This weekend, the UFC will hold its 20th event in Abu Dhabi, featuring a main event where Ilia Topuria defends his featherweight title against number 2 ranked contender Max Holloway. With an action-packed lineup and plenty of events throughout fight week, here’s what you can look forward to at UFC 308.
Topuria, a Georgian-Spaniard, joined the UFC in 2020, debuting in Abu Dhabi on the undercard of the Marlon Moraes vs. Cory Sandhagen event, where he secured a decision win over Youssef Zalal. Since then, he has racked up seven wins in the UFC and became the first fighter from Georgia or Spain to capture a UFC title when he defeated Alexander Volkanovski.
In his first title defense, 27-year-old Topuria will face UFC legend Max Holloway (26-7), a former featherweight champion and the current ‘BMF’ titleholder. Holloway claimed this title with a thrilling last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in April.
Holloway, now 32, has been with the UFC since making his debut as a 19-year-old in 2012, where he lost to future lightweight interim champ Dustin Poirier. He won the featherweight title in 2017 by defeating Jose Aldo and successfully defended it four times before losing it to Volkanovski in 2019.
The co-main event features a UFC Middleweight title eliminator bout between third-ranked contender Robert Whittaker and the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev, who boasts a 13-0 record. Originally scheduled to headline the UFC event in Riyadh in June, the matchup was postponed when Chimaev withdrew due to illness, leading Whittaker to face and decisively defeat Ikram Aliskerov in the first round instead.
The main card also features a lightweight showdown between Lerone Murphy (14-0-1) and Dan Ige (18-8). Additionally, No. 2 light heavyweight Magomed Ankalaev (19-1-1) will look to strengthen his title prospects as he takes on Aleksandar Rakic (14-4). Another highlight includes a middleweight bout between Shara Magomedov (14-0) and Armen Petrosyan (9-3).
UFC 308 is set for this Saturday, October 26, at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island. The preliminary card is slated to kick off at 7 p.m. PST, followed by the main card at approximately 11 p.m.
