Ilia Topuria, after his knockout victory over Max Holloway at UFC 308, is expected to have a rematch with Alexander Volkanovski for his second title defense, following Volkanovski’s previous knockout loss to Topuria.
Ilia Topuria’s next title defense might be against a familiar adversary. After his electrifying knockout of Max Holloway at UFC 308, the featherweight champ found himself face-to-face with Alexander Volkanovski. The two exchanged pleasantries, hinting at a potential rematch.
Dana White, the UFC CEO, usually avoids matchmaking right after events. But this time, he seems almost certain that Volkanovski will get another shot at Topuria. “Volkanovski’s been our go-to guy,” White mentioned post-fight. “Whenever we’ve needed him, he’s stepped up.”
Volkanovski hasn’t fought since his knockout loss to Topuria in February—his second straight KO defeat after losing to Islam Makhachev. In that fight, a devastating head kick ended his night early. Four months later, Topuria delivered the same outcome.
The promise of a rematch was made to Volkanovski after his last bout. Now, it looks like the UFC is sticking to their word. However, there’s no set timeline for when this clash might occur. Volkanovski hoped for a comeback at UFC 312 in Australia, but Topuria dismissed defending his title on foreign soil.
Topuria’s unbeaten streak now stands at 16-0, with victories over legends like Volkanovski and Holloway. A second win over Volkanovski could cement his status as one of the all-time greats at 145 pounds. “Clip off legend after legend,” Dana White mused about Topuria’s journey. “Eventually, you become one.”
Both fighters put on a show at UFC 308. Max Holloway had a solid game plan, using calf kicks effectively. Yet, Topuria endured and delivered a performance for the ages. “[Topuria] did something nobody’s ever done before,” White concluded.