Even Dana White wants UFC 298’s Ilia Topuria to dial back his insufferable ego — ‘He’s still got a lot to prove’

Ilia Topuria is the best featherweight of all time — just ask him, he’ll tell you.

Sadly for “El Matador,” there’s not a lot in the way in which of accomplishments to validate that declare, which might be why everyone is getting sick of his overinflated ego. Even UFC CEO Dana White, charged with selling Topuria, needs him to maintain his statistics in perspective.

“While you have a look at the names, while you begin speaking about who he beat, what was at stake when he beat them, all these form of issues, that’s what Topuria doesn’t have but,” White advised Kevin Iole (transcribed by MMA News). “You possibly can have all of the stats you need, however he doesn’t have all that large combat expertise. That is his first main title and first large combat.”

Topuria, 27, can flip speak into fact by stopping Alex Volkanovski within the UFC 298 pay-per-view (PPV) main event this Sat. night time (Feb. 17, 2024) at Honda Middle in Anaheim. Not solely within the Aussie the present featherweight champion, he’s additionally one of many top pound-for-pound fighters on the planet.

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WORLD FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP! Final Combating Championship (UFC) returns to Honda Middle in Anaheim, Calif., on Sat., Feb. 17, 2024, for the primary time in additional than two years with its newest pay-per-view (PPV) present. Within the ESPN+-streamed PPV predominant occasion, reigning Featherweight roost-ruler, Alexander Volkanovski, will defend his 145-pound strap towards undefeated surging Spanish contender, Ilia Topuria. As well as, former Middleweight kingpin, Robert Whittaker, will finally square off with mercurial mauler, Paulo Costa, in UFC 298’s co-feature. UFC 298 may also characteristic the returns of Ian Garry, Geoff Neal, Henry Cejudo, Merab Dvalishvili and a lot extra!

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“As a lot of a stud as [Topuria] is, he’s nonetheless acquired lots to show,” White continued. “I don’t find out about that (callout of Conor McGregor). I feel he’s acquired lots to; pay attention, while you’re undefeated, you’ve by no means tasted defeat, and also you’ve been on the rise that this man is on, that’s the way in which you ought to be pondering and that’s what your mentality ought to be. However we’ll see the way it performs out on Saturday night time.”

For the remainder of the UFC 298 combat card and PP lineup click on here.