UFC 298 goes down on Saturday night and the card from inside the Honda Center in Anaheim, California features several major matchups with huge ramifications in a few divisions. When the event comes to a close on Sunday morning on the East Coast, a slew of important questions will have been answered by some of the notable combatants on the card.
With that in mind, let’s look at five of the biggest questions heading into UFC 298, including if Alexander Volkanovski is still “The Great.”
Related: UFC Tonight – UFC 298 watch times, fight card, and betting odds
Is this Robert Whittaker’s last stand as an elite middleweight?
This weekend brings a very important moment in the career of former 185-pound champion Robert Whittaker. Since losing his title to Israel Adesanya in 2019, there have been questions on whether Whittaker would be able to reclaim the greatness he had previously shown. When he won three straight following the defeat, it seemed like he was just as good as ever.
Related: UFC Predictions for Every UFC 298 Bout, Including A New Featherweight King Being Crowned
However, he has lost two of his last three and enters a must-win scenario if he wants to be a champion again. While Paulo Costa is a very dangerous opponent, he is a good matchup for “The Reaper.” If Whittaker can win — especially impressively — it could put him one victory away from a title opportunity later this year.
However, if he falls — especially by knockout — it may close the door on the Aussie competing for the middleweight title again.
Could Geoff Neal violently derail Ian Garry’s hype train?
Heading into this evening’s card, fast-rising prospect Ian Garry is a sizable favorite over veteran welterweight Geoff Neal. Are oddsmakers and even experts underestimating the American at UFC 298? MMA math would suggest that since Garry beat Neil Magny in his last appearance, he should also beat Neal since his latest opponent owns a loss to Magny.
However, MMA math can often be wrong. This could certainly be another instance of that with Neal being in his prime and by far the most powerful striker Garry has faced yet. On a pure talent level, “The Future” has the skills to beat Neal and should. But if there were one major matchup with serious upset potential at UFC 298, this fight is at the top of that list.
Is there reason to believe Alexander Volkanovski still has the fire to remain a UFC champion?
Alexander Volkanovski is the greatest featherweight of all time. While some throw their support behind Max Holloway or Jose Aldo as the 145-pound GOAT, the Aussie has wins over both and three against “Blessed.” Yet, legends down last forever. Maintaining the fire to grind through camps and keep defending a title has made the most dedicated fighters grow bored.
With winning a lightweight title no longer an option, is Volkanovski still excited and willing to sacrifice everything to make sure he defends his gold for a sixth time at UFC 298? “The Great” is the favorite tonight but not by much. His foe Ilia Topuria is hungry, extremely confident, and very talented. This just seems like the right age-old recipe for a changing of the guard at featherweight.
Will Merab Dvalishvili show there are levels to this and Henry Cejudo is not at his?
At first glance, Henry Cejudo — a former two-division champion — should be able to beat Merab Dvalishvili. The Georgian has just four finishes in his 16 career wins and only one in the UFC. A gutsy, cardio-driven, decision fighter should not beat “Triple C,” but that’s probably what will happen.
Like Volkanovski, one has to wonder about the fire of Cejudo at this point in his career after coming up short in a title fight last year. Furthermore, “The Machine” isn’t just gritty, he is a relentless, tireless force of nature who has two dominant wins over two former champions in his last two. Cejudo winning will not be a shocker on Saturday night but Dvalishvili is likely to show the American is no longer a top-five bantamweight.
Is this a make-or-break moment in MacKenzie Dern’s career?
Three years ago, MacKenzie Dern seemed like a future title challenger at strawweight after winning six of her first seven in the UFC. She was viewed as a Brazilian jiu-jitsu wizard with a developing striking game. However, she has seemingly regressed as she’s lost three of her last five, including a knockout defeat to Jessica Andrade in her most recent outing.
If Dern is to be taken seriously as an elite fighter and wants to compete for gold one day, she needs to beat Amanda Lemos at UFC 298. There are no ifs and/or buts about it. Lemos is a former title challenger and one of the best in the division. If Dern can’t overcome her, she will be labeled as a good but nowhere near great competitor at 115 pounds.
