Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker expects at least one title to remain in its current hands this weekend, backing Islam Makhachev to double his lead over Arman Tsarukyan.
Makhachev and Tsarukyan first collided back in 2019, with the latter making his debut at the UFC Fight Night event in Moscow. While he performed well, the Armenian was ultimately on the wrong end of a decision verdict.
Six years on, the pair have renewed hostilities in Los Angeles this week, as they gear up to headline Saturday’s UFC 311 pay-per-view with Makhachev’s lightweight gold on the line.
During a recent episode of his MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker gave his assessment of the first PPV main event of the new year.
While he acknowledged Tsarukyan’s moments of success in their first fight, he sees a clear “skill gap” that will pave the way for Makhachev’s successful defense of the 155-pound title.
”I just feel like if we look at Islam’s last fight with Dustin and we look at Arman’s last fight with Charles, I just feel like there’s a gap,” Whittaker said. “I feel like there’s a skill gap, and everyone’s saying like, how well Arman (did against Makhachev) — went in his debut short notice etc.
“But you look at the names, you look at the the level of fights, you look at the stage that Islam’s fights were set on, Islam’s in a really good place right now,” Whittaker continued. “I find it very hard to see him getting defeated.”
It seems that former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker’s visit to City Kickboxing might not have been a one-off.
Fans witnessed a good sight this week when Israel Adesanya took to Instagram to reveal he’d been training with Whittaker at the Nigerian-New Zealander’s gym in Auckland.
The pair haven’t always seen eye to eye and were regarded as rivals owing to their two showdowns inside the Octagon, both of which were won by “The Last Stylebender.”
And the catalyst for that was evidently Whittaker, who explained to The New Zealand Herald the decision to expand his training horizons in the new year in order to evolve as a fighter.
“We came to the conclusion we needed more bodies, we wanted to experience new training styles, and we started looking at our options,” Whittaker said. “We were looking all over the world; definitely, there’s training out there in the States…but (like) a flash of lightning, (I thought), ‘CKB’s just across the lake – it’s practically home – why don’t we contact them, head over, meet the boys, see if it works, then maybe we can work something out and try form a good relationship.’
“There is no way I thought we’d be here breaking bread, you know? But here we are, the world’s a funny place,” Whittaker remarked about training with Adesanya. “I’m happy for it because, just being open to ideas, to broadening horizons, I’ve met some new boys, I’m getting some new work out of it, and it just keeps things fun; keeps things interesting.”
Work with an elite name like Whittaker could come in handy for Adesanya, who is just weeks out from his first assignment of 2025.
After bringing his year-long break from the sport to an end with an unsuccessful title challenge against Dricus Du Plessis last August, “The Last Stylebender” will return to non-title and non-PPV competition when he headlines UFC Saudi Arabia against Nassourdine Imavov on February 1.
Currently on a two-fight losing streak, he first suffered a unanimous decision loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in September 2023, a fight where he also relinquished his middleweight crown. The downward trajectory continued at UFC 305 last August, where reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis handed him a submission defeat, deepening the slump for the once-dominant fighter.
“The Last Stylebender” is now gearing up to headline UFC Saudi Arabia, where he will face Nassourdine Imavov on Feb. 1 at the anb Arena in Riyadh. This highly anticipated showdown marks a notable change for the ex-champ, as it will be his first non-pay-per-view bout since July 2018.
With the fight just under a month away, Adesanya’s preparations are in full swing. In a surprising turn, he has brought in his former two-time adversary, Robert Whittaker, to assist with his training.
The 35-year-old Nigerian-born Kiwi recently shared several photos and videos from his sparring sessions with “The Reaper” on social media.
MMA fans responded to Adesanya’s sparring session with Whittaker, with many humorously celebrating the unexpected collaboration between the two fighters.
If “I have no enemies” was a picture🥹. True warriors through and through. A true example of having no enemies in this game❤️🐐 pic.twitter.com/WRGZooICOj
AYYYY this is amazing to see, that's how it should be, train together and improve together, professional athletes can only benefit from situations like these! Rob is a first class human being and it's great seeing you two at practice! Keep it up!
Adesanya and Whittaker first squared off at UFC 243 in October 2019, where “The Last Stylebender” clinched a stunning second-round knockout to seize the undisputed middleweight title.
Meanwhile, their second encounter took place at UFC 271 in February 2022, where the matchup was far more competitive. Despite Whittaker’s resilience, though, Adesanya ultimately gritted through the challenge and earned a hard-fought unanimous decision victory to retain his championship.
Robert Whittaker has expressed interest in the potential matchup between UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and Khamzat Chimaev.
Whittaker, who recently faced Chimaev at UFC 308 and suffered a quick submission loss that also resulted in displaced teeth, shared his thoughts on the hypothetical bout during a recent episode of his MMArcade Podcast.
Rumors of a possible Pereira-Chimaev fight emerged after “Poatan” hinted at an unexpected next opponent. For Whittaker, the prospect of Chimaev moving up to face the Brazilian is intriguing.
“I saw a rumor that Chimaev might go up and fight Pereira,” Whittaker said. “Imagine that. Chimaev (will win). Not easily, Chimaev though. Unless the heavyweight strength changes the dynamic. Chimaev will get the takedown, and it’s just that he’s good at what he does; he plays into his strengths.”
Despite leaning toward “Borz’s” grappling ability as the deciding factor, Whittaker acknowledged the light heavyweight champ’s striking prowess and conditioning as potential game-changers, particularly if Chimaev fails to maintain a relentless pace.
“But let’s say hypothetically, Chimaev slows down, gasses a little bit, Pereira won’t,” Whittaker added. “He can strike asleep, dead tired—dude’s been doing it his whole life. He’ll kill Chimaev in a standup.
“It won’t be like that (Kamaru) Usman-Chimaev fight, where Usman was kind of outboxing him a little bit at that period when Chimaev got tired. It will be a slaughter. But does it go that far?”
As speculation builds around this potential matchup, Whittaker’s analysis highlights the contrasting styles of the two fighters: Chimaev’s elite grappling against Pereira’s striking mastery.
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has firmly shut the door on the possibility of returning to welterweight, but he has left another door ajar…
Whittaker will enter the new year off the back of a crushing defeat, having been submitted in the opening round by a brutal face crank at the hands of Khamzat Chimaev in Abu Dhabi this past October.
While wins earlier in the year over Paulo Costa and Ikram Aliskerov had the Australian approaching a chance to regain the 185-pound crown, “The Reaper” is now out of the championship conversation for the time being.
