As a man with experience that is eliminated by Ilia Topuria, Alexander Volkanovski is unique to give his prediction for the UFC 317 main event.
Ilia Topuria finished Volkanovski in the second round of their fight on UFC 298, in the game that the Georgian saw the UFC Featherweight Championship win.
Topuria later left the title to go to lightweight and score a title shot for the empty championship.
That fight will be against Charles Oliveira, although Volkanovski thinks the game will be a fast, with a brutal end.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty images
Alexander Volkanovski supports Ilia Topuria to score an early knockout on UFC 317
Just like the bloody elbow experts, Volkanovski thinks that Topuria has too much in his closet for Oliveira to deal with UFC 317.
He spoke with Fox Sports Australia, where the former UFC champion Topuria supported to use and ride his aggression to eliminate Oliveira early in the fight.
“He's just so aggressive. He is going to take a lot of risks, he is in your face, he comes to the fore.” Volkanovski said about Topuria.
“It's like, yes, you can hit him, but something comes to you – and they are always dangerous guys.
“Especially for me, the only way I lose is that I am caught. And you have someone who is one of the most dangerous grapplers and most dangerous strikers.
“He is dangerous everywhere. So you have to go inside and respect that.
“I'm going to Ilia. I think he's going to win the victory. I think Ilia can catch him. I think early knockout. Early knockout for Ilia Topuria.”
Topuria
Ilia Topuria has not finished his opponent in the UFC
It is a fairly safe gamble to predict Topuria to finish his opponent early.
The Georgian hunter has only gone in his UFC career once in his UFC career, since he made his debut in 2020.
OPPONENTEENTEENTFINISHROUNDMAX HOLlowayufc 308Knockout3alexander Volkanovskiufc 298Knockout2josh Emmettufc op ABC: Emmett vs topuriaunaniMous Decision5Bryce MitchelluFC 282Submission2jai HerberTufc Vands ASPINALKNOCKOUNE ASPINALKNOCKOUNE ASPINALKNOCKOUNC 264knockout1damon Jacksonufc on ESPN: Hermanson vs Vettoriknockout1yousseff Zalalufc Fight Night: Moraes vs Sandhagenunanimous Decision3
That was a unanimous decision victory over Josh Emmett in 2023, who resulted in the fight of the night bonus, and set up his title fight with Volkanovski.
That fight ended in a second round KO, with five of his eight victories so far ending in those early rounds.
This does not predict well for Oliveira, who has a difficult time for him on UFC 317.