UFC 298 Countdown - Volkanovski vs Topuria | Main Event Feature

[gentle music] [seagulls cawing] >> Jon Anik: There is nothing quite like the buzz of a big city on fight night. We are in the Golden State and the world famous Octagon is open for business. [vehicles whooshing by] >> Narrator: On February 17th, the worldwide MMA leader returns to Anaheim, California... [crowd cheering] >> Anik: In an arena that has hosted many historic UFC shows, one way or another, we are in for more UFC history. >> Narrator: ...with a stacked card headlined by one of the grea

test featherweight champions of all-time. >> Bruce Buffer: Alexander "The Great"... >> Daniel Cormier: He is such a special talent. This guy just showed that he's next level, especially at featherweight. >> Narrator: At 145 pounds in the UFC... >> Joe Rogan: He dropped him! That's it! >> Narrator: ...Australia's Alexander Volkanovski is undefeated... >> Rogan: He has incredible cardio-- legitimate knockout power. >> Paul Felder: Are you kidding me right now! >> Rogan: All he wants to do is seek

and destroy! >> Buffer: Aaaaannd...still! >> Narrator: ...increasingly dominant with each defense of his title... >> Anik: Championship mettle from Volkanovski! >> Too [bleep] good! >> Narrator: ...and primed to extend his legendary run... >> Volkanovski: My purpose is fighting. >> Anik: What else can you say about the pound-for-pound king? >> And this next part of my story is going to be pretty cool. I'm the champ. I'm the king of this division and no one is ever stopping me. [dramatic music] [

Volkanovski yells] >> Buffer: And still! [waves crashing] [upbeat music] >> Narrator: ...but a new challenger has emerged from the shores of Alicante. >> Anik: Huge combination for the Spaniard! >> Narrator: Known as "El Matador", Spain's Ilia Topuria stands at 14-0... >> Michael Bisping: There's a reason why he's undefeated. [bodies crash to the canvas] >> Felder: The guy goes out there and gets it done and he gets it done by finishing people. >> Rogan: He closes the show. The guy is a killer.

>> Narrator: ...with 12 finishes and sights set on the featherweight belt. [Topuria speaking in Spanish] >> The game plan was simple; come in and take his head off. >> John Gooden: Unbelievable knockout! >> That was the game plan. [strikes thwacking pads] >> Bisping: This man is truly frightening. >> Anik: Still undefeated! [Topuria speaking in Spanish] >> No one can match my level of skill. I come to take that UFC belt. >> Cormier: [groans] Ugh! >> Topuria: And I want to show Alex where his wor

th gonna end and mine is gonna start. [crowd cheering] >> Ilia has been running his mouth. If he wants to keep going, I'll show him what's up and I'll squash him too. >> Narrator: In the co-main event, Brazilian powerhouse Paulo Costa returns... >> Gooden: Here he is; rejuvenated, revitalized. >> Rogan: This is a knockout artist who throws bombs! >> Narrator: ...in a high stakes bout with former middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker. >> Bisping: You see the fire that burns to become the champi

on of the world once again. >> Whittaker: I'm not going anywhere. Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! >> Narrator: Plus, surging 135 pound contender Merab Dvalishvili... >> Anik: This is a force to be reckoned with. >> Cormier: It's exciting to watch people melt under the pressure of Merab. [Dvalishvili yelling] >> Narrator: ...puts his nine fight win streak on the line, against the once simultaneous bantamweight and flyweight champion, Henry Cejudo... >> Cejudo: Tripe C! Olympic champion, flyweight champio

n of the world, bantamweight champion of the world! I am the greatest combat athlete of all time! [yells] >> Rogan: Henry Cejudo! [man rapping] ♪ I got to make it out, they can't stop me ♪ ♪ I got to conquer they can't copy ♪ >> Narrator: But before the best in the business touch down in SoCal... [vehicle whooshing by] >> Ching, Ching. >> Woman: Ching, Ching. [glasses clink] [gun cocking sound effect] >> Nice, darling. >> Narrator: ...first... >> [groans] Uh! [laughing] >> Narrator: ...get r

