UFC 308 start time, full fight card details | Topuria vs. Holloway

After Skilled Fighters League’s (PFL) stole the highlight final weekend with its “Battle of the Giants” occasion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Final Preventing Championship (UFC) is as soon as once more taking heart stage with its newest pay-per-view (PPV) providing. Certainly, UFC 308 is about to go down later TODAY (Sat., Oct. 26, 2024) inside Etihad Area on “Battle Island” in Abu Dhabi, UAE on ESPN+, that includes a Featherweight title battle between division king, Ilia Topuria, defending his belt towards former champion, Max Holloway. Within the co-main occasion, former Middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker, will face off towards Khamzat Chimaev.

What’s Scorching:

Ilia Topuria emphatically took the 145-pound title from Alexander Volkanovski through second-round knockout at UFC 298 earlier this yr (see it once more right here), capping off an amazing run up to now in his immaculate blended martial arts (MMA) profession — enhancing to 15-0, 7-0 UFC. Now, “El Matador” begins his championship run along with his first protection lined up towards maybe essentially the most storied division champion in historical past, Max Holloway, who has been concerned in a complete of eight title fights at 145 kilos. The scary factor about Topuria is, whereas he’s very effectively polished within the his all-around recreation, his confidence is scary. And it’s not boisterous confidence like that of Conor McGregor’s — sure, he likes to speak — nevertheless it’s his cool demeanor during which he carries himself out and in of the cage. He is aware of he’s going to destroy you, and there’s not a lot you are able to do about it. That’s scary for any opponent.

However Holloway isn’t simply any opponent. “Blessed” is among the most revered fighters within the historical past of the sport for his willingness to tackle any and all comers — no matter weight class — and he leaves it within the cage each trip. Take his final battle for instance: he was up on the scorecards towards Justin Gaethje because the clock is winding down on their “BMF” title battle, but he challenges one of the crucial harmful strikers within the recreation to go toe-to-toe within the remaining 10 seconds, risking himself getting clipped and dropping the battle. Fortuitously for him, it labored out in his favor as he delivered maybe the perfect knockout of 2024 with one second remaining within the battle. And that’s simply ONE of the MANY causes Holloway is so beloved. All through his fight profession he has delivered one spotlight end after one other, and he’s able to doing it towards Topuria.

That mentioned, many are classifying this title battle as “Outdated vs. New,” seeing as how Topuria is 27 to Holloway’s 32. Whereas that’s not an enormous distinction, it’s the time spent preventing that issues. Holloway has been within the recreation since he was a youngster, turning professional on the age of 20, making his UFC debut simply two years later. All instructed, he has been preventing onerous battles contained in the Octagon for 12 years now, and whereas he has delivered loads of punishment, he has taken some, as effectively. Nonetheless, “Blessed” has by no means been knocked out, but when any man might be the primary it’s Topuria, who has challenged the Hawaiian striker to face in the course of the cage within the first 10 seconds and go to battle. Whether or not or not that occurs stays to be seen, however one factor that’s sure is that this has the makings of the most effective fights of the yr. For Holloway, it may very well be his final likelihood at recapturing Featherweight gold. For Topuria, a win over Holloway additional solidifies himself as the perfect 145-pound fighter on the planet, and his confidence and inventory will solely skyrocket.

What’s Not:

Lerone Murphy is at present 14-0-1, 6-0-1 UFC and is ranked No. 12 at Featherweight. His opponent, Dan Ige, is coming off a loss to Diego Lopes — a battle he took last-second — and is 1-2 in his final three bouts, and is ranked behind him at No. 14. Why Murphy agreed to his battle is past me. It’s a harmful battle for him towards somebody that ranked behind him and with inferior to observe file as him over the previous couple of years as a result of Ige is 3-5 in his final eight UFC fights. I’ve a problem with the matchmaking right here. Don’t get me unsuitable, it must be a banger, it’s simply the statistics of all of it.

