UFC 298: Tips, predictions and odds

Adam Catterall Updated: 21 Feb 24 10:27

UFC 298 will see Alexander Volkanovski defend his featherweight title against the unbeaten Ilia Topuria, and Adam Catterall has given his picks for the event.

UFC 298 Tips and Predictions

Volkanovski is 16-0 at featherweight over his career, with his only two UFC losses coming via Islam Makhachev at lightweight, but he’s up against a fighter who’s a perfect 14-0 in his MMA career.

Nicknamed El Matador, the German-born fighter moved to Spain as a teenager and will look to be Spain’s first UFC champion, with 12 of his 14 wins coming via stoppage.

UFC veteran Robert Whittaker features in the co-main event against the unpredictable Paulo Costa. Still only 33, Whittaker has contested 20 UFC bouts, and of his last 16, his only losses have come to Israel Adesanya and Dricus du Plessis.

In Costa, it’s hard to know exactly what sort of opponent Whittaker will face. Once thought of as the middleweight division’s next big thing, Costa steamrolled his way to a 13-0 record before losing in back-to-back fights with Adesanya and Marvin Vettori, and the Brazilian has only fought six times since November 2017.

Ireland’s Ian Garry will look to extend his record to 14-0 when taking on Geoff Neal. The Irishman is certainly reminiscent of compatriot Conor McGregor with his pre-fight antics, with Neal not being spared Garry's acerbic tongue.

Henry Cejudo makes his return to the Octagon in the card’s second fight, looking to bounce back from his title fight defeat to Aljamain Sterling last year when he faces the talented Merab Dvalishvili, who’s won his last night fights, most recently against former champion Petr Yan.