Alexander Volkanovski has some questions about how deserved the considerable hype around Ilia Topuria is ahead of UFC 298.
The Australian is coming off his second failed bid to become a two-division champion when he was knocked out in a rematch with Islam Makhachev at UFC 294, but Volkanovski will return to featherweight this weekend to try and defend his belt for a sixth time.
“The Great” comes up against the considerable momentum Topuria has accumulated, and the featherweight king recently noted that the challenger’s current hype level may be a tad overblown.
“He has to show us something that he hasn’t showed us for me to understand the hype,” Volkanovski told The Mac Life. “The hype - or the way he talks about himself or even the hype, he has not shown that. Maybe he hasn’t needed to with his opponents, maybe he needs other guys to really push him in ways where he needs to show us something different.”
Volkanovski should certainly provide the biggest test of Topuria's young career, and the Australian also went on to question whether or not “El Matador” has the right people around him as he attempts to become a UFC champion.
“I sort of thank him for doing what he’s doing, ‘cause he’s doing a great job. I’ll give him that…He’s playing that whole superstar. For me it’s hard, ‘cause I’m just not like that…I’m glad he’s doing it. He’s playing that, and that’s just what makes me think – I hope you’re bloody training. I’m sure he is, but just even with the training footage I see it seems like he just does – he’s just got a few yes men around him.”
Topuria’s incredible confidence has been a major talking point ahead of UFC 298, and even if he hasn’t faced anyone on Volkanovski’s level yet the 27-year-old has looked impressive in his six fights in the UFC.
The UFC 298 main event is one of the most highly-anticipated fights of the year, and the rest of the night's main card is fittingly stacked with huge bouts that feature former champions as well as top contenders looking to vault into title contention.
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