Unique Card vs. Precise Card:

Justin Tafa withdrew from his Heavyweight battle towards Kennedy Nzechukwu for unknown causes and changed by Chris Barnett, who might be making his long-awaited return to motion after sitting on the sidelines for 2 years, as“Huggy Bear” was final seen knocking out Jake Collier at UFC 279 (see it once more right here). Additionally, Carlos Leal agreed to step in and make his UFC debut on quick discover reverse Rinat Fakhretdinov after Nursulton Ruziboev needed to bow out of the battle. Throughout battle week, a battle between Stated Nurmagomedov and Daniel Santos was cancelled after Santos was mysterious yanked from the occasion with no undisclosed cause by the promotion.

Accidents:

A Heavyweight battle between Alexander Volkov and Ciryl Gane was set to go down on this card earlier than the promotion moved it up UFC 310 on the finish of the yr on account of Volkov struggling a knee harm. Additionally, Nursulton Ruziboev was compelled out of his battle towards Rinat Fakhretdinov with an undisclosed harm and changed by UFC newcomer, Carlos Leal.

New Blood:

Rafael Cerqueira will make his UFC debut reverse Ibo Aslan in a Mild Heavyweight affair. Cerqueira is undefeated at 11-0 with 10 finishes — eight through knockout/technical knockout (TKO), two through submission — eight within the very first spherical. “The Lion” is all gasoline and no brakes, however he might be going up towards an equally aggressive foe as a result of “The Final Ottoman” has completed all 13 of the opponents he has completed to rack up a formidable 13-1 file.

Carlos Leal will make his Octagon debut when he takes on Rinat Fakhretdinov in a Welterweight showdown. Leal has huge expertise having competed beneath the Skilled Fighters League (PFL) banner and Legacy Preventing Alliance (LFA), successful the 170-pound title in that promotion. Certainly one of his different greatest wins thus far got here towards former PFL champion, Ray Cooper III, and now appears to be like to shine in his first-ever UFC battle. It is going to be a tricky battle to say the least as a result of Fakhredtdinov is on hearth, coming in on a 22-fight unbeaten streak, going 4-0-1 contained in the Octagon.

How The ‘Prelims’ Look:

Rafael dos Anjos and Geoff Neal have each seen higher days contained in the Octagon. “RDA” is at present using a two-fight dropping streak and has misplaced three of his final 4 fights. As for Neal, he has additionally misplaced two in a row by the hands of Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Machado Garry. Each males are in determined want of wins right here, although I extremely doubt both of them will get the pink slip with one other loss.

An intriguing Bantamweight Featherweight battle between Farid Basharat and Victor Hugo may steal the undercard present. Hugo is coming in on a 14-fight win streak, and has racked up 9 finishes alongside the best way. He made a profitable UFC debut by defeating Pedro Falcao through unanimous choice earlier this yr. Basharat, in the meantime, is undefeated at 12-0 and is 3-0 up to now in his UFC profession. The drama intensified on this battle as a result of Hugo missed weight by a complete weight class, although the battle was not cancelled and can now be contested at 145 kilos.

Within the Middleweight division, Abus Magomedov will try and safe his first back-to-back win contained in the Octagon when he battles Brunno Ferreira. Magomedov is coming off a win over Warlley Alves this previous summer time, snapping his two-fight dropping streak. As for Ferreira, he has gained two straight through first-round knockout, together with a spinning-back elbow knockout of Dustin Stoltzfus (see it once more right here), enhancing his total UFC file to 3-1.

Mateusz Rebecki had his 16-fight win streak snapped by Diego Ferreira in his final outing, his first defeat in practically a decade. He’ll now look to bounce again and begin one other streak when he meets Myktybek Orolbai in a Light-weight affair. Oralbai is at present on an eight-fight win streak and has handed his first two challenges beneath the the UFC banner.

Who Wants A Win Badly:

Ismail Naurdiev will get one other crack at making an impression contained in the Octagon when he takes on Bruno Silva at Middleweight after going 2-2 in his first time round. He’s coming off a first-round submission win beneath the Courageous FC banner, and can look handy Silva his fourth straight defeat. That mentioned, Silva wants a win within the worst means as a result of he has misplaced 5 of his final six fights, and another defeat may earn him his strolling papers.

