ANAHEIM, California – Ilia Topuria just can’t resist touching Alexander Volkanovski’s championship belt before their highly anticipated clash at UFC 298. After already posing with the UFC featherweight title earlier in the week, Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) couldn’t resist doing it again during the pre-fight news conference, which had a raucous crowd at the Honda Center. This bold move by Topuria occurred towards the end of the news conference, following a series of back-and-forth exchanges with the seasoned Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC).
Volkanovski, who had been playing the role of an “old man” character, was jolted out of his act by Topuria’s audacious act of snatching the belt. The champion responded firmly, issuing a warning to the up-and-coming fighter. “As I’ve said before, you might as well make the most of it now,” Volkanovski stated. “You won’t have the chance to see it again until I teach you a lesson. Perhaps one day you can become a great champion, but I will defeat you first. You will learn your lesson, and maybe then you can make a comeback. But until that day, keep your hands off my belt.”
Witness the unforgettable moment from the pre-fight news conference in the video provided above.
According to the Source mmajunkie.usatoday.com