And when he returns in 2025, it seems Whittaker is pondering the prospect of inserting himself into a different one.
During a recent episode of his MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker noted that a return to welterweight — the division he went 3-2 in under the UFC banner before switching to middleweight — is not on the cards. A move up, however, could be.
“Me, I wouldn’t go down. I can’t go down,” Whittaker said. “I’m still playing with the idea of going up to light heavy, dude. I’m a big dude, much bigger than people think I am. I don’t know.”
Robert Whittaker seems like he's thinking about a move up to Light Heavyweight and honestly wouldn't be a bad idea for where he's at in his career pic.twitter.com/vyIfdG6xKn
Should Whittaker follow through on that, he’d be chasing a man he was previously in pursuit of at 185 pounds.
After a brief stint on the middleweight throne, Alex Pereira secured two-division glory in just his second fight at light heavyweight. He’s since defended the gold on three occasions in 2024, establishing himself as one of the promotion’s leading stars.
Robert Whittaker, a former UFC middleweight champion, is eager to see how Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland would fare if they faced Khamzat Chimaev.
Strickland is set to challenge reigning titleholder Du Plessis in a rematch that headlines UFC 312 on Feb. 8 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.
Chimaev, fresh off a dominant first-round submission victory over Whittaker at UFC 308 in October, is likely to face the winner. “Borz’s” last win saw him claim victory via a crushing face crank, leaving Whittaker with significant injuries.
Reflecting on the potential matchups that lie in his recent opponent’s future, Whittaker expressed doubts about either Du Plessis or Strickland being able to defend against Chimaev’s relentless takedown game.
“I think he just takes them down and does the same thing — not necessarily to me, but like how he beat (Kamaru) Usman or Gilbert Burns,” Whittaker shared on his MMArcade Podcast. “I can see those sorts of fights. I think he’d have more success with Strickland than Du Plessis because Du Plessis is a big dude. Stopping that first takedown is so crazy. The way he shoots that first shot is crazy. How do you stop that dude? Jump over him?”
Whittaker also questioned whether Strickland could make the necessary adjustments to avenge his previous loss to the South African, which came via split decision at UFC 297 in Canada this past January.
Just over a year on from their first meeting, middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and former titleholder Sean Strickland are set to meet in a rematch at UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia. Following his bounce back win over Paulo Costa in June, Strickland has remained confident that he deserved the opportunity to fight for the title again.
His first encounter with “Stillknocks” at UFC 297 went the way of the South African via a split decision and though the fight was close, there weren’t a ton of people calling for the rematch to take place. This was especially true following Khamzat Chimaev’s recent win over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 where Du Plessis said himself that a matchup with the undefeated contender would excite him more than running it back with Strickland.
In a recent episode of his MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker gave his reaction to the fight announcement. The former champion took his hat off to Strickland for sticking to his guns and getting what he asked for even when it looked like it might slip away from him.
“I’m surprised Sean just literally sat out. Like everyone was laughing at him when he said, ‘I’m going to sit out till I get my title shot.’ Dude straight up got a title shot, props for that. You got to give it him, guy like straight up stuck by what he said.”
Despite this, Whittaker isn’t sure that Strickland will be able to make the adjustments needed to reclaim the middleweight title.
“In my opinion, I don’t see the fight going any different. Du Plessis is such a dog in there, he’s going to come with the same aggressiveness and game plan. What could Sean do differently to change the outcome than last time? Okay because if we look at it, it doesn’t happen often but the challenger beats a champion by decision, okay. Du Plessis did that and now he’s a champion and that was a close first fight, you know what I mean. You see where I’m angling with this. I just don’t know what Sean can do differently to change the outcome from happening again.”
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has his eyes on a mid-2025 return after repairing the damage he sustained at the hands of Khamzat Chimaev last month.
Following two strong appearances in 2024 that saw him outpoint Paulo Costa and knock out the highly touted Ikram Aliskerov, Whittaker hoped to make it three on the bounce at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi.
But his pursuit of a rematch with current titleholder Dricus Du Plessis came to an emphatic halt at the hands of Chimaev, who added “The Reaper” to the list of victims on his undefeated record.
But the former champ is now on the mend, and he’s even eyeing a return to action as soon as May 2025.
“I’m going to give a bit of time. I’m not going to rush into the next fight, because there are some things I want to address,” Whittaker said. “I’m probably looking to return in June. June-ish? End of May? I don’t know. We’ll play with the dates next year.”
And when he does make the walk again, “The Reaper” is promising to adapt and show new wrinkles to his game.
“I’m 34 in December,” Whittaker noted. “I still have, I feel like some tricks up my sleeve. I still have some goals that I want to hit. Like I said, I am building some new skills. But that’s just how I look at things. Every obstacle and setback just makes me stronger, it makes the comeback better. I’m looking forward to getting back in there. I’m enjoying training. I’m excited for the next, what I could be.”
While Whittaker focuses on his recovery and plan to display a new and improved “Bobby Knuckles” next year, Chimaev has his sights set on the middleweight gold.
Robert Whittaker’s dental surgery, prompted by the injury from his last trip to the Octagon, uncovered a startling underlying issue.
Whittaker endured his first submission loss in the UFC. He suffered a crushing setback that also left him with severe dental damage — a brutal souvenir from Khamzat Chimaev’s relentless face crank in the opening round of UFC 308 last month.
However, the Aussie clarified that wasn’t the case. Instead, the injury, which had developed cumulatively since his younger years, affected the lower bone supporting his teeth, causing it to snap and be displaced — steering clear of a full jaw fracture but resulting in considerable damage.
Although he managed to temporarily address them, the situation progressively worsened, ultimately reaching a breaking point after his latest outing.
“I’ve always kind of had bad bottom teeth because I’ve had missing teeth here for like 10 years plus,” Whittaker said. “So they’ve always kind of been shot because they’re not stable — they’re not a full circuit; they’re like half… But they kinda got pushed in a little bit when I fought Dricus [Du Plessis]. I had to cast them in there, let them settle, yada yada yada, move on. Then, when I fought Ikram [Aliskerov], I had all the infections. Had to get four root canals, and I think the teeth had just had it, mate.”
“The Reaper” went on to reveal that his dental problems eventually led to the removal of his entire bottom row of teeth. During the procedure, doctors found a large abscess in his gums, which could have worsened his condition if left untreated.
“I’ve never been able to bite down on an apple since I was 19. [My teeth] have always been bad, and I should’ve dealt with them much sooner. They’re gone [now], don’t need them, my life is much better without them. Fun fact though, when they took them out, they found a massive cyst in my jaw, and they think that might have been where infections were coming from for the teeth, so everything happens for a reason.”