Curiosity Stage: 8/10

The co-main occasion battle is among the most anticipated fights of 2024. And it’s largely as a result of it’ll characteristic the long-awaited return of Khamzat Chimaev, who hasn’t stepped foot contained in the Octagon in over a yr. After storming out of the gates, Chimaev was as soon as considered a possible title contender. And whereas he nonetheless has that potential, his aura has considerably dissipated as a result of he merely hasn’t been very lively. He was as soon as a feared challenger that claimed many fighters turned him down. However that fame, too, could have dwindled a bit due to the identical cause. Moreover, Kamaru Usman — who took the battle on quick discover — took him to deep waters earlier than dropping a unanimous choice. In Robert Whittaker, nonetheless, he faces a real 185-pound fighter with championship pedigree and loads of time to organize.

Certainly, “The Reaper” was as soon as the ruler of the Middleweight division earlier than Israel Adesanya got here in and took him out. Nonetheless, Whittaker hasn’t misplaced a step regardless of his two defeats two “The Final Stylebender” and one to Dricus du Plessis. He’s at present on a two-fight win streak and is rejuvenated and motivated as ever following his first-round destruction of Ikram Aliskerov this previous June, a battle that came about after Chimaev withdrew from his matchup towards “Bobby Knuckles.” It is a large battle for each males however more-so for Chimaev — who barely made weight — as a result of that is undoubtedly his hardest take a look at thus far. With a win he can shoot as much as the entrance of the championship line, which the identical might be mentioned for Whittaker.

Now that Alex Pereira has as soon as once more defended his Mild Heavyweight title, Magomed Ankalaev has to do his half to be able to get his much-desired shot at dethroning “Poatan.” Ankalaev wasn’t too thrilled when he was handed over in favor of Khalil Rountree, however he has to place that behind him and concentrate on the duty at hand, which is Aleksandar Rakic. “Rocket” at present finds himself on a two-fight dropping streak, so he must get this win simply to easily keep afloat. He won’t get a title shot with a win, however he’ll a minimum of get a brand new lease on his fight life. For Ankalaev, a title shot could be very possible based mostly on Dana White’s latest feedback, so each males have loads of stress coming in for various causes.

Shara Magomedov will return for his third battle of 2024 to battle Armen Petrosyan to kick off the PPV fundamental card on ESPN+. “Bullet” is undefeated at 14-0, 3-0 UFC, and defeated Antonio Trócoli through third-round technical knockout (TKO) earlier this yr (see it right here), after which adopted it up with a unanimous choice win over Michał Oleksiejczuk two months later. As for Petrosyan, he’s coming off a first-round submission loss by the hands of Rodolfo Vieira earlier this yr (see it), so he’s out to get again on observe whereas changing into the primary man to defeat the person who many really feel may very well be a future title contender. Certainly, if Petrosyan can one way or the other pull off the upet, his inventory will rise in additional methods than one. For Magomedov, one other win places him within the High 15.

Benefit from the fights!

Full UFC 308 Battle Card:

UFC 308 Important Occasion On ESPN+ PPV:

145 lbs.: UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway

UFC 308 Important Card on ESPN+ PPV: 2:00 p.m. ET

185 lbs.: Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev145 lbs.: Dan Ige vs. Lerone Murphy205 lbs.: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic185 lbs.: Shara Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan

UFC 308 Prelims Card on ESPN/ESPN+: 10:00 a.m. ET

170 lbs.: Geoff Neal vs. Rafael dos Anjos155 lbs.: Myktybek Orolbai vs. Mateusz Rębecki185 lbs.: Abus Magomedov vs. Brunno Ferreira135 lbs.: Stated Nurmagomedov vs. Daniel Santos — CANCELED (particulars right here)205 lbs.: Chris Barnett vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu135 lbs.: Farid Basharat vs. Victor Hugo170 lbs.: Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Carlos Leal205 lbs.: Ibo Aslan vs. Raffael Cerqueira185 lbs.: Ismail Naurdiev vs. Bruno Silva

*Battle card, bout order and variety of fights stay topic to alter.*

MMAmania.com will ship LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow protection of the complete UFC 308 battle card RIGHT HERE, beginning with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 10 a.m. ET, adopted by the UFC 308 PPV fundamental card begin time at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

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