eady... [timer beeps] >> Man: 30 seconds left! [body violently thuds to the canvas] There you go! >> Narrator: ...for UFC 298... Countdown. [gun cocking sound effect] [gentle music] [flag flapping in the wind] >> Anik: Live from the RAC Arena here in Perth, Western Australia, this is UFC 284: Makhachev versus the featherweight world beater, Alexander Volkanovski, who tonight will try to break through and hit that rarified air as a simultaneous two division UFC champion. >> Narrator: For UFC feat

herweight champion Alexander Volkanovski... >> Cormier: This guy is the featherweight king by far. It's like not even close right now. >> Buffer: Still! >> Narrator: ...the year 2023 was highlighted by a pair of lightweight title shots... >> Felder: He knows exactly what he's got to go do. He knows exactly the challenge that he's up against with Islam Makhachev. >> Narrator: ...against the division's champion, Islam Makhachev... >> Rogan: He's one of the best fighters on planet Earth, if not the

best. [commentators]: Oh! >> Anik: There's the tap! >> Buffer: Islam... >> Narrator: ...first of which, was a close decision loss right at home in Australia... [commentators]: Oh! >> Anik: Big stick with the left hand by Volkanovski! And now he drops Volkanovski! Ooh! >> Bisping: Oh! Massive right hand sits him down! Trying to steal the victory! >> Anik: Big ground strikes late! [end of round air horn blares] >> Buffer: Still! >> Anik: And we all hope that one point we will see that rematch. [f

ist thuds counter] >> I was definitely thinking of the rematch after our first fight. [Bleep!] [sighs with frustration] It was always something that I believed was going to eventually happen. We can do it again? >> Yes. >> I didn't think the rematch was going to come that quick. >> Bisping: Charles Oliveira, the lightweight challenger to Islam Makhachev's throne, is out of UFC 294. But Oliveira out, Alexander Volkanovski in. >> Buffer: Volkanovski! [Volkanovski yelling] >> But as soon as I got t

hat phone call, I flipped the switch and it was game on. >> Anik: The question beckons, without a training camp, can Alexander Volkanovski do enough to become a simultaneous two division champion? >> I thought I could go out there and shock the world... [pensive music] [commentators]: Oh! >> Anik: That will do it! And still! >> ...but we didn't. He caught me and that's the game. [waves crashing] [low key dramatic music] [strikes thwacking pads] I'm coming off one of the biggest losses of my care

er... [music continues] [strikes thwacking pads] but I'm still the champion of the featherweight division. >> Anik: Returning to the division he has ruled for nearly four years, Alexander Volkanovski looks to continue his case as the greatest featherweight of all time, when he faces Yair Rodriguez. >> Narrator: Between a pair of attempts at seizing lightweight gold, Volkanovski would fulfill his obligation to the featherweight belt... >> Herb Dean: Ready? Ready? Let's fight! >> Narrator: ...in a

summer headliner against Yair Rodriguez... >> Cormier: And he looks to add to the legacy as the greatest featherweight champ in the world. >> I know I need to focus on defending the belt and really sending a statement. >> Anik: Rodriguez got touched on the way in! >> Cormier: Coming back down to 145, could you imagine all the strength he put on to go up? He must feel like a bear to these guys at featherweight. >> Rogan: And that was one of the most impressive things [end of round air horn blast

s] about the Islam fight. The fact that Volkanovski was able to grapple with him successfully is just insane. [Cormier and Rogan]: Oh! >> Rogan: He stung him. >> Anik: Big right for Volk! Oh, Rodriguez really hurt now! Covering up! Massive takedown transition. >> Rogan: Volk is going for it. >> Narrator: ...the victory in Las Vegas... >> Anik: That will do it! And still! [crowd loudly cheering] >> Narrator: ...would extend Volkanovski's undefeated featherweight run in the UFC... >> Anik: What el

se can you say about the pound-for-pound king!? >> Narrator: ...and the champ has no intentions of slowing down. >> Anik: Fifth straight featherweight title defense. >> Cormier: Jon, look-- Topuria's is in his face. >> Rogan: When you see how Ilia Topuria fights-- I mean that guy is an absolute animal. [dramatic stringed music] [wind whooshing] >> Narrator: Defeating Volkanovski is the desire of every featherweight fighter on the planet. And while no man to ever test the throne has been able to

