Volkanovski vs Topuria LIVE: UFC 298 fight updates and results ...

'I'm literally done': Dana White storms off podcast in first minute leaving host stunned
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.
Follow live updates and results from the UFC 298 main card and prelims, below.
UFC 298 LIVE
Show latest updateUFC 298 LIVE: Amanda Lemos vs Mackenzie Dern
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!
Alex Pattle18 February 2024 02:55
UFC 298 LIVE: Amanda Lemos vs Mackenzie Dern
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!
Alex Pattle18 February 2024 02:49
UFC 298 LIVE: Amanda Lemos vs Mackenzie Dern
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.
Alex Pattle18 February 2024 02:43
UFC 298 LIVE: Amanda Lemos vs Mackenzie Dern
Next up, ex-title challenger Amanda Lemos takes on Mackenzie Dern in a women’s strawweight bout!
Here we go.
Alex Pattle18 February 2024 02:35
UFC 298 LIVE: Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs Junior Tafa
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)
Alex Pattle18 February 2024 02:22
UFC 298 LIVE: Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs Junior Tafa
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.
Alex Pattle18 February 2024 02:17
UFC 298 LIVE: Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs Junior Tafa
Now we move to the heavyweight division, where Marcos Rogerio de Lima faces Junior Tafa – stepping in for brother Justin Tafa!
Alex Pattle18 February 2024 02:09
UFC 298 LIVE: Rinya Nakamura vs Carlos Vera
Rinya Nakamura def. Carlos Vera via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
Nakamura stays unbeaten, moving to 9-0!
Alex Pattle18 February 2024 02:02
UFC 298 LIVE: Rinya Nakamura vs Carlos Vera
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.
Alex Pattle18 February 2024 01:58
UFC 298 LIVE: Rinya Nakamura vs Carlos Vera
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.
Alex Pattle18 February 2024 01:51