UFC 308 preview: Tidbits, details, and storylines for Topuria vs. Holloway

October 26, 2024

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Final Preventing Championship (UFC) travels to the Center East this weekend (Sat., Oct. 26, 2024) for its super-stacked twelfth pay-per-view (PPV) occasion of the season, UFC 308, from inside Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

In UFC 308’s PPV important occasion, newly-minted Featherweight kingpin, Ilia Topuira, makes his highly-anticipated first title protection towards Baddest Motherf—ker (BMF), Max Holloway. Within the co-main occasion, Khamzat Chimaev FINALLY returns (fingers crossed) towards former Middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker.

UFC 308 is completely crafted with enjoyable fights from high to backside, so earlier than all of it goes down from “Struggle Island,” let’s checkout some random storylines, tidbits and statistics forward of showtime …

Greatest Struggle For The Relaxation Of 2024

There have been some completely unimaginable fights in 2024, however the principle occasion of 308 between Topuria vs. Holloway is by far the very best battle for the remainder of the yr, and there’s an argument for the very best battle of 2024.

There may be a lot to this battle. The trash discuss has been fairly heated, however it’s the technical facet that’s so intriguing—Topuria’s boxing vs. Holloway’s boxing, energy vs. quantity, the peak distinction, and the brand new guard vs. the previous guard.

Fighter Of The 12 months?

It is going to be robust for anybody to topple Alex Pereira as 2024’s “Fighter of the 12 months,” but when Topuria goes out and finishes Holloway, he may have a declare. One, as a result of Holloway has solely been stopped as soon as in his legendary profession, and two, as a result of Topuria has already knocked out former Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.

The Massive 30

UFC 308 will probably be Holloway’s thirtieth battle contained in the octagon. The 32-year-old made his UFC debut method again at UFC 143 in 2012 towards Dustin Poirier.

Important Eventers

UFC 308 will probably be Topuria’s third UFC important occasion—his third consecutive (UFC 298, UFC Jacksonville). It is going to be Holloway’s eleventh time headlining a UFC card.

Title Struggle Vet

Holloway has competed in 10 title fights.

Knock On Wooden

After quite a few sicknesses and setbacks, Chimaev returns to competitors this weekend, however everybody studying this should cease and knock on wooden as a result of there’s nonetheless time for “Borz” to drag out.
Chimaev has not fought since UFC 294, the place he defeated Kamaru Usman. Previous to that, he fought Kevin Holland at UFC 279.

All indicators level to Chimaev being wholesome as soon as once more and able to get again on observe.

Rebooked!

Chimaev and Whittaker have been imagined to conflict on the important occasion of UFC’s first-ever present in Saudi Arabia earlier this summer time; nevertheless, “Borz” pulled out every week earlier than the battle. Whittaker went on to knock out Ikram Aliskerov.

Now, they lastly throw down.

5 Spherical Co-Important

One final thing about Chimaev vs. Whittaker … they’re combating for 5 rounds. And it is smart as a result of there are plenty of stakes hooked up to it, like a attainable Middleweight title shot.

Thanks, Now Struggle This Killer

Earlier this yr, Dan Ige acquired legendary standing and stepped in on 4 hours’ discover to battle Diego Lopes. Whereas he didn’t win the battle, he was ultra-competitive. UFC CEO Dana White stated he would do something for Ige due to his badassness.

Properly, that lasted all of two weeks as a result of after Ige didn’t get a spot at UFC 306, one thing he requested for, he bought booked towards undefeated killer Lerone Murphy.

Wahoo!!!

Pirate Returns

Prime prospect Sharabutdin Magomedov, aka the Russian fighter with one eye, is kicking off the PPV important card. He’s 3-0 so far contained in the promotion however is combating his hardest take a look at tomorrow: kickboxing champion Armen Petrosyan.

Welcome To UFC!

Two fighters make their UFC debut this weekend.

Raffael Cerqueira (11-0) fights Ibo Aslan. Cerqueira was imagined to compete in season eight of Contender Sequence however was referred to as to battle at UFC 308 as a substitute. Cerqueira holds a 91% end charge with eight knockouts.

Goodbye Light-weight

Former UFC legend and Light-weight champion Rafael Dos Anjos returns tomorrow, and he’s lastly achieved slicing to 155 kilos. He’ll keep at Welterweight for the remainder of his profession, which he says is 4 extra fights (the remainder of his closing contract).

RDA has had so-so outcomes at Welterweight and can battle knockout artist Geoff Neal.

Oh, and he’s combating on his birthday.

‘Huggy Bear’ Returns

After 25 months away from the cage due to accidents and different life issues, fan-favorite Heavyweight, Chris Barnett, returns to the cage. He was final in motion at UFC 279 towards Jake Collier.

Barnett welcomes former 205-pound standout, Kennedy Nzechukwu, to the Heavyweight division.

Weigh-In Fiasco

The third battle on the “Prelims” between Faird Basharat and Victor Hugo was imagined to be contested at Bantamweight. Nonetheless, Hugo got here in 10 lbs obese, which might normally cancel a battle. Minutes earlier than the early morning weigh-in, Hugo let Basharat’s group know he was heavy, and the battle was modified to a Featherweight bout.

Yikes.

UFC 308 Struggle Chief

The fighter with essentially the most profession fights competing at UFC 308 is dos Anjos (48).

UFC 308 Struggle Rookie

The fighter with the least quantity of profession fights competing at UFC 308 is Cerqueira (11).

UFC 308 Knockout King

The fighter with essentially the most quantity of profession knockouts competing at UFC 308 is Abus Magomedov (14).

UFC 308 Submission Savant

The fighter with essentially the most quantity of profession submissions competing at UFC 308 is RDA (11).

Winners And Losers

Eighteen fighters are coming off wins, whereas seven are coming off losses.

Multi-Divisions

Listed here are the divisions that will probably be on show this Saturday:

One Heavyweight battle
Two Gentle Heavyweight fights
4 Middleweight fights
Two Welterweight fights
One Light-weight
Two Featherweight fights
One Bantamweight battle

Beta Canine

In line with Fan Duel, UFC 308’s “largest” underdog is Barnett at +500.

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