Before UFC 308, Whittaker was gaining momentum for a potential third title shot, having strung together two impressive wins over Ikram Aliskerov and Paulo Costa earlier this year. However, after his setback against Chimaev, those championship aspirations have been momentarily sidelined.
As the #6-ranked contender in the middleweight division, there aren’t many fights that make sense for the surging Caio Borralho right now. The Brazilian called out a former champion following his win over Jared Cannonier but doesn’t look to have gotten anywhere with it just yet.
“I definitely think it’s a great fight, I’m a big fan of Rob, a big fan of what he has done in this sport. I think he’s a great guy, a nice guy, but definitely it’s a fight that I want if Adesanya doesn’t want to face me in the next fight, I think Robert Whittaker is the one that I want.”
That leaves Khamzat Chimaev who he’s trained with in the past so isn’t actively pursuing a fight with unless it means securing UFC gold. As a result, Borralho is open to the idea of staying ready in case the UFC needs someone to step in.
“In fact, I told that to the UFC, I told that to Hunter, to Mick Maynard, that I can be the backup fighter. If they want me to be, I can be the backup fighter. I’m going to make weight and gonna wait. If something happens, I’ll be ready, I’ll be more than ready.”
Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya reacted like most as Khamzat Chimaev forced a quick tap from Robert Whittaker this past weekend.
After injuries and illness stalled his title plans at 185 pounds following a victory over Kamaru Usman in October 2023, Chimaev made his return 12 months on for the biggest Octagon outing of his career to date.
Many were picking against “Borz” leading up to the UFC 308 pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi given the level of competition he was facing. But despite plenty backing former champ Whittaker to make it three wins from three in 2024, Chimaev streamrolled through “The Reaper.”
Having secured his usual fast takedown, Chimaev went to work on the ground and ultimately applied a brutal face crank. To the surprise of most, Whittaker tapped out almost immediately.
During a video recently uploaded to his FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel, Adesanya reacted live to the events that unfolded at Saturday’s PPV in Abu Dhabi, paying close attention as the undefeated Chimaev met his former two-time opponent.
Adesanya willed Whittaker on as he worked to escape Chimaev’s imposing wrestling, expressing shock at the sudden ending that came just over three and a half minutes into the very first round.
“There we go, told you. Straight away. You should know by now he’s going to shoot, but he’s so quick with it,” Adesanya said. “Good job Whitty. … What?! Already? Wow. That’s what I said, first or second round. Something (happened) with the jaw, that was just too quick. … F*ck, dislocated jaw from the pressure, that’s crazy.”
With Adesanya failing in his bid to regain the middleweight title in Perth, Australia this past August, he likely won’t be sharing the cage with Chimaev anytime soon.
Instead, “Borz” has his sights on Dricus Du Plessis, who won the belt from Sean Strickland at the start of 2024 before adding a defense to his reign at “The Last Stylebender’s” expense.
He wants the belt 🗣@KChimaev calls for a title shot after his incredible win at #UFC308 🐺
UFC 308 proved to be a night to forget for Robert Whittaker, as he lost to Khamzat Chimaev in the evening’s co-main event and suffered a gruesome injury in the process.
Chimaev was easily able to take Whittaker down and maintained complete control, never letting the former champion get out of his grasp for most of the fight. “Borz” landed a devastating elbow on Whittaker before locking in a face crank, which saw the Australian tap almost immediately.
With the win, Chimaev improved to 14-0 in his career, including an 8-0 Octagon record. It was his first win since his triumph over Kamaru Usman one year ago.
Whittaker and Chimaev were originally supposed to fight in June before the latter withdrew due to illness. “The Reaper” defeated short-notice replacement Ikram Aliskerov on that card in Saudi Arabia.
Chimaev became just the third person to defeat Whittaker at 185 pounds since the former champ moved up to middleweight about a decade ago. The other two are names that have also gone on to win the UFC middleweight belt — former two-time champ Israel Adesanya and current kingpin Dricus Du Plessis.
The MMA world was taken aback with how easily Khamzat Chimaev defeated Robert Whittaker in the co-main event of UFC 308, namely pointing to how quick the former champion tapped as Chimaev was locking in a face crank.
The commentary team suggested that the Australian may have suffered a dislocated jaw — and the results from the crank ended up being as damaging as some have feared.
During the commentary team’s wrap-up segment, Cormier showed a picture on his phone that showed Whittaker’s front teeth crushed. He also confirmed that Whittaker’s jaw was indeed fractured by Chimaev’s submission hold.
Robert Whittaker’s Teeth Crushed, Jaw Fractured As A Result Of Khamzat Chimaev’s Face Crank
Chimaev was easily able to take down his opponent mere seconds into their fight, having complete control in the exchanges on the ground and dominant grappling position up to the submission.
“Borz” improved to 14-0 after a year-long layoff, with an 8-0 UFC record since his promotional debut in 2020. His fight with the Aussie was originally supposed to take place at the inaugural UFC card in Saudi Arabia this past June before Chimaev fell violently ill.
The Chechen-born UAE resident also became just the third man to defeat (and finish) Whittaker since “The Reaper” moved up to 185 pounds about a decade ago. The only two other men to accomplish that is current UFC Middleweight hampion Dricus Du Plessis and former two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya.
Chimaev’s performance gives speculation as to if he will now be next to challenge “Stillknocks.”
UFC 308 took place tonight from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!
In the main event, Ilia Topuria put his featherweight title on the line against former champ Max Holloway. While in the co-main event, Robert Whittaker took on Khamzat Chimaev in a middleweight matchup.
UFC 308 Results: Main Card:
Featherweight Championship Main Event: Ilia Topuria def. Max Holloway via KO: R3, 1.34
Middleweight Co-Main Event: Khamzat Chimaev def. Robert Whittaker via submission: R1, 3.34
Light Heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev def. Aleksandar Rakić via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Featherweight: Lerone Murphy def. Dan Ige via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Middleweight: Sharabutdin Magomedov def. Armen Petrosyan via KO: R2, 4.52
Preliminary Card:
Light Heavyweight: Ibo Aslan def. Raffael Cerqueira via TKO (punches): R1, 0:51
Welterweight: Geoff Neal def. Rafael dos Anjos via TKO (injury): R1, 1:30
UFC 308 presented the biggest test of Khamzat Chimaev’s career to date, and he passed it with flying colors.
The undefeated contender shot for a takedown early against former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and got it, looking for the rear-naked choke throughout the first round.