seize Volkanovski's belt, undefeated challenger Ilia Topuria [ominous musical tones] feels destined to become the first. [dramatic instrumental music] [clock ticking] [Topuria speaking in Spanish] [dramatic music continues] [seagulls squawking] >> Narrator: Now a permanent resident of Alicante, Spain... [scooter engine buzzing] Topuria's 27 year journey began the day he was born in Germany to Georgian parents in constant search of a better life. [speaking in Spanish] [speaking in Spanish] [engin

e starts and revs] [low key instrumental music with man vocalizing] [speaking in Spanish] [crowd applauding] [speaking in Spanish] [speaking in Spanish] [trainer speaking in Spanish] [cage announcer speaking in Spanish] >> Cage announcer: Ilia Topuria! [crowd cheering and whistling] >> Narrator: Before he turned 20 years old, Ilia Topuria was finishing professional MMA fights... >> Commentator: He's out. He's out! >> Co-commentator: It's over! >> Commentator #3: Ilia Topuria! Unbelievable! >> Co

mmentator #4: Big pickup and a big takedown for Topuria. >> Commentator #5: This is exactly where the Georgian wants it at. >> Commentator #6: Wow! >> Commentator #7: Ilia Topuria chokes out Brian Bouland! [dramatic instrumental music] >> Narrator: ...and it wasn't long before the phenom from Spain burst onto the UFC featherweight scene. >> Gooden: And here we are, 8-0. A legit prospect out of Spain. Very calm, collected. You wouldn't know it was his UFC debut. Oh, lovely suplex there. As Topuri

a is putting on a bit of a grappling masterclass right now. >> Joe Martinez: Still undefeated! >> Dominick Cruz: He's just unloading on Damon Jackson right now. All combinations. >> Anik: Oh! The walk-off KO for Ilia Topuria! >> Cruz: He just chopped him down like a tree! >> Cormier: We have never seen him get beat. >> Anik: Ilia Topuria has knocked Ryan Hall out cold! >> Cormier: He carries this intensity about him that's a little bit different than most of these young fighters. >> The game pla

n was simple; come in and take his head off. [commentators]: Oh! >> Bisping: Wow! >> Gooden: My word! >> Cormier: He is sure that at some point he will wear a UFC championship belt. >> Anik: And a right hand knocks Mitchell down! >> Cormier: And why would you not be sure... >> Anik: Still undefeated! >> Cormier: ...when you possess these type of skills? >> Cruz: Oh. >> Anik: Oh! >> Cruz: Heavy! >> Anik: Huge combination for the Spaniard! >> Cruz: This is an outclassing of Topuria-- if we're goin

g to be honest--on the feet. A boxing masterclass. What a statement. >> No one can match my level of skill inside the cage. [commentators]: Oh! >> Cruz: That uppercut was heavy! >> Anik: Back to the canvas now! >> I prove it all the time I step inside the cage and I prove it once again tonight. >> Anik: Volk wants new challengers-- Ilia Topuria has arrived. >> I come to take that UFC belt and I want to show Alex when his world is gonna end and mine is gonna start. >> Narrator; Now with his profe

ssional record extended to a perfect 14-0, Topuria's shot at featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski can no longer be denied. Is now set for February 17th in Anaheim. [speaking in Spanish] [music ends] [birds singing] [gentle dramatic music] >> Narrator: Heading into a February 17th featherweight title defense... [vehicles whooshing by] Australian champion Alexander Volkanovski... [card door thuds shut] identifies mistakes made in preparations for his last outing, a short notice shot at the lig

htweight belt. >> Anik: Alexander Volkanovski is that guy! The question beckons, without a training camp, can that guy do enough to become a simultaneous two division champion? >> For that second Islam fight, I was coming off surgery and a newborn and that-- so I didn't have any fights in line. >> Anik: This was biting off a lot-- to travel from Australia, you're 181 pounds when you get the call. Nothing amounting to a training camp. Had a surgery in July. >> I was drinking a little bit too much

