UFC 298 Main Card Predictions

Feb 16

The second UFC Pay-Per-View of 2024 is the first of three cards in a row that are definitively stacked from top to bottom. The undercard showcases some up and coming talent from several different countries, such as Rinya Nakamura of Japan, Oban Elliott of Wales, and Brendson Ribeiro of Brazil. Sitting at the top is a main card that could deliver some of the most exciting fights of 2024. The UFC Featherweight title is on the line, and two middleweight mainstays will go at it in the co-main event, making this card high stakes for those involved. Let’s start off with the first fight on the main card: Anthony Hernandez vs Roman Kopylov.

(#15) Anthony HErnandez vs. Roman Kopylov (Middleweight Bout)

Both of these fighters are currently on a four fight win streak, but have gotten here very different ways. The 15th ranked middleweight contender, Anthony Hernandez, is known for his ability to maintain excellent pressure on the ground by using devastating ground and pound while mixing in slick submissions both on top and off his back. Hernandez has finished three of his last four wins, earning two submissions and one TKO via ground and pound.

Kopylov is a certified finisher of a completely different variety. He possesses some of the most well rounded striking in the middleweight division. His four fight win streak saw him get four knockouts in several fashions. This included two TKOs via punching combinations, one liver shot KO, and a devastating head kick KO at UFC 291 in Salt Lake City, which has effectively become the head kick capital of the world.

Although Kopylov will be incredibly dangerous as long as this fight is on the feet, it is doubtful that it will stay there for very long. Kopylov has struggled against high pressure grapplers before, losing to Karl Roberson via Rear Naked Choke in 2019. Hernandez will have to make sure to take Kopylov down at the perfect time to ensure that he will not get caught by the heavy handed striker, and I see this as far more likely. The more he is able to tire Kopylov out, the easier this will become.

Anthony Hernandez via Submission (Round 2)

(#2) Merab Dvalishvili vs. (#3) Henry Cejudo (Bantamweight Bout)

This matchup between two of the best bantamweights in the world has high level grappling written all over it. Former UFC Flyweight and Bantamweight Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist in freestyle wrestling, Henry Cejudo is one of the most credentialed fighters in UFC history and has the skills to back it up. Although he has been quite inactive and is coming off a loss against Former UFC Bantamweight Champion, Aljamain Sterling, many believed that Cejudo did enough to get the decision victory. He has already stated that this fight is “all or nothing,” and plans on retirement after this fight if it does not go his way.

Although we could talk all day about Cejudo’s credentials, Merab Dvalishvili is one of the greatest high output grapplers that the UFC has ever seen. In his previous bout against Former UFC Bantamweight Champion, Petr Yan, he shot nearly 50 takedown attempts over the course of five rounds, which shows why they call him “The Machine.” His cardio is arguably the best in the entire sport based on that output alone, and the fact that he is 33 years old means that he is still in his prime. If the same Merab Dvalishvili that beat Petr Yan shows up to UFC 298, this will be a very winnable fight for the Georgian fighter.

Merab Dvalishvili via Decision

(#8) geoff neal vs. (#10) Ian machado garry (Welterweight bout)

Despite all of the controversy involving Ian Machado Garry in the last few months, one can not deny the Irishman’s ability. He currently has an unblemished 13-0 record and is one of the most elusive strikers in the welterweight division. He has gone 6-0 in the UFC, earning three wins by decision, and the other three by KO/TKO. He seems to be in a better place than he was a few months ago, having moved to Chute Box Academy in Curitiba, Brazil, which has been the home for some of the best Brazilian talent in UFC history.

One can not and should not ever doubt the abilities of Geoff Neal, who is always dangerous on the feet. Despite him going 2-3 in his last five fights, he has done nothing but fight certified contenders the entire time. If Neal is able to connect, there is a good chance he could shut the lights out on any fighter in the division.

With that being said, Garry is far too elusive for Neal to be able to connect like he has against other welterweights. Neal lacks the diversity of striking that Garry possesses and that may very well be his downfall. If Garry is able to circle the cage and snipe Neal from the outside, I see this going very well for the Irishman.

Ian Machado Garry via TKO (Round 3)

(#3) Robert Whittaker vs (#6) Paulo costa (Middleweight co-main event)

Former UFC Middleweight Champion, Robert Whittaker is undeniably one of the most well rounded fighters if not at middleweight, in the entire UFC. His karate style striking is without a doubt one of the most formidable at 185, and has only lost to Former UFC Middleweight Champion, Israel Adesanya, and Current Middleweight Champion, Dricus Du Plessis. His ground game is also well rounded and uses it to lay down vicious ground and pound when on top.

Former Middleweight Title Challenger, Paulo Costa, when at his best, can be one of the hardest hitting and most dangerous strikers in the middleweight division. However, he has not been himself in quite some time. Despite getting a unanimous decision victory over Former Middleweight King, Luke Rockhold, Rockhold was coming off of a long layoff and was way past his prime. It was evident that Costa was in much better shape than he was in his two fights prior, it remains to be seen what Costa will show up to the Octagon.

This fight has a high likelihood of being a one sided masterclass if the Costa of old does not show up, but if he does, we may very well have a fight of the year contender on our hands. This seems rather unlikely, but still could be a possibility.

Robert Whittaker via Decision

(C) Alexander Volkanovski vs (#3) Ilia topuria (Featherweight Championship Bout)

This is a definitive legacy defining fight for Alexander Volkanovski. He has defended his featherweight title five times thus far, all but one in dominant fashion. Many are hailing him as the greatest featherweight of all time, and if he is able to come out on top against Topuria, he will tie the record for most title defenses in the division’s history. In addition, he has defeated the two other fighters that are in the conversation, those being the great Jose Aldo and Max Holloway, whom he beat three times.

Despite all the superlatives one can give Volkanovski, Ilia Topuria has the skills that could very well give the Featherweight King some serious problems. Topuria boasts an undefeated 14-0 professional record, and has used his incredible punching power to dominate everyone in his path. However, not many speak of how good he is on the ground. He submitted one of the best grapplers in the division in Bryce Mitchell in their fight where he led the dance the entire fight, as well as having more submissions on his record than knockouts. He also shares many similarities to prime Conor McGregor, being 27 when getting his first title shot, being on an undefeated run in the UFC, and taking on one of the greatest in the division’s history.

There is virtually no reason to doubt Volkanovski at featherweight. However, in his last bout against Islam Makhachev, he was on the wrong side of a devastating head kick knockout that could make his chin a serious concern. Against Topuria, this is the last concern you would like to have. I see this fight being decided by the two and a half inch reach advantage that Volkanovski has over Topuria, making it hard for Topuria to close the distance against the best kickboxer in the division.

Alexander Volkanovski via Decision

UFC 298 will take place this Saturday night at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The prelims begin at 6:30 EST and the main card begins at 10pm EST.

Steven Francis