Despite Whittaker’s experience showing in his composure, once Chimaev was able to apply some real pressure in the choke attempt, “The Reaper” quickly tapped.
The commentators said that it appeared Whittaker communicated to his team that he dislocated his jaw, It appeared clear that there was some kind of injury after how quick the tap came when the face crank was applied.
Chimaev seconded this in in his post-fight interview, saying he felt something click before calling for a shot at Dricus Du Plessis’ middleweight belt.
We still don’t know how “Borz” will fair against elite competition later on into the fight, but when he can finish opponents like Whittaker that quickly, we may never need to find out.
Fans reacted to this absolutely ruthless performance from Chimaev, which reminded them why there was so much hype around him in the first place.
DDP vs. Khamzat is actually a cool fight with Chimaev's champ round stamina still being a question mark. I'd rather that than a Strickland rematch all day
Strickland is boring as hell, does not deserve a title fight. Just doing the Colby Covington thing and hanging around doing nothing until he gets one for free. @KhamzatChimaev deserves the next shot after that. #UFC308
Khamzat Chimaev was quiet and humble all fight week, everyone took it as weakness. But don’t be mistaken, in the cage he’s still the same kill everybody Borz
Robert Whittaker is promising to keep up with Khamzat Chimaev’s relentless intensity this Saturday night.
Whittaker is gearing up to square off against Chimaev in a five-round middleweight clash, serving as the co-main event of UFC 308, which is set to take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
During the media day interaction for UFC 308 on Wednesday, “The Reaper” acknowledged that he anticipates Chimaev to come out firing on all cylinders. However, the former UFC champion emphasized that he has meticulously prepared to make the most of the full 25 minutes of their scheduled bout, aiming to take the undefeated Chechen into deep waters.
“I am expecting him to come out hard and aggressive from the first second to the last,” Whittaker said. “And I have prepared accordingly for that. I’ve prepared for the hardest fight of my life, to start extremely hard, like sprinting for the first 5 to 10 minutes, but also drag it out the five [rounds]. I’m ready to sprint for 25 minutes if so, and I’m coming for war.”
Whittaker also remarked that his experience would be a key asset in facing “Borz”, who will be stepping into a five-round fight for the first time. The Aussie asserted that he brings a unique challenge to the table, one that sets him apart from any opponent Chimaev has encountered before.
“I’m good at what I do. I’m a different fighter than he’s fought before, and I guess maybe the fact that I know how to lose gives me strength; it gives me a reason why I don’t like being there, why I don’t want that to be my reality. It sucks, so I’m going to go out there and give him a taste of it.”
“The Reaper” is fresh off a first-round knockout victory over Ikram Aliskerov at UFC Fight Night Saudi Arabia in July. Whittaker is determined to deliver a statement performance at UFC 308 to re-establish himself in the title contention picture.
Whittaker and Chimaev were initially slated to headline the Saudi Arabia event, but just days before the fight, “Borz” was forced to withdraw due to significant health complications.
Chimaev was last seen in action at UFC 294 in October 2023, where he earned a hard-fought majority decision victory over former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.
After capturing the gold this past February by brutally knocking out the previously long-reigning Alexander Volkanovski, “El Matador” is next tasked with stalling Max Holloway’s ambitions of a return to the 145-pound mountaintop.
The stakes will also be high in the co-main event, which will see former middleweight champ Robert Whittaker look to secure another shot at regaining the crown by blemishing the currently perfect professional record of Khamzat Chimaev.
Elsewhere on the UFC 308 card, Magomed Ankalaev and Aleksandar Rakić do battle for a potential shot at Alex Pereira’s light heavyweight title, Dan Ige becomes the latest threat to Lerone Murphy’s ‘O’, and middleweight prospect Shara Magomedov looks to impress once again.
Topping the lineup will be reigning UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria, who is tasked with getting the better of former kingpin Max Holloway if he’s to record a first successful title defense.
Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see ex-middleweight titleholder Robert Whittaker in action for the third time this year. After getting past Paulo Costa and Ikram Aliskerov, “The Reaper” is next tasked with blemishing the perfect record of Khamzat Chimaev.
Also set to make the walk on Saturday will be the likes of top light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev, undefeated featherweight Lerone Murphy, middleweight prospect Shara Magomedov, and former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos.
Ahead of the event, you can get some help from the group of experts at MMA News by checking out their predictions for the UFC 308 main card here.
UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway Betting Odds
Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 308 (as of 10/25), courtesy of DraftKings.
Main Card:
Ilia Topuria (-230) vs. Max Holloway (+190)
Robert Whittaker (+190) vs. Khamzat Chimaev (-230)
Magomed Ankalaev (-375) vs. Aleksandar Rakić (+295)
Lerone Murphy (-265) vs. Dan Ige (+215)
Sharabutdin Magomedov (-170) vs. Armen Petrosyan (+142)
Preliminary Card:
Ibo Aslan (+105) vs. Raffael Cerqueira (-125)
Geoff Neal (-298) vs. Rafael dos Anjos (+240)
Mateusz Rębecki (+260) vs. Myktybek Orolbai (-325)
Also on the main card will be returns for top light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev, unbeaten featherweight Lerone Murphy, and highly active middleweight Shara Magomedov.
UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway Weigh-In Results
UFC 308 takes place Saturday, October 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The main card begins at 2 PM ET/11 AM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 10 AM ET/7 AM PT.
See above for a replay of the UFC 308 Weigh-In Show, and check out the full results below.
Main Card:
Featherweight Championship Main Event: Ilia Topuria (145lbs) vs. Max Holloway (145lbs)
Middleweight Co-Main Event: Robert Whittaker (185.5lbs) vs. Khamzat Chimaev (186lbs)
Light Heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev (204.5lbs) vs. Aleksandar Rakić (206lbs)
Featherweight: Lerone Murphy (145.5lbs) vs. Dan Ige (146lbs)
Middleweight: Sharabutdin Magomedov (185lbs) vs. Armen Petrosyan (186lbs)
Preliminary Card:
Light Heavyweight: Ibo Aslan (205lbs) vs. Raffael Cerqueira (203lbs)
Welterweight: Geoff Neal (171lbs) vs. Rafael dos Anjos (171lbs)
Catchweight (160lbs)*: Mateusz Rębecki (160lbs) vs. Myktybek Orolbai (159lbs)
Middleweight: Abus Magomedov (185lbs) vs. Brunno Ferreira (185.5lbs)
Heavyweight: Kennedy Nzechukwu (241lbs) vs. Chris Barnett (264lbs)
Featherweight*: Farid Basharat (137lbs) vs. Victor Hugo (145.5lbs)
Middleweight: Ismail Naurdiev (185lbs) vs. Bruno Silva (186lbs)
Welterweight: Rinat Fakhretdinov (171lbs) vs. Carlos Leal (169.5lbs)
*The bout between Rębecki and Orolbai was moved from lightweight to a 160-pound catchweight before they weighed in.
