Cejudo digs to the body. Merab with a clean left. Well-timed single-leg by Merab this time! Cejudo looks up at the clock. 2:20 left in this middle round.

Cejudo crawls to the fence, as Merab hangs on to his back. Cejudo stands against the cage wall but is soon dragged down.

Cejudo is losing this round, after surely taking round one. He tries for a single-leg, but he’s caught in a guillotine and eats a couple of hard knees! Merab is using the guillotine for control, not for a submission.

Now Merab is trying for the submission... He’s talking to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who is ringside!

UFC 298 LIVE: Merab Dvalishvili vs Henry Cejudo

03:55 , Alex Pattle

Round one

Both men stand orthodox. Cejudo is light on his feet. Merab misses with a wheel kick. And again.

Merab kicks low, before Cejudo does the same. Cejudo just misses with a winging left hook, then he misses again with a shorter effort.

The third one lands, though, wobbling Merab!! The Georgian laughs it off...

Cejudo kicks low, and Merab returns fire. Merab shoots for a single-leg takedown, and dumps down Cejudo in the middle of the ring! Good scramble from Cejudo to stand, however!

This time it’s Merab who drops Cejudo, onto his backside, after landing a right hand! But Cejudo is able to reverse the position as Merab chases him to the canvas!

Cejudo is controlling Merab now, in the way that Merab usually controls his opponents... Merab eventually stands, but Cejudo is controlling him against the fence.

Good knees from Merab, but Cejudo lands one of his own!

UFC 298 LIVE: Merab Dvalishvili vs Henry Cejudo

03:42 , Alex Pattle

Next up, it’s a potential No 1 contender’s fight at bantamweight.

Former champion Henry Cejudo, who simultaneously reigned as flyweight champion, faces Merab Dvalishvili.

American Cejudo retired in 2020 before returning last May to challenge Aljamain Sterling for the 135lbs title. The Olympic gold medalist came up short on points, and tonight marks his second bout since reversing his retirement.

Cejudo, 37, has said he will retire again if he loses here, though, and that is a very real possibility as he takes on a man on a hell of a streak.

Dvalishvili, 33, is on a nine-fight winning run, and the Georgian beat former bantamweight champion Petr Yan last time out – after defeating ex-featherweight king Jose Aldo.

Dvalishvili has relentless wrestling pressure, but that is also Cejudo’s Olympic-level realm.

The winner of this one could challenge reigning champion Sean O’Malley next – or Marlon Vera, if the Ecuadorian beats “Sugar Sean” in March.

UFC 298 LIVE: Wanderlei Silva inducted into Hall of Fame

03:36 , Alex Pattle

As we wait for our next bout, Wanderlei Silva is revealed as the next inductee into the 2024 UFC Hall of Fame class.

UFC 298 LIVE: Anthony Hernandez vs Roman Kopylov

03:28 , Alex Pattle

Round two

Decent counter jab by Kopylov as Hernandez backs him up. Oh, nice uppercut from the Russian now.

Hernandez lands a head kick, but it’s not clean. Great combination by Kopylov in response, ending with a body kick.

Kopylov is finding success with his rear uppercut, timing it as Hernandez ducks his head. Another harsh body kick from Kopylov, but Hernandez presses forward and gets a body lock.

And there’s the takedown for Hernandez, who is taking Kopylov’s back against the fence!

Hernandez eventually locks in the rear naked choke, and Kopylov is wincing... OH! But Kopylov is able to escape briefly...

Until Hernandez locks it in again! He nods his head, smiling knowingly! Kopylov TAPS!

Anthony Hernandez def. Roman Kopylov via second-round submission (rear naked choke, 3:23)

UFC 298 LIVE: Anthony Hernandez vs Roman Kopylov

03:22 , Alex Pattle

Round one

Hernandez stands orthodox, Kopylov is southpaw. Now Kopylov goes orthodox, then back to southpaw. Hernandez comes forward with a blitz, before Kopylov reminds him of the takedown threat.

Good low kick from Kopylov. Brutal body kick now. He just misses with a head kick, then steps back to evade an overhand right from Hernandez.

Hernandez catches a body kick and chases after Kopylov with a flurry of straight punches, but Kopylov is able to circle away.

