(ALSO SEE: Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Alexander Volkanovski after UFC 298 title loss?)
A new era in the featherweight division is underway after Ilia Topuria claimed the title from Alexander Volkanovski in dramatic fashion Saturday at UFC 298.
Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) delivered on his promise to deliver a highlight-reel knockout when he dropped and stopped Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) in the second round of their headlining bout at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., making him the fifth undisputed 145-pound champion in company history.
With some serious superstar potential, the world is Topuria’s oyster coming out of this win. He could rematch Volkanovski or fight one of multiple potential contenders on the horizon.
What should be next for the new champion? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on Topuria’s future after UFC 298.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.
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Alexander Volkanovski as “Old Man Volk”
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alexander volkanovski ilia topuria ufc 298 press conference faceoff
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Ilia Topuria UFC 298 ceremonial weigh-ins
Ilia Topuria UFC 298 ceremonial weigh-ins
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Ilia Topuria UFC 298 ceremonial weigh-ins
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Alexander Volkanovski UFC 298 ceremonial weigh-ins
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Alexander Volkanovski UFC 298 ceremonial weigh-ins
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Alexander Volkanovski UFC 298 ceremonial weigh-ins
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Alexander Volkanovski UFC 298 ceremonial weigh-ins
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UFC 298 Ceremonial Weigh-in
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 16: (L-R) Opponents Alexander Volkanovski of Australia and Ilia Topuria of Germany…
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 16: (L-R) Opponents Alexander Volkanovski of Australia and Ilia Topuria of Germany face off during the UFC 298 ceremonial weigh-in at Honda Center on February 16, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
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Ilia Topuria UFC 298 ceremonial weigh-ins
Ilia Topuria UFC 298 ceremonial weigh-ins
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Ilia Topuria UFC 298 ceremonial weigh-ins
Ilia Topuria UFC 298 ceremonial weigh-ins
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Alexander Volkanovski UFC 298 ceremonial weigh-ins
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Alexander Volkanovski UFC 298 ceremonial weigh-ins
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Alexander Volkanovski UFC 298 ceremonial weigh-ins
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MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ring announcer Bruce Buffer introduces Ilia Topuria and Alexander Volkanovski…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ring announcer Bruce Buffer introduces Ilia Topuria and Alexander Volkanovski before their match at UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria before fighting against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria before fighting against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria before fighting against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria before fighting against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Alexander Volkanovski reacts before fighting against Ilia Topuria during UFC…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Alexander Volkanovski reacts before fighting against Ilia Topuria during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria fights against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria fights against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria reacts to his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria reacts to his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Meta chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg attends UFC 298 at…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Meta chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg attends UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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Ilia Topuria def. Alexander Volkanovski, UFC 298 1
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Ilia Topuria def. Alexander Volkanovski, UFC 298 2
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MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Alexander Volkanovski reacts following the loss against Ilia Topuria during…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Alexander Volkanovski reacts following the loss against Ilia Topuria during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Alexander Volkanovski leaves following the loss against Ilia Topuria during…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Alexander Volkanovski leaves following the loss against Ilia Topuria during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Rose petals on the mat after Ilia Topuria celebrates his…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Rose petals on the mat after Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during…
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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Ilia Topuria def. Alexander Volkanovski, UFC 298 Scorecard
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