**The bout between Basharat and Hugo was moved from bantamweight to featherweight before they weighed in after the latter was significantly overweight.
The main event will see featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria defend his title for the first time since capturing it at the expense of Alexander Volkanovski eight months ago. To continue reign, “El Matador” is tasked with spoiling the title ambitions of former champ Max Holloway
Co-headlining will be a former titleholder in Robert Whittaker, who will look to make it three wins from three outings in 2024 to book himself another shot at regaining the middleweight gold. In his way will be the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev, who faces his toughest test to date in Abu Dhabi.
Elsewhere on the main card, Magomed Ankalaev and Aleksandar Rakić meet in a likely title eliminator at 205 pounds, Lerone Murphy looks to stay unbeaten with a victory over Dan Ige, and the extremely active Sharabutdin Magomedov has his next assignment.
UFC 308: MMA News Staff Predictions
Ahead of Saturday’s UFC 308 event, Kyle Dimond, Ryan Jarrell, Thomas Albano, Pranav Pandey, Andrew Starc, and Aakrit Sharma have provided their picks for the five matchups set for the main card.
Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through seven cards.
Thomas Albano (27-7)
Ryan Jarrell (22-12)
Kyle Dimond (19-15)
Pranav Pandey (9-6)
Andrew Starc (8-11)
Aakrit Sharma (5-5)
And with that, it’s time for the team’s predictions for UFC 308.
Middleweight: Shara Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: I think this is a good test for Magomedov against a very good striker in Petrosyan. I’m yet to really be on the hype train for “Bullet” and I’m expecting this to be a fight where it’s hard for him to look good. I think it might come down to a close decision where I think Magomedov might just edge it out to get the victory. Fun fight though. (Prediction: Shara Magomedov)
Ryan Jarrell: I have been waiting for Magomedov to lose his first fight, and I think “Superman” is just the guy to do it. “Bullet” did not impress me in his most recent win over Oleksiejczuk, and he will need to be significantly better to get the job done against Petrosyan. This will be a close fight throughout, with both men having their moments, but give me “Superman” to be Magomedov’s kryptonite. (Prediction: Armen Petrosyan)
Thomas Albano: Having Magomedov in the first bout of the pay-per-view will bring a flavorful kick (pun intended) to the start of the main card. This summer, Magomedov’s praises were sung thanks to his third-round finish of Antonio Trócoli and going on short notice to defeat Michał Oleksiejczuk in the Fight of the Night at UFC Saudi Arabia. The unbeaten Magomedov is known for his kick-heavy style, which may prove an interesting challenge for Petrosyan.
Having said that, Petrosyan has kickboxing and Muay Thai talent to his name as well, and he’ll look to get in on Magomedov to do damage and prevent “Bullet” from taking control of the fight. This should be an absolutely fun striking battle to get the night off on the right foot (no pun intended this time). I love the path Magomedov has been on and the upward momentum he’s got, and I expect that to continue into this battle. (Prediction: Shara Magomedov)
Pranav Pandey: Although it’s evident that Magomedov can be quite hittable when opponents close the distance, I firmly believe this matchup is intricately designed for him and could emerge as one of the most one-sided contests on the UFC 308 card. I foresee that Petrosyan lacks any standout attributes that “Bullet” couldn’t adeptly counter, whether in striking exchanges or grappling scenarios. (Prediction: Shara Magomedov)
Andrew Starc: Magomedov, though undefeated, has yet to face a high-level grappler in the UFC, and this matchup against Petrosyan seems tailored to showcase his striking skills. Petrosyan is also a kickboxer, and while he’s beaten better competition, this fight plays into Magomedov’s strengths. Given “Bullet’s” hometown advantage and the favorable stylistic matchup, this could be a close contest that leans toward Magomedov on the judges’ scorecards. (Prediction: Shara Magomedov)
Aakrit Sharma: Caio Borralho showed that taking Petrosyan down and controlling him is the easiest way to beat “Superman.” Magomedov is unlikely to head into UFC 308 with a similar gameplan, but I would give still him a slight edge on the feet. “Bullet” is quicker with his punches and it will be interesting to see how effectively he uses his kicks against a relatively higher level opponent. I expect Magomedov to walk away with a knockout win. (Prediction: Shara Magomedov)
Consensus: 5-0 Shara Magomedov
Featherweight: Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: Ige is one tough customer but I think he’s going to struggle with the range and diversity from Murphy. If he was to mix in some takedowns, that would really help him, but I just think his boxing-heavy approach is going to have him walking into a buzzsaw whenever he gets close to. Murphy has consistently shown how good he is in all striking ranges. I expect him to pick Ige off for a lot of this fight, landing elbows and knees when it gets up close. (Prediction: Lerone Murphy)
Ryan Jarrell: I love the toughness that Ige possesses, and he will need every bit of it to get the win over Murphy. I expect the Brit to get the better of Ige on the feet and stuff most takedowns throughout the fight. “50K” could have some moments of top control in this one, but give me “The Miracle” to get his hand raised in the end. (Prediction: Lerone Murphy)
Thomas Albano: This should be a fun, striking-filled contest, with a bonus of high stakes attached as both men looked to get into (or in Ige’s case, return to) the top 10 of the UFC’s featherweight rankings. Murphy is unbeaten as a fighter and has tremendous boxing – a perfect blend of speed and accuracy in his strikes. He’s able to hold his own on the ground, though Ige may have an edge in that department. That said, Ige and his toughness (and you only need to look at what he did at UFC 303 during the summer to know how tough he is) will most likely keep this fight standing and make it a fire fight.