Good southpaw cross from Kopylov. Hernandez backs him up with a pair of hooks then shoots for a double-leg takedown against the fence. Hernandez has Kopylov down briefly, but the Russian stands and separates.

Again Hernandez uses hooks to set up a double-leg attempt against the fence. Kopylov is defending well, but Hernandez lands a terrific elbow – and another!

UFC 298 LIVE: Anthony Hernandez vs Roman Kopylov

03:16 , Alex Pattle

This could be a fun one at middleweight to kick off the main card...

Here we go!

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria

03:14 , Alex Pattle

Here’s another push for our main-event preview:

Alexander Volkanovski, Ilia Topuria, and the UFC’s devastating ‘curse’

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria

03:05 , Alex Pattle

Here’s how the main card looks:

Alexander Volkanovski (C) vs Ilia Topuria (featherweight title)

Robert Whittaker vs Paul Costa (middleweight)

Geoff Neal vs Ian Machado Garry (welterweight)

Merab Dvalishvili vs Henry Cejudo (bantamweight)

Anthony Hernandez vs Roman Kopylov (middleweight)

UFC 298 LIVE: Amanda Lemos vs Mackenzie Dern

03:02 , Alex Pattle

UFC 298 LIVE: Amanda Lemos vs Mackenzie Dern

03:01 , Alex Pattle

Amanda Lemos def. Mackenzie Dern via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

There are some boos, but 29-28 either way would have been a fair decision. Lemos is ecstatic.

And with that, the prelims are in the books! Next up, the main card...

UFC 298 LIVE: Amanda Lemos vs Mackenzie Dern

02:55 , Alex Pattle

Round three

OH! Dern comes out strong early in this final round, dropping Lemos with a big right hand!

Lemos grapples Dern against the fence to buy time to recover, but Dern pulls guard...

Dern works on an armbar... but Lemos does a good job at escaping! Dern targets the leg instead now, but Lemos is well positioned to fire off punches in the meantime!

Dern is able to transition into half-guard, where she is in control and landing a few sharp elbows now!

She wants an arm triangle... but Lemos stays composed. Eventually the Brazilian is able to stand and trip Dern, and now Lemos is on top.

Dern is looking for a leg lock... but the final buzzer sounds!

UFC 298 LIVE: Amanda Lemos vs Mackenzie Dern

02:49 , Alex Pattle

Round two

Lemos goes southpaw for now, flicking out a side kick to the body. Now she sidesteps a wild striking entry from Dern.

Another hard low kick at Dern, who stumbles. OH! And Dern rushes onto a counter right, which drops her to a knee!

Lemos chases Dern to the canvas and pours on punches! Dern’s nose is badly bloodied, but she JUST survives!

Lemos finally elects to let Dern stand, after controlling the American but without advancing the position or dealing much damage.

Dern blocks a high kick. She eats a low one, though, and again she hobbles. Not only is Dern’s nose bloodied, but her right eye is severely bruised.

Lemos secures a trip, but Dern is able to sweep her on the canvas!

UFC 298 LIVE: Amanda Lemos vs Mackenzie Dern

02:43 , Alex Pattle

Round one

Both women stand orthodox. Hard body kick from Lemos. Dern keeps pressing forward and eats a short one-two.

Now Lemos kicks low. Dern wings a one-two and misses by some margin. Clean cross by Lemos, who then sees a body kick blocked.

Lemos kicks low and hard. Dern’s lead leg is already sporting some significant bruising. The American absorbs a harsh body kick from Brazilian Lemos.

Dern with a well-timed takedown! She succeeds and has Lemos against the fence, on the canvas. Good punches from Dern, who is looking to progress from half-guard.

Lemos with a really nice move, raising Dern over her.

UFC 298 LIVE: Amanda Lemos vs Mackenzie Dern

02:35 , Alex Pattle

Next up, ex-title challenger Amanda Lemos takes on Mackenzie Dern in a women’s strawweight bout!

Here we go.

UFC 298 LIVE: Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs Junior Tafa

02:22 , Alex Pattle

Round two

De Lima floors Tafa with a leg kick immediately. Tafa springs back up and covers up, as De Lima wings punches to his body.

