UFC 298 Predictions: Bleacher Report Main Card Staff Picks

UFC 298 goes down this Saturday at the Honda Center in Anaheim, which means it's time for another round of pre-fight predictions from the B/R combat sports squad.

Headlining honors for the event will go to a featherweight title fight, as long-reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski faces off against the undefeated Ilia Topuria, who many see as the man to dethrone the champ.

In the co-main event, former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker will look to get back on track against fan favorite Paulo Costa in a fight that should give the winner a big push back toward title contention.

Before Whittaker and Costa get to it, rising welterweight contender Ian Machado Garry will attempt to pass the toughest test of his career in a fight with No. 8 contender Geoff Neal.

That will be preceded by a high-stakes bantamweight clash between former two-division champion Henry Cejudo and streaking No. 2-ranked contender Merab Dvalishvili, and a fun clash between middleweight finishers Anthony Hernandez and Roman Kopylov.

All of these fights look like they could could either way. Keep scrolling to see who the B/R team is picking to leave California victorious.

Haris Kruskic: I'm not ready to rule out Alex Volkanovski just because he was knocked out by arguably the best fighter in the world.

No disrespect to Ilia Topuria, but we've seen Volk rag-doll featherweights time and time again. He's meant for this division, not lightweight. While being 35 years old in a young man's game is troubling, neither of Volk's losses to Islam Makhachev were because of old age. He's still sharp and terrific in all facets. This will be the biggest statement win of Volk's career.

Volkanovski by TKO, Rd. 4

Tom Taylor: I'm with Haris on this one. "The Great" Volkanovski finally looked mortal in his two 2023 fights with Islam Makhachev, but let's not forget he also beat the brakes of Yair Rodriguez in between those fights. At featherweight, he's still the man.

Topuria is a tough challenge, to be sure, and he could definitely surprise us both this weekend, but the more likely outcome in my mind is that Volkanovski survives a few early scares, takes control of the fight in Round 2 or 3, and makes his young challenger look woefully unprepared for this level of competition.

Where Haris and I diverge is when it ends. I think the champ can put a bow on this one before the championship rounds.

Volkanovski by TKO, Rd. 3

Lyle Fitzsimmons: I can see why people might lean toward Topuria here. He's younger and on a certifiable roll. I was in the car the other day starting to rationalize the idea of picking him.

Then "Down Under" came on, and the die was cast.

Score one for the forecasting power of terrestrial radio.

Volkanovski by TKO, Round 5

Haris Kruskic: Paulo Costa seems like a shell of the fighter UFC was so high on nearly four years ago. I have little faith in picking him against Robert Whittaker, whose signature point-fighting is concerning for someone like Costa who's historically not good in those kinds of fights.

If Whittaker can stop this from turning into a brawl like he often does, I like Rob's chances of getting back in the win column.

Whittaker by unanimous decision

Tom Taylor: Outside of his 2023 loss to Dricus Du Plessis, Robert Whittaker hasn't given any indication that he is falling off. In my mind, he is still one of the very best middleweights on earth, and a guy who could very easily be champion again by the time the year is over.

This fight with Paulo Costa should give him a big push in that direction. I see Whittaker out-striking Costa on the feet through sheer versatility and cleverness, and out-grappling the Brazilian at will. With only three rounds to work with, the former champ will probably have to settle for a decision, as Costa has proven extremely difficult to stop, but I don't see this one being particularly competitive.

Whittaker by unanimous decision

Lyle Fitzsimmons: Unlike my colleagues, I'm not so convinced that Whittaker is still a top-tier championship contender.

And if he were in against someone else here, I'd have no problem picking against him.

But I'm not convinced Costa is even worthy of that second tier anymore, so he's cannon fodder for a guy still as skilled as Whittaker.

Whittaker by TKO, Round 3

Haris Kruskic: I don't really have analytical reasons for why I'm picking Geoff Neal here. It's very much a gut thing. This is a bigger step up for Ian Machado Garry than fans realize. Also consider what headspace he could be in after an eventful few months. Someone with Neal's resume and top-tier wins won't be thrown off his game.

Neal by TKO, Rd. 2

Tom Taylor: We're going to come across as a couple of Ian Garry haters, but I agree with Haris on this one, too.

