UFC 298: How to watch Volkanovski vs. Topuria title fight, start time, Anaheim fight card, odds, more

UFC 298 has a main card that begins at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view (via ESPN+). The four-fight prelim card airs on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET, and three early prelims stream on ESPN+ at 6: 30 p.m. ET.

Stay tuned to MMA Junkie this week for full broadcast details.

In the past nearly 11 years, featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) has lost just twice. Both have been to Islam Makhachev when he moved up 10 pounds to challenge for a second title at lightweight, and both came in 2023. In between, though, Volkanovski took out Yair Rodriguez with a TKO at featherweight, and he continues to be the standard-bearer in the division – at this point for all time. Against Ilia Topuria, though, he has a challenger who by week’s end might be the betting favorite.

Spanish standout Ilia Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC), born in Germany, quickly has risen up the ranks as a featherweight in the UFC. After a decision win over Youssef Zalal in his 2020 promotional debut, he put together four straight finishes of Damon Jackson, Ryan Hall, Jai Herbert and Bryce Mitchell. The Herbert fight was a one-off at lightweight, but after the Mitchell win, he beat Josh Emmett this past June in his first UFC main event and put himself in position for his crack at the belt Saturday. He has bonuses in three straight fights and at 27, is he hot at the right time against the 35-year-old champ?

Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (24-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC) will try to get back on track when he meets Paulo Costa (14-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC), who returns for the first time in about 18 months. Whittaker was knocked out by Dricus du Plessis at UFC 290 in July 2023, and du Plessis went on to win the title from Sean Strickland in January. Costa will return for the first time since an August 2022 decision win over Luke Rockhold at UFC 278. He’s been on the shelf since then.

Record: (16-6 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Opponent: Brendson Ribeiro (15-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Key wins: George Tokkos (Road to UFC, June 2022)
Misc.: The 25-year-old from China has all 16 of his wins by stoppage.

Record: (15-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Opponent: Zhang Mingyang (16-6 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Key wins: Bruno Lopes (DWCS, September 2023)
Misc.: Like Mingyang, the 27-year-old Ribeiro, from Brazil, has a 100 percent finish rate with nine knockouts and six submissions.

Record: (7-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Opponent: Josh Quinlan (6-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Key wins: Raheam Forest (DWCS, September 2023)
Misc.: Barlow’s perfect start out of the gate in his pro career includes five stoppages.

Record: (9-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Opponent: Val Woodburn (7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Key wins: Kaik Brito (DWCS, August 2023)
Misc.: Under the tutelage of UFC fighter Jack Shore, Elliott has five straight wins.

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

• Champ Alexander Volkanovski (-110) vs. Ilia Topuria (-110) – for featherweight title
• Paulo Costa (+180) vs. Robert Whittaker (-220)
• Ian Machado Garry (-225) vs. Geoff Neal (+185)
• Henry Cejudo (+160) vs. Merab Dvalishvili (-190)
• Anthony Hernandez (-170) vs. Roman Kopylov (+140)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET)

• Mackenzie Dern (+115) vs. Amanda Lemos (-135)
• Marcos Rogerio de Lima (-150) vs. Justin Tafa (+125)
• Rinya Nakamura (-900) vs. Carlos Vera (+600)
• Zhang Mingyang (-150) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (+125)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6: 30 p.m. ET)

• Danny Barlow (-190) vs. Josh Quinlan (+160)
• Oban Elliott (-290) vs. Val Woodburn (+235)
• Andrea Lee (+170) vs. Miranda Maverick (-200)