Alexander Volkanovski is set to make his return to the featherweight division against the rising contender Ilia Topuria, who aims to dethrone the reigning champion.
Having previously pursued the goal of becoming a two-division champion, Volkanovski’s recent venture into the lightweight division ended in defeat against Islam Makhachev at UFC 294, where he was knocked out in the first round.
Despite concerns regarding his quick turnaround, Volkanovski is slated to defend his featherweight title against Topuria at UFC 298 on Feb. 17, merely four months after his bout with Makhachev in October.
However, former UFC champion Michael Bisping is unfazed by the potential risks of Volkanovski’s expedited return. Bisping analyzed the situation in a recent YouTube video, expressing his confidence in Volkanovski’s readiness:
“I don’t think the chin will be compromised. There was a lot of talk that Volkanovski was coming back too quickly. That was in October… Four months, that’s not bad. He said that he did the correct protocol, he’s been training for Islam Makhachev twice so the grappling is there.”
