UFC 298 live stream results and play-by-play updates: Featherweight champion, Alex Volkanovski, returns to battle red-hot contender, Ilia Topuria, atop the UFC 298 pay-per-view (PPV) main card on ESPN+ TONIGHT (Sat., Feb. 17, 2024) from inside Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., a five-round showdown that continues the promotion’s high-octane 2024 PPV fight campaign. UFC 298’s co-main event features former middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker, making one last run at the 185-pound title by taking on ex-title challenger, Paulo Costa. Well-traveled UFC veterans Ian Garry, Geoff Neal, Henry Cejudo, and Merab Dvalishvili will also see PPV action this weekend in “The Golden State.”
UFC 298’s five-fight PPV main card gets underway TONIGHT at 10 p.m. ET, starting with the middleweight mashup between Anthony Hernandez and Roman Kopylov. Get complete UFC 298 PPV main card LIVE results and real-time play-by-play updates below. In addition, we’re also covering the UFC 298 “Prelims” undercard bouts streaming on ESPN and ESPN+ in a separate thread RIGHT HERE, beginning promptly at 6:30 p.m. ET. Bet on all the UFC 298 action at DraftKings Sportsbook right here.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps, and post-fight analysis following “Volkanovski vs. Topuria.” Without further delay, see below for the latest UFC 298 main card PPV results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action.)
UFC 298 ESPN+ PPV QUICK RESULTS:
Alex Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria — Topuria def. Volnakovski by KO (punch) at 3:32 of Round Two
Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa — Whittaker def. Costa by unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27) — RECAP!
Ian Machado Garry vs. Geoff Neal — Garry def. Neal by split decision (30-27, 28-29 , 30-27) — RECAP!
Henry Cejudo vs. Merab Dvalishvili — Dvalishvili def. Cejudo by unanimous decision (29-28 x3) — RECAP!
Anthony Hernandez vs. Roman Kopylov — Hernandez def. Kopylov by submission (rear naked choke) at 3:23 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS!
Amanda Lemos vs. Mackenzie Dern — Lemos def. Dern by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs. Junior Tafa — de Lima def. Tafa by TKO (leg kicks and punches) at 1:14 of Round Two
Rinya Nakamura vs. Carlos Vera — Nakamura def. Vera by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Mingyang Zhang vs. Brendson Ribeiro — Zhang def. Ribeiro by KO (punches) at 1:41 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS!
Danny Barlow vs. Josh Quinlan — Barlow def. Quinlan by TKO (punches) at of 1:18 Round Three — HIGHLIGHTS!
Val Woodburn vs. Oban Elliott — Elliott def. Woodburn by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
Andrea Lee vs. Miranda Maverick — Maverick def. Lee by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
UFC 298 ESPN+ PPV PLAY-BY-PLAY:
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145 lbs.: UFC Featherweight Champion Alex Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria
Round 1: Blocked head kick from Volkanovski to start. Continuing to kick off his back foot as Topuria advances. Leg and body kick connecting. One minute in. Topuria continuing to push forward but unable to corral the champ so far. Heavy leg kick lands for him, then another soon after. Volkanovski continuing to pick at the leg and body. Two minutes in. 1-2 to low kick by Topuria. Volkanovski still circling, lands a solid low kick. Two minutes to go.
Big flurry from Topuria, no major connections. Volkanovski body kick, avoids a cross, lands more low kicks with a minute to go. Counter left lands for him, then another leg kick. Volkanovski tries a level change, lands knees inside. 10-9 Volkanovski.
Round 2: Volkanovski continuing to stick and move. Combos from Topuria. Double jab by Volkanovski. Heavy 2-3 lands for Topuria, who tries to open up a minute in and eats a knee. Volkanovski backs him off with a solid right of his own. Jabs from Volkanovski, then a low kick Topuria counters with a right hand. Two minutes in. Low kick by Topuria. More Volkanovski jabs, nice snap kick downstairs. They exchange in the center. Two minutes to go.
Volkanovski forces him back with a double jab. More jabs piling up. Topuria backs him to the fence with a combination, then absolutely annihilates the champ with an overhand right. Volkanovski is out on impact and we have a new UFC Featherweight Champion.
Final result: Topuria def. Volkanovski by KO (punch)
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185 lbs.: Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa
Round 1: Low kicks from Whittaker to start. Costa tries one of his own, then goes high. 3-2 from Whittaker, stiff jab by Costa. Another calf kick from Whittaker, who blocks a head kick a minute in. Costa tries a 1-3. Low kick catches Whittaker stepping in. Stiff jabs from Whittaker. Calf kick again, cross counter by Costa, double jab from Whittaker two minutes in. Heavy overhand right, then a left hook that Costa answers with a stiff jab and low kicks. Whittaker combo blocked, counter shovel hook is not. Both land calf kicks. Flurry by Whittaker, then another calf kick with two minutes to go.