Tafa’s corner wanted him to go southpaw, and he only complies now. Again Tafa hits the canvas after a heavy low kick, and De Lima pours on hammer fists – and that’s all she wrote!

The referee steps in! A clinical win for De Lima.

Marcos Rogerio de Lima def. Junior Tafa via second-round TKO (leg kicks and hammer fists, 1:14)

UFC 298 LIVE: Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs Junior Tafa

02:17 , Alex Pattle

Round one

Good low kicks by De Lima. “Tafa” is the chant in the arena. De Lima is backing up Tafa and narrowly misses with a right cross.

Tafa misses with a hook and is caught clean by a left hook from De Lima! Tafa takes it well. More low kicks from De Lima, who is on the front foot here.

Oh!! A calf kick hurts Tafa, who winces and hobbles, and... De Lima shoots for a takedown? What? Such a strange decision.

Tafa is eventually able to get off the fence, but De Lima maintains pressure, attacking the body with a kick and now a flurry of heavy hooks!

Now De Lima gets a takedown against the fence. He’s into half-guard. Good strikes from above, and De Lima ends the round in control.

UFC 298 LIVE: Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs Junior Tafa

02:09 , Alex Pattle

Now we move to the heavyweight division, where Marcos Rogerio de Lima faces Junior Tafa – stepping in for brother Justin Tafa!

UFC 298 LIVE: Rinya Nakamura vs Carlos Vera

02:02 , Alex Pattle

Rinya Nakamura def. Carlos Vera via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Nakamura stays unbeaten, moving to 9-0!

UFC 298 LIVE: Rinya Nakamura vs Carlos Vera

01:58 , Alex Pattle

Round three

Vera with a couple of high kicks early in this final round; his corner called for that, knowing he needs a finish in this frame.

He misses with a BIG spinning back kick attempt and slips, with Nakamura soon controlling him on the canvas.

Vera shrimps and tries for an armbar but can’t finish it, and so he switches to a leg lock. Again, though, he can’t finish the submission.

UFC 298 LIVE: Rinya Nakamura vs Carlos Vera

01:51 , Alex Pattle

Round two

Vera quickly pulls guard, and the crowd is not happy about that!

Vera is doing a better job at restricting Nakamura than he did in round one.

But eventually Nakamura is able to pass guard and take the back, where he tries a rear naked choke! Vera is able to twist and escape the submission, but Nakamura still has his back.

Nakamura moves into mount, where he tries an arm triangle choke, but to no avail.

UFC 298 LIVE: Rinya Nakamura vs Carlos Vera

01:44 , Alex Pattle

Round one

A frantic opening sequence sees both men scramble, with Vera trying a leg lock while Nakamura stands over him.

Nakamura scrambles well and takes the back, where he throws a good knee to the body. He stands and throws a few hard punches from above, and he’s getting through with ease!

Vera throws up an armbar, to no avail, before trying again for a leg lock after Nakamura escapes the first submission attempt.

Another escape for Nakamura, who again finds himself on top and raining down punches. Good up-kick from Vera, but he eats another punch. Nakamura slides into side control.

The grappling exchange sees Nakamura enter Vera’s closed guard, but the Japanese fighter decides to stand and launch some more ground and pound.

UFC 298 LIVE: Rinya Nakamura vs Carlos Vera

01:29 , Alex Pattle

Next up, Rinya Nakamura vs Carlos Vera at bantamweight!

After a bit of a wait, the fighters are in the Octagon, and we’re just about ready to go.

UFC 298 LIVE: Zhang Mingyang vs Brendson Ribeiro

01:19 , Alex Pattle

Round one

Both men stand orthodox. A clean right cross gets through for Ribeiro, echoing throughout the arena.

More crisp, straight punches for the Brazilian now. An overhand whizzes by Zhang’s head.

OH!!! Out of nowhere, Zhang floors Ribeiro with a right hook then a left!

The Chinese fighter seals a TKO with hammer fists! His 100 per cent finish record stays intact!

Wowwww, what a start to the regular prelims.

Zhang Mingyang def. Brendson Ribeiro via first-round KO (strikes, 1:41)

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria

01:11 , Alex Pattle

Our round-by-round updates start now, as Zhang Mingyang faces Brendson Ribeiro at light-heavyweight!