This is a fight that deserves more attention. I will never question Ige’s heart, chin, and toughness. Murphy, however, just seems more complete of a striker and will be able to do more than enough to do damage and score the win. (Prediction: Lerone Murphy)
Pranav Pandey: In my opinion, Murphy vs. Ige promises to be an authentic toss-up. This is a difficult fight to call, as I see both fighters — who are primarily strikers — holding viable chances for victory. Ige is incredibly resilient and gritty, as demonstrated in his bout against Diego Lopes, and he has never been finished in his career. However, while Murphy may have less experience, he brings a more refined skillset to the table. I believe he can push “50K” to his limits and grind his way to victory, even when faced with adversity. (Prediction: Lerone Murphy)
Andrew Starc: The undefeated Murphy is coming off a dominant win against Edson Barboza in May, where his elite striking and speed were put on show. Ige, meanwhile, is also a great boxer who showed his toughness in giving Diego Lopes a run for his money after stepping up on a few hours’ notice. This is set to be a close, competitive striking battle, but I think Murphy has the edge in striking and will get the decision. (Prediction: Lerone Murphy)
Aakrit Sharma: Murphy looked better than ever against Barboza and I expect his striking to overwhelm Ige as well. He mixes things up well and can piece “50K” up on the feet. Ige’s path to victory could be his grappling but I wouldn’t count out the “The Miracle” as he’s hard to take down and dominate on the ground. Both Murphy and Ige are tough featherweights, and I expect the undefeated prospect to win via decision. (Prediction: Lerone Murphy)
Consensus: 5-0 Lerone Murphy
Light Heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakić
Images: MMA Crazy/YouTube & UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: There isn’t a performance that I can point to that makes me think Rakić wins this fight. He’s looked good and he’s dangerous, but I just think Ankalaev will be too much for him. Standing with the Austrian could get risky for him, but mixing in the takedowns is going to give Rakić some big issues. Ankalaev falling in love with his striking is the only cause for concern, but I think he’ll be smart enough to take this fight to the floor. (Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev)
Ryan Jarrell: This is such an important fight for both of these men, with the winner in line for a title shot against Alex Pereira. Rakić really impressed me early on in his last fight against Jiří Procházka. Obviously, we know what ultimately happened in that fight, but if “Rocket” can be the best version of himself, he could present some real problems for his opponent in this one. In the end, I expect mixing up the striking and grappling will work well for Ankalaev en route to a somewhat dominant victory. (Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev)
Thomas Albano: I am one of those who is a firm believer that Ankalaev should have won the UFC light heavyweight championship back in December 2022 – let alone that he should be challenging for the UFC light heavyweight championship again now. Nevertheless, he gets an opportunity here against Rakić. With a strong performance, UFC CEO Dana White claims, Ankalaev will receive a title shot.
These are two well-rounded fighters. With a background in sambo, Ankalaev’s striking and power came on full display in his pair of fights with Johnny Walker, but he has wrestling to depend on if need be. Rakić, meanwhile, is a successful kickboxer and holds a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. “Rocket” has had a tough road of late, however, and I feel Ankalaev is just the better fighter all around. I’m not sure if the Russian earns the finish here, but everything leans in his favor. (Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev)
Pranav Pandey: This matchup is particularly challenging for me to predict. Both fighters are predominantly powerful strikers, but Rakić boasts a significant reach advantage, which he can leverage to keep the Russian at bay while controlling the distance. However, Ankalaev presents a formidable threat with his superior wrestling skills and ability to execute takedowns, which could tilt the scales in his favor. (Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev)
Andrew Starc: Ankalaev is a dangerous, well-rounded fighter with KO power and solid wrestling, even by Dagestani standards. Meanwhile, Rakić is a highly technical kickboxer with good takedown defense, but his striking, while elite, has been exposed by fighters like Procházka. Ankalaev’s ability to mix his striking with grappling could be the difference here. (Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev)
Aakrit Sharma: Rakić is definitely one of the most talented fighters in the UFC light heavyweight division. His loss to Volkan Oezdemir was razor close (and controversial), and he’s looked great against elite competition such as Jiří Procházka and Jan Błachowicz as well. Ankalaev has already fought, survived, and beat better competition in his career, which makes him a favorite. However, I don’t believe he has a significant advantage on the feet against “Rocket”. Rakić’s leg kicks could trouble the Russian and I predict him to win the early rounds. However, Ankalaev should set the pace in the later rounds and get a decision win. (Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev)
Consensus: 5-0 Magomed Ankalaev
Middleweight: Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Images: UFC.com & UFC/YouTube
Kyle Dimond: We’ve had to wait a long time to see Chimaev face a top middleweight over five rounds, and the more time has passed, the more I’m leaning toward Whittaker in this fight. I do think there’s a chance “Borz” can overwhelm the former champ early, a bit like he did to Kamaru Usman when he took his back. However, if he’s going to be his usual aggressive self, I haven’t seen anything from Chimaev that makes me think he can maintain that, and without that blitz approach, I don’t see him getting Whittaker down. (Prediction: Robert Whittaker)
Ryan Jarrell: Full disclosure, Whittaker is one of my all-time favorite fighters. I am going to do my best to make this prediction with my head and not my heart, but I’m not sure how to distinguish between the two. Having said all of that, I still believe the well-rounded skillset of the former champion will be enough to get his hand raised. Whittaker will have to be very careful of the power that Chimaev possesses, especially early on in the fight. However, if he can weather the early storm from “Borz,” I believe the veteran will use his movement and precision to outpoint him and potentially get a finish late in the fight. (Prediction: Robert Whittaker)
Thomas Albano: It’s not good that when this fight was rescheduled for UFC 308, there were bets out there as to if this fight would get scrapped again – and yes, was somehow the favorite. Nevertheless, we are here. It’s Chimaev’s biggest opportunity to show he’s ready to challenge for the UFC middleweight championship. And it’s Whittaker’s opportunity to show he’s ready for a rematch with Dricus Du Plessis and one last crack at regaining the 185-pound gold.
Since moving up to 185 pounds a decade or so ago, Whittaker has only ever lost to talents who went on to win the gold in Israel Adesanya and Du Plessis. Chimaev is talented, but it’s been a rough go for him over the last few years due to inactivity, illness, and a significant weight miss. Chimaev will bring a flurry of activity early, but we’ve seen Whittaker handle up-and-comers with ease, staying back and finding the timing and power to keep them at bay.
Chimaev will look to come out strong and look for an early finish, the same way Adesanya and Du Plessis got their wins. The longer this fight goes on, however, Whittaker will be more and more favored. This is the fight I’m least confident in picking, and I want to believe in “Borz.” Right now, however, there are more questions than answers regarding him, and I don’t know if he’s truly ready for Whittaker yet – let alone Whittaker who has the motivation of fighting for his own title opportunity (again). (Prediction: Robert Whittaker)
Pranav Pandey: Both fighters bring their unique styles and elite skill sets to the Octagon. I foresee this bout unfolding like a strategic chess match. Chimaev is notorious for his relentless pace, coming out of the gate with an aggressive, hunting style, overpowering his opponents with sheer physicality. “Borz” has indicated that he’s made significant adjustments to his training regimen, placing a strong emphasis on wrestling and grappling — his primary weapons. However, a crucial point to consider is that he has yet to see beyond the third round in his career, leaving me uncertain about his durability to withstand Whittaker’s pressure as the fight progresses.
