UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski seems to be embracing any questions about how much time he’s got left as champion ahead of his next title defense Saturday.
Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) puts his title on the line against unbeaten challenger Ilia Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in the UFC 298 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) headliner at Honda Center in Anaheim. At most online sportsbooks, Volkanovski opened as a slight underdog – a rarity for a UFC champion.
During fight week, bettors seem to be backing the champ, leaving him now a slight favorite midweek. But still, there are doubters, and Volkanovski knows it. He cut a funny promo video mocking people who think he’s too old. But there’s got to be a reason he has doubters, even though his only slip-ups have been when he’s challenged for the lightweight title, and never at 145 pounds.