. Usually I'd be in the gym more, be a lot more professional and disciplined and I wasn't. >> Anik: I think the entire fight game has buckets of respect for Volkanovski stepping up, but it didn't go his way. >> I'm the best person of myself inside and outside of the cage when I have rule structure and I'm in camp. That's why you saw an emotional side of me after that. I'm more disappointed of who I was going into that fight, rather than making that decision. [low key dramatic music] [vehicles wh

ooshing by] >> Narrator: For Volkanovski, a return to form is not only motivated by the agony of recent defeat, it's driven by an even higher purpose. >> My family... it's why I put so much pressure on myself, but that's only because I want to be the best version of a father I can be. The best version of athlete I can be. You ready? >> Airlie: Yeah. >> Volkanovski: All right. Let's go. I want to turn up no matter what I do in life. Wherever it's in the gym. Wherever it is at the Octagon. Whereve

r it is at home. >> Man: Champions built in the gym. Time to work! >> Volkanovski: So I'm happy to hold myself accountable and be the best version of myself inside and outside of the Octagon. Oh, there you go, darling. See? Nice, Ariana. That's better. Swap. Oh! You're close, darling. That's why I need to win. Well done! Every time I'm in there... [dramatic music continues] >> Man: Nice timing, Volk. >> Volkanovski: You ready? Whaa! You bring that belt back home to your family and that means eve

rything. >> Trainer: Second time to work. Let's finish it, boys. Finish strong. Last round. >> Volkanovski: There's always going to be things get in front of you no matter what you do in life... >> Trainer: Good control, Volk. >> Volkanovski: ...so you want to be able to deal with them. To be resilient, disciplined. >> Trainer: He's gonna slide again, Volk. Slide to mount again. >> Never give up. >> Trainer: 15! >> Ready? Nice, darling. Challenge yourself-- all those things. Yoo-wi! >> Trainer:

Time! >> It can get difficult, but you got to be willing to carry that burden. [indistinct chatter in background] [gentle music] [waves breaking] [seagulls cawing] >> Narrator: Half a world away, Volkanovski's UFC 298 opponent, Ilia Topuria also shares his experience as a world-class athlete with those that matter most. [trolley bell ringing] [vehicle engine revving] [Topuria speaking in Spanish] [footsteps crunching on ground] >> Ching, Ching. >> Giorgina: Ching, Ching. [glasses clink] >> I act

ually didn't follow the sport or anything like that. [speaking in Spanish] >> Then I was seeing videos of him on Youtube. I was like, "This is another person. Like, how is it possible? He's so sweet." And then, he's almost killing people. [blow torch heating and sizzling food] >> Giorgina: I was like, "Out of all the things that you can do in this life, why would you do that?" He's like, "Because I'm the best, I never get punched." I was like, "Okay, perfect." [utensils scraping] [speaking in Sp

anish] [continuing to speak Spanish] >> It's Ilia's dream to become the world champion and I have zero doubts about it. [kiss smacks] It's already done, it's just a matter of time. >> Narrator: With support systems in place, the 27 year old contender enters the February 17th title bout in the prime of his career. [scooter engine revving] Ideal circumstances for attempting to become the first man to ever defeat Volkanovski at 145 pounds. [speaking in Spanish] [Trainer speaking in Spanish] [strike

s rapidly thwacking pads] [Trainer speaking in Spanish] [strikes violently thwacking pads] [speaking in Spanish] [Topuria grunting] [Trainer speaking in Spanish] [strikes thwacking pads] [Topuria grunting] [speaking in Spanish] [group singing in Spanish] [Topuria grunting] [group continues to sing in Spanish] [bleep] [group applauding and speaking in Spanish] [gentle instrumental music] [bird squawking] [birds' wings flapping] >> Narrator: Although mixed martial arts is practiced across the glob

e, the sport is yet to establish a larger presence in certain regions... [vehicle whooshing by] [music continues] And while Southern Spain is beginning to show promise as an emerging hotbed... [vehicle engine revving] elite level training may have never existed here at all were it not for the Climent brothers. [men speaking in Spanish] [speaking in Spanish] [lively music playing in gym in background] [continues to speak in Spanish] >> Rogan: He's tapping! He's tapping! That's it! [Jorge speaking

in Spanish] [Agustin speaking in Spanish] [speaking in Spanish] [continues to speak in Spanish] [speaking in Spanish continues] [dramatic percussive music continues] >> Narrator: There is no better man to lead the charge for Spanish MMA than El Matador and it begins with Ilia Topuria's title bout against Alexander Volkanovski on February 17th... [body thuds to the mat] [lively instrumental music continues] [Jorge speaks in Spanish] [speaking in Spanish] [Jorge speaking in Spanish] [speaking in

