Video: Jon Anik previews UFC 298 storylines, including Alexander Volkanovski's possible featherweight exit

IRVINE, Calif. – Lead UFC play-by-play man Jon Anik thinks Saturday’s UFC 298 main card is “disgustingly good,” and he expects some significant fallout from the top four fights on the card.

The headliner of the event, which takes place at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+), will see Alexander Volkanovski put his featherweight title on the line against unbeaten challenger Ilia Topuria. The reigning champion Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) admits a move back to lightweight is on his radar, and Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) has made it clear he intends to send him there – or into retirement – on a loss.

Other key action on the card, meanwhile, includes Robert Whittaker (24-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC) vs. Paulo Costa (14-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) in a middleweight co-headliner, Geoff Neal (15-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) vs. Ian Machado Garry (13-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) at welterweight, and Merab Dvalishvili (16-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) vs. former two-division UFC champ Henry Cejudo (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC).

Ahead of UFC 298, Anik joined MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn to preview the top storylines around the second numbered event of 2024.

Check out the complete video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.