Whittaker just seems that little bit sharper than Costa, who remains dangerous. Inside low kick by Costa, counter right behind it. Whittaker double the jab, then lands one on the counter and eats one in return. Big 1-2 from Whittaker draws a smile. One minute to go. Both land leg kicks. Overhand right falls short for Whittaker, who fires a combo in center cage. Nice exchange inside. Whittaker forces him back with a combo. Side kick from Whittaker, who absorbs a wheel kick and slugs it out at the bell. 10-9 Whittaker.
Round 2: Calf kicks from Whittaker to start. Costa lands one of his own, then tries a head kick. Stiff jab. Both whiff with power shots, then Whittaker lands a glancing head kick a minute in. Jabs and low kicks by Costa. Another calf kick and double jab by Whittaker. Hard 1-2 by Costa, then a front kick downstairs. Whittaker takes a thumb in the eye, but doesn’t elect to take a timeout. Two minutes in. Another calf kick stings Costa, who eats a pair of heavy punches soon after. Sharp left hook by Whittaker, then a dipping jab and calf kick. Brutal 2-1 knocks Costa back with two minutes to go.
Whittaker seemingly in top gear, landing another low kick and blasting Costa with a cross counter to kick off a combination. Hard calf kick by Costa. Fast head kick blocked. One minute to go. Low kick by Whittaker once again. Costa head kick falls short. Vicious combo by Whittaker in return, body kick behind it. Solid low kick by Costa. Whittaker lands his own soon after. 10-9 Whittaker.
Round 3: Heavy 1-2 from Costa to start the round as he comes out aggressive. Left hooks from Whittaker back him off. Low kick exchange. Another one from Whittaker. One from Costa soon after. Brutal overhand right by Whittaker a minute in, Costa absorbs it and comes back with a leg kick. Good knee inside from Costa. Whittaker checks a kick and follows with a jab. Sharp left hook. 1-2 just misses, jab exchange. Trading inside and Costa calls for Whittaker to meet him in the center two minutes in. Another calf kick from Whittaker. Jab to low kick by Costa, teep downstairs. Lead right lands for Whittaker, who blocks a head kick. Stiff counter jab, then another calf kick. Two minutes to go.
Both continuing to land steady jabs, snapping each other’s heads back. Costa falls short with a wheel kick and eats left hands for it. 1-2 from Whittaker. Low kick exchange. One minute to go. Whittaker combo whiffs in the center, low kick lands clean. Razor-sharp jab. Costa looking for check hooks. More clean jabs from Whittaker, then a feinted takedown to a two-piece. 10-9 Whittaker.
Final result: Whittaker def. Costa by unanimous decision
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Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
170 lbs.: Ian Machado Garry vs. Geoff Neal
Round 1: Neal light on his feet as he circles. Inside low kick lands, then to the outside. Garry goes low-high with kicks. One minute in. Neal low kick, Garry front kick. Body kick from Neal after Garry circles for a bit. Low-high combo by Garry. Two minutes in. Neal whiffs on a right hook, blocks a head kick and right hand. Garry sticking and moving fairly well. As I type that, Neal forces him back with a three-piece flurry and ties up against the fence. Two minutes to go.
Garry reverses position, gets reversed in turn. Neal chases Garry on the exit, eats a combination after falling short with his own. One minute to go. Solid combo by Neal upstairs. Garry comes back with a series of kicks. Knee to elbow, solid jab. More kicks and he pivots away from a combo. Right hook from Neal at the bell. 10-9 Neal.
Round 2: Low kick from Neal to start. Counters from Garry. Solid left hand in combination. Neal continuing to pursue, just avoids a knee and elbow before putting him on the fence a minute in. Garry circles out 40 seconds later. Sharp counter hook, then a clean knee upstairs. Two minutes in. Body kick connects. Neal does some fancy footwork, runs into a knee and right hand. Low kick to clinch from Neal, body shots against the fence. Jockeying for position with two minutes to go.
Garry separates. Neal tries a three-piece, avoids a head kick. Check hook from Garry after a lengthy bout of circling. One minute to go. Knee from Garry. Solid combo by Neal, Garry backs him off with counters. Neal tries a head kick as he continues to pursue. Good exchange against the fence. Garry gets the body lock, loses it. 10-9 Garry.
Round 3: Neal whiffs on a hook and ties up against the fence. Elbow whiffs on the exit. Volume from Garry, punching flurry from Neal inside. One minute in. Garry jab, Neal low kick. Intercepting knee by Garry, who circles away from a rush. Neal charges and puts him on the fence. Two minutes in. Garry breaks the grip and separates. Solid low kick, counter left by Neal. Another hard counter knee by Garry. Two minutes to go.
Clean body kick by Garry as Neal shows more urgency. Stiff jab. Elbow and jab. One minute to go. Good combo by Neal on the fence. Left hand downstairs before Garry angles out. Neal punches into the clinch. Elbow from Garry on the exit, then a body kick as Neal raises his hand. 10-9 Garry; going to be some interesting scores I fear.
