Ilia Topuria well-rounded, but needs humbling at UFC 298

Alexander Volkanovski aims to quiet Ilia Topuria‘s buzz at UFC 298.

Defending featherweight champ Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) will face unbeaten Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in the February 17 main event.

Volkanovski respects Topuria’s threat but is prepared to prove why he still rules the division.

“He’s a powerful dude. He’s good everywhere,” Volkanovski told Fox Sports Australia. “He’s not one-dimensional. He’s obviously very well-rounded. I just believe my skills and my understanding of the game is just going to be that little bit too much for him. He’s a young, hungry dude – undefeated, very, very confident – but I think he needs a little bit of humbling, so I’m glad to be the man to do that.”

Initially, Volkanovski was adamant that he could fight Topuria at UFC 297 on January 20. However, following a knockout loss this past October to lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, Volkanovski decided to postpone the fight.

“We just thought that would be a little bit too soon,” Volkanovski said. “We want to follow all protocols and do everything right, obviously, after the last one and I’m lucky enough to have a great team around me who have dealt with a lot of concussions through football.

“I’ve got the right team around me and we just thought that January was too soon. I was lucky enough to have the UFC and the guys there make that happen and move things around for me, which I’m grateful for, and I think the timing will be perfect.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.

Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie