Ilia Topuria began a new chapter in featherweight history on Saturday when he dethroned Alexander Volkanovski in the UFC 298 headliner.
Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) joined a small group of fighters to claim gold with an undefeated record, and the first to do it at 145 pounds, with a second-round knockout victory over Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) in the pay-per-view headliner at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
Check below for the top X (formerly Twitter) reactions to Topuria’s title coronation over Volkanovski at UFC 298.
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MMA Junkie
MMA Junkie
MMA Junkie
Spinnin Backfist
Terrance McKinney
UFC
UFC
Kamaru Usman
Teddy Atlas
Feel like I’m getting ready for a great Boxing match. Topuria controls range stepping in & out, wonder if Volk will step with him on way back. #UFC298
— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) February 18, 2024
Kevin Iole
Volk firing a lot of kicks in first 90 seconds
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) February 18, 2024
Luke Thomas
Topuria trying to counter Volk’s left side movement with leg kicks.
— Luke Thomas????️♀️ (@lthomasnews) February 18, 2024
Eric Nicksick
Volk with the left high kick to occupy the power right hand of Ilia. Keeps his guard busy. #UFC298
— Eric Nicksick (@Eric_XCMMA) February 18, 2024
Aaron Bronsteter
10-9 Ilia
Close first round and a competitive chess match so far.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) February 18, 2024
Danny Segura
Islam Makhachev
Jose Youngs
Volkanovski might have the best footwork in MMA but he is in for a short night if he keeps leaning back like that to evade #UFC298
— José Youngs (@JoseYoungs) February 18, 2024
Charles Oliveira
Brian Martin
Cris Cyborg
Volkanovski using the kick to pin Topuria right hand and limit its effectiveness.
He’s putting the kick on the arm instead of the body on purpose and it’s beautiful
— CrisCyborg.Com (@criscyborg) February 18, 2024
Mike Bohn
Eric Nicksick
https://twitter.com/eric_xcmma/status/1759094418550947912?s=61&t=mOzy2hTn3bXzeFcNVGr_Kw
Belal Muhammad
Terrance McKinney
Matthew Wells
Alan Jouban
Oh my goodness! Even Islam’s kick didn’t have that kind of power. #UFC298
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) February 18, 2024
Michael Carroll
Ilia Topuria is the 5th undisputed UFC Featherweight Champion. #UFC298
— Michael Carroll (@MJCflipdascript) February 18, 2024
Michael Chiesa
Chris Curtis
The king is dead, the king is dead. Long live the king…#UFC298
— Chris Curtis The Action Man (@Actionman513) February 18, 2024
Megan Anderson
OH. MY. GOD ????
What a statement by Ilia Topuria – his boxing on the inside is truly something else ????????#UFC298
— Megan Anderson (@MeganAnderson) February 18, 2024
Dan Henderson
BJ Penn
UFC
Kamaru Usman
Bo Nickal
UFC
UFC
Kenny Florian
Aaron Bronsteter
UFC fighters aged 35 and older fall to 1-22 in men’s weight classes 170 pounds and below in championship bouts.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) February 18, 2024
Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie
