The UFC returns to Southern California, with the featherweight championship headlining the event. UFC 298 (available on pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) will take place on Saturday at the Honda Center in Anaheim. This marks the first of three shows at the venue this year as part of a recently announced five-year deal with the arena.
Below, you can find the predictions and analysis from our team of 11 editors, writers, radio hosts, and videographers.
Anthony Hernandez
Fighter Records: Hernandez (11-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC), Kopylov (12-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC)
Recent Performances: Hernandez 4-1, Kopylov 4-1
Weight Division: Middleweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 02.16.24): Hernandez -245, Kopylov +200
Predictions from our team: Hernandez 7, Kopylov 4
Merab Dvalishvili
Fighter Records: Cejudo (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC), Dvalishvili (16-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC)
Recent Performances: Cejudo 4-1, Dvalishvili 5-0
Weight Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: Dvalishvili No. 2, Cejudo No. 9
Odds (as of 02.16.24): Dvalishvili -240, Cejudo +195
Predictions from our team: Dvalishvili 7, Cejudo 4
Ian Machado Garry
Fighter Records: Garry (13-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC), Neal (15-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC)
Recent Performances: Garry 5-0, Neal 2-3
Weight Division: Welterweight
Rankings: Neal No. 11, Garry No. 13
Odds (as of 02.16.24): Garry -230, Neal +190
Predictions from our team: Garry 7, Neal 4
Robert Whittaker
Fighter Records: Costa (14-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC), Whittaker (24-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC)
Recent Performances: Costa 3-2, Whittaker 3-2
Weight Division: Middleweight
Rankings: Whittaker No. 5, Costa No. 11
Odds (as of 02.16.24): Whittaker -240, Costa +195
Predictions from our team: Whittaker 9, Costa 2
Alexander Volkanovski as “Old Man Volk”
Fighter Records: Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC), Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC)
Recent Performances: Volkanovski 3-2, Topuria 5-0
Weight Division: Featherweight
Rankings: Volkanovski No. 1, No. 3 pound-for-pound; Topuria No. 4
Odds (as of 02.16.24): Volkanovski -125, Topuria +105
Predictions from our team: Volkanovski 7, Topuria 4
Mackenzie Dern
While the preliminary fights do not contribute to the overall standings, the featured prelim bout between Mackenzie Dern (13-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) and Amanda Lemos (13-3-1 MMA, 7-3 UFC) is an anticipated matchup in the women’s strawweight division. Lemos is a slight favorite at -135, and she holds a narrow lead in predictions at 6-5.
There are two unanimous predictions for the prelims. Rinya Nakamura (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) is the biggest favorite on the card and one of the biggest favorites in UFC history at this number. He is heavily favored at -1400 against Carlos Vera (11-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC). Unsurprisingly, Nakamura is predicted to win by all 11 members of our team. Miranda Maverick (12-5 MMA, 5-3 UFC) also receives unanimous predictions in her women’s flyweight bout against Andrea Lee (13-8 MMA, 5-6 UFC), which opens the event.
Take a look at all the predictions for the main card below.
According to the Source mmajunkie.usatoday.com