UFC 298: Can Alexander Volkanovski beat Ilia Topuria and Father Time? - ESPN

ALEXANDER VOLKANOVSKI STILL LAUGHS about the time in 2019 when he was explicitly told not to get a haircut during fight week.

Volkanovski was in Rio de Janeiro to face Jose Aldo at UFC 237, and the promotion assigned him a camera all week for its behind-the-scenes series, «Embedded.» When Volkanovski mentioned that he intended to see a barber that Monday, it was met with genuine concern by the producers. No, no, he mustn't do that. Didn't he know about the curse? Everyone who got their hair cut on «Embedded» lost.

Volkanovski, who will look to successfully defend his featherweight championship against Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 on Saturday in Anaheim, California, went ahead with the trim and dominated Aldo at UFC 237 to earn his first title shot.

«Everyone told us not to do it,» remembers Volkanovski's head coach, Joe Lopez. «Alex debunked that myth. Then they all told him, 'Don't give [Octagon announcer] Bruce Buffer a fist bump, it's bad luck.' And Alex eliminated that one. We're not into myths. We do our thing, and that's it.»

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski puts his title on the line against Ilia Topuria, while Paulo Costa ends a near two-year layoff when he faces Robert Whittaker in the co-main event.

Buy UFC 298 on ESPN+ PPV

UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria
Sat., Feb. 17, Honda Center, Anaheim, California
• Main card: 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV
• Prelims: 8 p.m. on ESPN/ESPN+
• Early prelims: 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+

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Going into this weekend, another «myth» is staring Volkanovski (26-3) in the face: Can the 35-year-old win at his age? Whether it's genuine or not depends on the