Heads up, UFC fans! There’s some exciting news. A new banger has been added to the #UFC298 lineup. The official announcement came on December 22, 2023.
Rob Whittaker MMA and Borrachinha MMA will face off on February 17th. This is shaping up to be a real treat for mixed martial arts enthusiasts. Not just one, but two riveting matchups are on the cards.
The announcement was made by none other than Dana White, the CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship. UFC 298 is going to be a big one. Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (24-7) is set to take on Paulo Costa (14-2).
But that’s not all. Rising Irish star Ian Garry (13-0) will also be stepping into the ring. He’s facing his first Top 10 opponent, the No. 8 ranked welterweight Geoff Neal (15-5).
Whittaker’s been having a bit of a tough time lately. He’s gone 1-2 in his last three Octagon appearances. His most recent match ended in a Round 2 technical knockout against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 290. He’s hoping to make a comeback and earn another shot at the middleweight title.
Costa, on the other hand, last appeared inside the Octagon at UFC 278 back in August 2022. He secured a unanimous decision victory against Luke Rockhold. However, “Borrachinha” has been out of action since then due to contract negotiations and a serious staph infection.
Garry and Neal were initially booked to compete at UFC 292, but Neal had to bow out due to an undisclosed medical situation. Neal’s last Octagon appearance didn’t go too well. His two-fight winning streak was snapped after being submitted in the final minute of a three-round affair with Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 285.
Garry, though, has been on a roll. He’s maintained his undefeated record on his way to the Top 10 of the welterweight division. He’s currently on a six-fight win streak in the promotion. His most recent victory was a masterclass against divisional veteran Neil Magny at UFC 292.
UFC 298 is set to take place on Feb. 17 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The headlining act? A featherweight title clash between Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria. Plus, there’s a high-profile bantamweight meeting between former champion Henry Cejudo and Merab Dvalishvili. It’s gonna be a night to remember!