Meanwhile, Whittaker stands out as a highly dynamic fighter, adept at mixing up his techniques with remarkable finesse when necessary. One pivotal element that I believe will significantly influence the outcome is “The Reaper’s” wealth of experience. I predict that while Whittaker may encounter challenges in the grappling exchanges, he possesses the stylistic versatility to take Chimaev into uncharted territory. With his astute fight IQ, Whittaker could potentially create openings to finish the Chechen if the opportunity arises. (Prediction: Robert Whittaker)
Andrew Starc: Chimaev has fallen out of favor with many fans who expected so much more from him at this stage of his career. Many weren’t convinced by his win over Usman a year ago, and he’s tried fans’ patience by pulling out of previous fights on short notice. As much as Whittaker looks to be in a great form – coming off a first-round TKO of Ikram Aliskerov in June – I think Chimaev will redeem himself in this one, doing what he usually does to overwhelm the Australian early on, before getting victory on the scorecards. (Prediction: Khamzat Chimaev)
Aakrit Sharma: Chimaev will return to the Octagon against Whittaker a year after defeating Usman via decision. The first round of his last fight proved he has elite grappling and power but the next two are hard to evaluate since he broke his hand. I feel that Chimaev won’t surprise Whittaker with anything in the Octagon. “The Reaper” has been there with the best of the best and should be able to get a finish in the later rounds.
It’s unlikely Chimaev’s cardio has improved dramatically from what we saw against Burns and Usman, so all Whittaker needs to do is survive the early wrestling onslaught. My pick is Whittaker winning by knockout, especially because this is a five-rounder. (Prediction: Robert Whittaker)
Consensus: 5-1 Robert Whittaker
UFC Featherweight Title: Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway
Images: UFC/YouTube & UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: This fight is absolutely incredible and is absolutely a back and forth prediction in my mind. I’m really interested to see if Topuria uses his grappling, which is his strongest area. Holloway isn’t easy to takedown but it’s also been a good while since he fought a strong wrestler like “El Matador.” If I had seen him use it more frequently in the UFC, I think that would sway my pick.
I can see Topuria stopping him, and that’s a scary thought indeed. But I also felt that way about Holloway’s fight against Gaethje and he made that look easy at points. It’s a coin flip between the power of Topuria and the output of Holloway. Given the experience, I’ll take the latter, but I truly think these two are two of the very best in the sport today. (Prediction: Max Holloway)
Ryan Jarrell: There is no argument that Holloway has competed against the best of the best in his hall of fame career. I cannot wait to see what adjustments are made by both men in what we hope is a competitive firefight. Although “Blessed” is still only 32 years old, the fight mileage he has accumulated on his body tells me he is outside of his true prime. I still think Holloway can compete at the highest level, but reclaiming belt and becoming the champion is seems just outside of his reach, in my humble opinion.
I will be cheering for the Hawaiian to win and sit atop the featherweight mountain again, but I just don’t see it happening. I think Topuria is too technical and will use his speed and youth to his advantage to defend the title. (Prediction: Ilia Topuria)
Thomas Albano: Ever since knocking out Alexander Volkanovski earlier this year to capture the UFC featherweight championship, there have been questions about the future and star potential of Topuria. Right from the get-go of that moment: How soon can we get a UFC pay-per-view to Spain? Can Topuria become one of the greatest featherweight fighters that this sport has ever seen? But before we get anywhere on that, we need to see him defend the belt first. And with Volkanovski still making his way back after consecutive knockout losses, it’s time for Topuria to face off with another featherweight great and former champion in Max “Blessed” Holloway.
From 2017 through 2019, Holloway reigned over this division. And even in the times when he has not held the championship, Holloway has shown that no one other than Volkanovski has been kryptonite for him at 145 pounds. Then, when it looked like he was in a bit of limbo, not only did “Alexander the Great” lose the strap to Topuria, but Holloway went and had one of the greatest knockouts in UFC history with his last-second KO of Justin Gaethje. I will not take away anything that Topuria has done in the Octagon in the lead up to his championship win – and people love him. Having said that, the resume and accomplishments of Holloway are too hard to ignore. And considering Topuria’s reaction to Holloway’s KO at UFC 300 – and the fact Volkanovski may not have been 100 percent when defending his title against Topuria at UFC 298 – this fight here with Holloway may be the toughest task Topuria has ever taken on in his MMA career.
Expect Topuria to rush things out and try and take control of the fight right away. But if Holloway’s boxing is as up to par as it is – one of the best boxing in the UFC – then Holloway could avoid Topuria’s attacks, and he could land some quick, hard power on the defending champ. And it’ll be a long night for Topuria, and his chances get slimmer the longer this fight goes, in my eyes. Call me still living in the past, but I’ll take the chance here and say: #AndNew. #AndOnceAgain “The Blessed Era.” (Prediction: Max Holloway)
Pranav Pandey: From my vantage point, this showdown between Topuria and Holloway feels like a rare gem in the fight game — one of those matchups you only witness once every so often. “El Matador” steps into the Octagon armed with an array of skills, from his sharp, almost surgical boxing to footwork that dances circles around his opponents. His explosive power can change the course of a fight in an instant, and his grappling and wrestling pedigree make him a truly well-rounded mixed martial artist. On the other hand, you’ve got Holloway, a fighter who’s been trading punches with the crème de la crème of the UFC for years. “Blessed” may assert that he’s “the best boxer in the UFC,” and whether that’s up for debate or not, what’s undeniable is his striking prowess. Holloway is a high-level technician on the feet, with an iron chin that can weather the storm. The real question is, who will prevail when the dust settles?
Holloway’s legendary durability and elite takedown defense are well known, and he’s savvy enough to avoid a firefight with Topuria up close. However, I foresee the Georgian-Spaniard using his devastating power to hunt for a finish early on. There’s always a chance that if the fight drags into the later rounds, the Hawaiian could take over and dominate. But I’m convinced “El Matador” has done his homework — he’s more than ready to back up his words and deliver on fight night. (Prediction: Ilia Topuria)
Andrew Starc: Topuria proved he was the real deal by backing up his promise to knock out Volkanovski in their February title match. He’s now vowed to do the same against Holloway, a man who’s yet to be knocked out. “Blessed” is on a three-fight win streak since losing to Volkanovski for the third time in 2022, having knocked out his last two opponents. But I think Topuria is simply going to be too fast and powerful for the Hawaiian. (Prediction: Ilia Topuria)
Aakrit Sharma: The UFC 308 main event could easily be one of the year’s best fights. Holloway’s high-volume striking against Topuria’s powerful hooks will be a treat and I don’t see either of them being finished. While the contender’s cardio has never been in question, “El Matador” looked dominant across five rounds against Josh Emmett.