Final result: Garry def. Neal by split decision
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135 lbs.: Henry Cejudo vs. Merab Dvalishvili
Round 1: Awkward wheel kick attempts from Dvalishvili, then a jumping jab when Cejudo steps in. Solid low kick, 1-2 falls short. Low kick from Cejudo and they exchange a minute in. Cejudo stings Dvalishvili in an exchange and looks to seize the initiative, landing a solid leg kick. One from Dvalishvili in return. Two minutes in. Cejudo feints a shot, Dvalishvili answers with a single-leg. Cejudo quickly sweeps to his feet and eats a hard right hand on the exit. Counter right catches Cejudo on one leg but Dvalishvili gets too eager to attack and ends up on his back. Cejudo on top in half guard with two minutes to go.
Short punches landing for Cejudo. Solid rights. Quick scramble from Dvalishvili and Cejudo looks for the back, landing punches as he denies a granby roll. Dvalishvili makes it to his feet with a minute to go, Cejudo still attached. Dvalishvili turns to face him and tries to land right hands in the clinch. Knee from Cejudo, punches from Dvalishvili on the exit. Fun round. 10-9 Cejudo.
Round 2: Cejudo keeping his distance and circling. Low kick exchange. Cejudo hits a reactive single and transitions to the body lock. Dvalishvili quickly stands and separates a minute in. Both men slinging punches, nice left hook by Cejudo. Dvalishvili pushing forward with haymakers, denies a single-leg. Big exchange and Dvalishvili is starting to land. Two minutes in. Nice body shot from Cejudo. 2-1 from Dvalishvili in return. Dvalishvili times a single-leg and takes him down again, holding the body lock as Cejudo turns to his knees. Cejudo makes it to his feet, gets his base kicked out with two minutes to go.
Cejudo stuck on one knee at the base of the fence, eating hard right hands. He makes it to his feet and separates. He’s a lot more flat-footed than earlier and he might be struggling with the pace. Dvalishvili wades in with a big swing and grabs a front headlock in the scramble, landing knees before Cejudo falls to his knees. Keeping the headlock and he switches to a guillotine in the last 20 seconds. 10-9 Dvalishvili.
Round 3: Dvalishvili falls short with a wheel kick and blocks a combo. Counter right by Cejudo. Dvalishvili wades in with punches and goes from single-leg to body lock before landing knees to the thigh. One minute in. More knees from Dvalishvili. He whiffs on some punches on the exit. Low kick from Cejudo, who walks into a jab. Dvalishvili ties up, can’t take him down two minutes in. They trade low kicks. Front kick from Dvalishvili. Both whiff on right hands as Dvalishvili pressures. Solid low kick by Cejudo, hard right hand by Dvalishvili . They slug for a second, then Dvalishvili blasts in for a double and carries Cejudo all the way across the cage before slamming him down with two minutes to go.
Cejudo scrambles to his feet and grabs the fence a few times, but still ends up on one knee. One minute to go. Back to his feet and they separate with 30 on the clock. Both swing big and Cejudo tries a single-leg, which Dvalishvili casually defends while punching him in the body. 10-9 Dvalishvili.
Final result: Dvalishvili def. Cejudo by unanimous decision
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185 lbs.: Anthony Hernandez vs. Roman Kopylov
Round 1: Both try low kicks to start. Hernandez lands a right hand and tries to rush, Kopylov circles away and counters. He turns aside the first shot and cracks Hernandez with a jab, then a tight calf kick. Hernandez tries to follow a right hand with a head kick, eats a body shot a minute in. Crushing body kick from Kopylov visibly stings Hernandez, who quickly gets his bearings back. Hernandez catches a body kick and charges with punches, but can’t secure the takedown. Clean 1-2 from Kopylov two minutes in. Kopylov circling well, never letting Hernandez get any real pressure going. Straight left to body kick. Hernandez lands three right hands in a row and changes levels against the fence, dragging Kopylov to a knee. Kopylov makes it back up with two minutes to go.
Kopylov shoves him away and they return to range. Heavy pressure by Hernandez into another takedown attempt. Kopylov defending with a minute to go. Short elbow by Hernandez, who changes levels and locks his hands to drag Kopylov to his knees. Elbow on the way up. Two more elbows at the bell. 10-9 Kopylov.
Round 2: 1-2 from Hernandez. He lands a low kick, eats a body kick. Nasty left downstairs by Kopylov. Hernandez still pushing forward, doubles up the right. Counter jab buzzes Hernandez and Kopylov follows with a body kick. Hernandez charges through a body shot to try and attack from the single collar tie. Hernandez settling out to chase Kopylov and finally manages to latch on after the latter slips throwing a body kick. Kopylov gets back to his feet, gets dumped into half guard two minutes in. Hernandez quickly moves to the back and cinches up the body triangle. Kopylov tries to burst to his feet and Hernandez secures the rear naked choke on the jaw. Kopylov flashes a thumbs-up with two minutes to go.
In response, Hernandez slips his forearm under Kopylov’s chin and there’s no escaping this one. Hernandez smiles and nods as Kopylov taps out.
Final result: Hernandez def. Kopylov by submission (rear-naked choke) — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
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