Garry is definitely very good, and he might be a future champ at 170 pounds, but I have a hard time forgetting the time he was nearly sparked by Kenan Song, who is frankly levels below Geoff Neal, and not nearly as powerful on the feet.

If Garry fights smart and keeps this one at range, I can see him winning, but I think it's more likely he starts strong, and ultimately ends up getting caught with a Neal punch. A few follow-up punches should seal the deal. Then it's back to the drawing board for the trash-talking Irishman.

Neal by TKO, Rd. 2

Lyle Fitzsimmons: My colleagues are as learned as it gets when it comes to MMA fortune telling.

But every now and then, we disagree. And this is one of those times.

I believe Garry is the real deal, and the pivot fight of a main PPV card is an ideal place to continue his ascension.

Says here that he comes away as the start of the pre-main portion.

Garry by TKO, Rd. 1

Haris Kruskic: This should be straightforward. Merab Dvalishvili, for those who don't know, is a cyborg with an unlimited gas tank. We haven't really seen any evolution of his game outside wrestling, but it truly doesn't matter when you're able to take down and suffocate opponents like he does.

Yes, he's fighting an Olympic gold medalist wrestler next. However, Henry Cejudo couldn't put it all together against Aljamain Sterling last May, and I don't foresee it being any easier a year later.

This won't be the most exciting fight, but Dvalishvili should finally cement No. 1 contention for the UFC bantamweight title with a dominant performance.

Dvalishvili by unanimous decision

Tom Taylor: I don't think Merab Dvalishvili is as good as Khabib Nurmagomedov was, but it's hard not to draw comparisons between the two. Much like Nurmagomedov, Dvalishvili is a relentless takedown artist who is capable of drowning just about anybody with his pressure, pace, and grappling. That is going to make him a very difficult guy for anybody to beat, but I believe Cejudo has the chops to make it happen.

Not only is Cejudo an Olympic-level wrestler, which should allow him to hang with Dvalishvili on the mat, but he also has cardio to match the Georgian's and way better striking. He's also a very smart fighter—contrary to some of the things he says and does outside the cage—and I'm sure he's got an excellent game plan for Dvalishvili's style.

I'm picturing a close and scramble-filled fight where Cejudo's success on the feet makes the difference in the judges' eyes. Whether that will be enough to earn him another bantamweight title shot before he retires is another question.

Cejudo by unanimous decision

Lyle Fitzsimmons: As the panel's resident old guy, I'd love to come up with a tiebreaker in favor of the oft-decorated 37-year-old Cejudo.

And if this were a prime vs. prime matchup, I'd have no problem suggesting he wins by a tidy margin.

But he's not been that guy for a while, and Merab is everything everyone says he is. This reeks of a star turn against a fading legend.

Dvalishvili by unanimous decision

Haris Kruskic: This is a fun main-card opener. Anthony Hernandez and Roman Kopylov are two fast-rising middleweights who could do with a marquee win.

Each has a different style, with Hernandez a submission specialist and Kopylov an experienced kickboxer.

I'm going to give the edge to Hernandez. Kopylov's two losses were because of his inexperience on the ground. One takedown greatly increases Hernandez's odds here.

Hernandez by submission, Rd. 3

Tom Taylor: Anthony Hernandez has become one of my favorite guys to watch at middleweight. He's always entertaining, and it's been fun to witness his transformation from middling prospect to Top 15 contender. His quick submission win over Edmen Shahbazyan last year was particularly impressive.

Roman Kopylov, his UFC 298 opponent, has been similarly impressive lately, with four knockouts in his past four fights. He could definitely add Hernandez to his list of knockout victims this weekend, but I think it's more likely he is quickly taken down and submitted by the No. 15-ranked middleweight.

It might look a bit like last weekend's Rodolfo Vieira vs. Armen Petrosyan match.

Hernandez by submission, Rd. 1

Lyle Fitzsimmons: I was at the Apex for last week's show, so my ears perked up when Tom made the Vieira-Petrosyan reference.

Petrosyan is certainly the Kopylov side of the equation here. Big hands, but over his head if the fight gets to the mat. It should. In fact, let's say it will.

And when it does, Hernandez will show he belongs.

Hernandez by submission, Rd. 2