Ilia Topuria’s Bold Move: Snatching Volkanovski’s UFC Belt at Press Conference
In a scene reminiscent of Conor McGregor’s antics, Ilia Topuria made headlines by seizing the UFC featherweight championship belt from Alexander Volkanovski during the press conference for UFC 298. This dramatic gesture, witnessed by a live audience, intensified the rivalry between the two fighters ahead of their much-anticipated title match this weekend.
Volkanovski, who humorously dressed as an elderly man in response to Topuria’s previous jabs calling him “old,” exchanged verbal spars with Topuria throughout the event. However, the atmosphere shifted when Topuria audaciously grabbed the belt displayed in front of Volkanovski, sparking excitement and disbelief among the audience. This wasn’t the first time Topuria had laid hands on the belt; earlier in the week, he had posed with the UFC title, further stoking the flames of their rivalry.
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Responding to Topuria’s bold move, a visibly more serious Volkanovski retorted, “As I said, you might as well take advantage of it now. You’ll never see it again until I’ve taught you a lesson. Maybe one day you can be a champion, but first, I’m going to beat the crap out of you. You’re going to learn a lesson. Maybe you can come back after that. But until then, keep your hands off my belt!”
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This stunt has drawn criticism from fans, drawing parallels to McGregor’s similar behavior before his match against Jose Aldo in December 2015. Despite the controversy, Topuria’s actions have added an extra layer of excitement to the upcoming UFC 298 event, setting the stage for what promises to be an electrifying featherweight title fight.
OH MY 👀
🇬🇪🇪🇸 @TopuriaIlia gets his hands on @AlexVolkanovski's belt one more time! #UFC298 pic.twitter.com/3jGfhJjebK
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) February 16, 2024
UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria promises to be a thrilling event, with fans eagerly anticipating the outcome of this high-stakes match. The question on everyone’s mind is whether Topuria’s psychological warfare will translate into victory in the octagon, or if Volkanovski will retain his title and prove that experience and skill outweigh bold gestures and trash talk.