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria

01:04 , Alex Pattle

Okay, everyone, here are the early-prelim results from UFC 298!

Danny Barlow def. Josh Quinlan via third-round TKO (1:18)

Oban Elliott def. Val Woodburn via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Miranda Maverick def. Andrea Lee via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Wales’ Oban Elliott with a successful UFC debut after an early knockdown scare!

UFC 298 LIVE: Ilia Topuria has a question for you

00:32 , Alex Pattle

And here’s a throwback interview, from when Indy Sport interviewed Topuria ahead of his win over Josh Emmett in June:

Ilia Topuria: UFC’s rising star has a question for you

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski’s bravest move ever? Talking about his mental health

00:21 , Alex Pattle

Here’s a piece from the fallout of Volkanovski’s loss to Islam Makhachev in October, when the Australian bravely discussed his mental health and how it had affected his in-ring activity:

Alexander Volkanovski’s bravest move yet? Talking about his mental health

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria betting tips

00:10 , Alex Pattle

Check out The Independent’s betting tips for UFC 298 tonight:

UFC 298 predictions: Alexander Volkanovski vs Ilia Topuria betting tips, odds & free bets

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski reacts as Topuria changes social-media bio to ‘champion’ before fight

00:00 , Alex Pattle

Alexander Volkanovski has said it will be a ‘humbling experience’ for Ilia Topuria to update his social-media bio after their main event at UFC 298 tonight.

While Volkanovski has forged an impressive reign at 145lbs, the Australian faltered twice in 2023, losing to lightweight champion Islam Makhachev on points in February and via knockout in October.

Those results have fed Topuria’s already-supreme confidence, which has led the Georgian-Spaniard to update his Instagram and X bios to read: “UFC World Champion. Undefeated 15-0.” Topuria, 27, is in fact 14-0 with 12 stoppage wins.

Here’s what Volkanovski had to say about that:

Volkanovski reacts as Topuria changes social-media bio to ‘UFC champion’ before fight

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria

Saturday 17 February 2024 23:26 , Alex Pattle

Here is tonight’s card in full, subject to any last-minute changes:

Main card

Alexander Volkanovski (C) vs Ilia Topuria (featherweight title)

Robert Whittaker vs Paul Costa (middleweight)

Geoff Neal vs Ian Machado Garry (welterweight)

Merab Dvalishvili vs Henry Cejudo (bantamweight)

Anthony Hernandez vs Roman Kopylov (middleweight)

Prelims

Amanda Lemos vs Mackenzie Dern (women’s strawweight)

Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs Junior Tafa (heavyweight)

Rinya Nakamura vs Carlos Vera (bantamweight)

Zhang Mingyang vs Brendson Ribeiro (light-heavyweight)

Early prelims

Yusaku Kinoshita vs Danny Barlow (welterweight)

Oban Elliot vs Val Woodburn (welterweight)

Andrea Lee vs Miranda Maverick (women’s flyweight)

UFC 298 card in full as Volkanovski defends title against Topuria tonight

UFC 298 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Topuria

Saturday 17 February 2024 14:40 , Alex Pattle

In the main event of UFC 298 tonight, Alexander Volkanovski will defend his featherweight title against Ilia Topuria.

Volkanovski has been dominant at 145lbs and is seeking his sixth successful title defence, having stopped Yair Rodriguez in July, but that victory was sandwiched between two defeats at lightweight. In February, the Australian was outpointed by 155lbs champion Islam Makhachev, who knocked out Volkanovski in their October rematch.

That brutal result, which came after Volkanovski stepped in on short notice, has some fans fearing for the 35-year-old as he fights a younger, powerful and well-rounded challenger tonight. The unbeaten Topuria, 27, has 12 finishes from 14 wins, and the Georgian – who fights out of Spain – enters UFC 298 on the back of a dominant decision against Josh Emmett in June.

In the co-main event, former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker faces ex-title challenger Paulo Costa. Whittaker is out to bounce back from July’s shock TKO loss to Dricus Du Plessis, who has since won the belt, while Costa last fought 18 months ago, outpointing former champion Luke Rockhold in a scrappy affair.