Spanish] [Jorge speaking in Spanish] [music ends] [low key dramatic music] >> Narrator: Ahead of their title bout on February 17th, Topuria and champion Alexander Volkanovski briefly touched down in Las Vegas to promote the highly anticipated event. And although the business trip takes place mid training camp, the fight capital is an ideal destination to stay on track. [clock ticking] >> Well looked after when you come to Vegas, the home of the UFC. [Volkanovski indistinctly speaks] It's always

good to take advantage of their facilities when in town. I don't get to get here too much, so when I'm here I make the most of it. >> Narrator: To prepare for Topuria, Volkanovski continues methods that readied him for multiple lightweight title bouts last year. >> Volkanovski: Ah! I always like training with bigger guys. Craig Jones, one of the best grapplers in the world. >> Commentator: There he gets the tap! >> Different commentator: The dominance continues for Craig Jones! >> But if you're

over here, you control a headlock. >> And with this leg? >> Jones: That's good. >> Or the other leg? >> Jones: Which ever one you can. >> Volkanovski: And you got Kevin Jousset who is in the welterweight division. >> Laura Sanko: Oh, man. This is tight! >> Anik: Kevin "Air" Jousset! >> They put me in a lot of positions that is gonna be harder for people my size. [dramatic music continues] >> He's only a featherweight-- obviously we're a lot bigger than him, but he's still a really tough round fo

r us. [wall pads squeaking] I've trained with a lot of UFC guys-- definitely one of the strongest... physically pound-for-pound guys I've felt. >> I can't go out there and think just because I've been winning at featherweight and defending a belt, no one stands a chance. [men grunting] I can't have that mentality and you wouldn't see me turn up in the gym like I always have-- what got me here today. I'm sure there's people thinking, "Is this the decline?" But when I got a chip on my shoulder, wh

en I got something to prove-- when people doubt me, that's where I shine. >> Thank you, guys. >> Thanks, much appreciated. [low key dramatic music] >> Narrator: When training commences, promotion intensifies... [woman singing] ♪ Rise up it's a showdown ♪ >> Narrator: ...as Volkanovski shares the stage with a young adversary aiming to take everything he has. [woman singing] ♪ Run make our hearts pound ♪ ♪ Just you be legendary ♪ >> Rogan: Ilia Topuria is a real assassin. >> Ilia Topuria--an

undefeated, young, hungry prospect trying to come for my belt. >> Rogan: He's the best. >> Cormier: He's next level. >> Which is just the perfect opponent for my story and I believe I go out there and I take him out on February 17th. I just don't think he's as good as he says he is. I believe that I'm going to be teaching him a lesson. >> Rogan: He's just truly a special talent. >> Cormier: The greatest featherweight champ of all time. [woman singing] ♪To be legendary ♪ >> Too [bleep] good! Yo

u'll see me as a dominant champ that I've been. >> Rogan: Wow! Rag-dolled him! [woman singing] ♪ Stronger every day ♪ >> Cormier: He really believes that he can whip anybody. [woman singing] ♪ Ready for a change ♪ [speaking in Spanish] >> Gooden: My word! Unbelievable knockout! >> Rogan: He is so clean and so powerful. >> Anik: Still undefeated! Ilia Topuria! [speaking in Spanish] >> Anik: Ilia Topuria has arrived. >> Narrator: It's the undefeated challenger from Spain... >> Cormier: He is s

ure he will wear a UFC belt. >> Narrator: ...and the all-time great champion from Australia... >> Anik: That will do it! And still! [woman singing] ♪ Going to be legendary ♪ >> Narrator: ...toe-to-toe for the featherweight belt in Anaheim. >> As close as you'll ever get. >> Narrator: ...on February 17th. [crowd clamoring and whistling]