Ilya Topria did everything he could to take down Alexander Volkanovski during the UFC 298 pre-fight press conference. But his attempts seemed to fall on deaf ears. It wasn’t because the featherweight champion was dressed like he needed hearing aids.
Playing out the story of age catching up with him, Volkanovski “waddles” onto a stage in Anaheim, Calif., looking like a grandfather in a cardigan, bifocals, chains draped over them, and a newsboy cap over top. and went up on stage.
Volkanovski said he was having a little fun after weeks of questions about the validity of his age as champion at 35 years old. 35 seems to be the breaking point for successful fighters in many smaller weight classes.
“I’m just having a little fun,” he said. “We have to do it for the sake of the people. Everyone praised this costume, so I wanted to try it on.”
Topuria didn’t get the fun memo as he was minding business, but much of what he said was drowned out by loud boos from the crowd. That led Topuria to lash out at the audience, before turning his attention back to Volkanovski Sr.
“Shut up! Shut up,” Pria shouted. “Do you know how to dress? You already know what will happen. You have just prepared for retirement. Look how you look like an old man.”
Topria repeatedly tried to verbally assault Volkanovski, but the current UFC featherweight champion refused to participate in his trash talk. When that didn’t work, Topria leaned over the table and snatched the UFC belt that was sitting in front of Volkanovski, which finally caused Volkanovski to jump from his seat.
“Please stand up and do something,” Pria said. “Say it humbly. I’m right here in front of you. Do something.”
The belt was eventually returned to its rightful owner, but even after that brief altercation, Volkanovski still ignored it. And he conveyed the message to Topuria.
“You’d better take advantage of it now,” Volkanovski said to Topuria. “You’ll never see it again. Until I teach you a lesson. Someday you too may be a great champion. First I’ll kick your ass, you’ll learn your lesson.” Yes, and you’ll probably be able to recover after that.
“Until then, please keep your hands off your belt.”
Of course, Topuria stealing the title belt was ripped straight from Conor McGregor’s playbook. The Irish star did the same thing when Jose Aldo was about to fight him for the UFC featherweight title. That night, an enraged Aldo jumped from his seat and attempted to attack McGregor.
Volkanovski didn’t even rush for the belt, much less try to tackle Topuria who stole it. He continued to laugh at the situation, pretending to be asleep while Topuria was talking.
“You want Conor McGregor, right? What about this guy?” Volkanovski said. “I think this old man needs to teach this young man a lesson.”
Despite smoldering tensions between the two sides, the UFC 298 fighters faced off on stage without incident and shook hands before parting ways.
Volkanovski is gearing up for his sixth consecutive defense of the featherweight title, with the story now all but settled and one shot away from matching Aldo’s all-time record at 145 pounds.