Holloway has a chance to look better on the feet because of his pace, but Topuria can sway the judges with control time. I expect the UFC featherweight champion to rely considerably on his grappling as Holloway has the striking prowess to pick him apart on the feet as the fight progresses. As hard as it is to predict this fight, I’m favoring Topuria to win by decision. (Prediction: Ilia Topuria)
Consensus: 4-2 Ilia Topuria
That’ll do it for our UFC 308 staff picks! What do you think? Do your picks look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the full UFC 308 card below.
Main Card:
Featherweight Championship Main Event: Ilia Topuria (C) vs. Max Holloway
Middleweight Co-Main Event: Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Light Heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakić
Featherweight: Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige
Middleweight: Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan
Preliminary Card:
Light Heavyweight: Ibo Aslan vs. Raffael Cerqueira
Welterweight: Geoff Neal vs. Rafael dos Anjos
Lightweight: Mateusz Rębecki vs. Myktybek Orolbai
Middleweight: Abus Magomedov vs. Brunno Ferreira
Heavyweight: Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Chris Barnett
Bantamweight: Farid Basharat vs. Victor Hugo
Middleweight: Ismail Naurdiev vs. Bruno Silva
Welterweight: Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Carlos Leal
Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 308!
We’re deep into UFC 308 fight week, meaning it was recently time for the fighters set to be in action on October 26 to take to the stage and answer some questions.
Setting the stage for the UFC 308 headliners will be crucial five-round contest at 185 pounds, with former kingpin Robert Whittaker looking to blemish the thus-far perfect professional record of Khamzat Chimaev.
Also on pay-per-view will be top light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev, who will look to finally secure a shot at Alex Pereira by getting the better of Aleksandar Rakić. That’s in addition to rising featherweight Lerone Murphy, who returns following a main event win over Edson Barboza to do battle with Dan Ige.
The UFC 308 main card will open with Shara Magomedov making his third walk to the Octagon in quick succession. “Bullet” will look to continue his winning start to life in the UFC against a fellow kickboxing specialist in Armen Petrosyan.
As is customary during major fight weeks, the athletes took to the stage on Thursday for the pre-fight press conference.
Unlike that card, this occasion sees gold on the line. Championship stakes on Oct. 26 will come at featherweight, with reigning kingpin Ilia Topuria putting his belt on the line for the first time against legendary fan favorite Max Holloway.
Before “El Matador” looks to cement his grip on the 145-pound crown, former middleweight champ Robert Whittaker will look to bring himself back into a title matchup by blemishing the perfect record of Khamzat Chimaev.
Elsewhere on the main card, Magomed Ankalaev and Aleksandar Rakić collide for the likely right to challenge Alex Pereira, Dan Ige becomes the latest looking to take Lerone Murphy’s ‘O’, and Shara Magomedov keeps up his high level of activity inside the Octagon.
The event will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view on Saturday, October 26, 2024. The main card begins at 2 PM ET, while the preliminary card kicks off at 10 AM ET.
Ahead of it, a number of UFC 308 fighters appeared for the open workouts at the Yas Mall in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Check out a highlights package posted by the UFC on X below:
We came. We saw. We put on a show! 🤩#UFC308 open workouts are COMPLETE!
Under the spotlight in this edition is the headliner between Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway and the co-main event between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev.
Saturday’s lineup is topped by an intriguing championship clash, with featherweight kingpin Topuria (15-0) looking to add a first successful defense to his reign, which got underway with a memorable knockout victory over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 this past February.
If “El Matador” is to continue his rule atop the 145-pound mountain, he must record a victory over Holloway (26-7). “Blessed” will ride a three-fight win streak into his latest opportunity to regain the title, most recently getting the better of Justin Gaethje in brutal fashion up at lightweight to capture the symbolic BMF belt at UFC 300.
Before those two collide in the main event at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena, the stakes will be high for a crucial five-round middleweight clash.
Ahead of those two contests in the United Arab Emirates, fans can catch previews in the full episode of UFC 308 Countdown on the promotion’s YouTube channel.
When it comes to fighters that have been put through the ringer at the very highest level, it’s hard to find someone that is more experienced than Robert Whittaker. The former middleweight champion has been facing the very best at 185-pounds for the best part of seven years at this stage in his career.
With 22 Octagon appearances under his belt, there’s not much that you can throw at “The Reaper” which he won’t have encountered in the past. That being said, his next challenge is somewhat of an enigma.
The undefeated Khamzat Chimaev has gone from being talked about as a guaranteed future UFC champion to someone that might struggle against the top names in his division. His progress has been significantly halted by two major concerns, his reoccurring health issues and an inability to fight in the United States.
Despite the fact that he has beaten the likes of Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman, one of those wins came when he was fighting at welterweight and his contest with Usman was a close fight that saw the former 170-pound champion step in at middleweight on short notice.
We will truly find out how good Chimaev is when he faces Whittaker who has already proven his level against the majority of the top contenders to come through the division in the last seven years.
In an interview with TalkSPORT MMA ahead of their co-main event clash at UFC 308, Whittaker was asked whether Chimaev is his toughest fight to date after all of the top opposition that he has squared off with.
“No, like I’ve fought the best of the best. I think it’s the most pressing test because it’s unwritten and I think there’s a lot of gravity to this fight because it’s the unknown like as of right now but like, I’ve won a lot of hard fights and I’ve lost a lot of hard fights, I’ve been tested.”
Though Whittaker doesn’t believe that Chimaev is his most difficult opponent, he does think that this fight will require him to be at his best because he doesn’t fully know what to expect from his opponent.
“Right now, it’s obviously Chimaev right because it’s unknown, it’s ground that hasn’t been trodden yet. I respect the task at hand and I’m just looking forward to it.”
While the aftermath of the October 5 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the light heavyweight title picture to the 145-pound championship conversation.
At UFC 308, set for the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on October 26, reigning featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria will compete for the second time this year, this time in defense of gold. Following a knockout of Alexander Volkanovski to capture the crown, “El Matador” will next face the challenge of BMF titleholder Max Holloway.
Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, as former middleweight champ Robert Whittaker looks to continue his fine winning form in 2024. “The Reaper” is set for a second attempt at sharing the cage with Khamzat Chimaev following their canceled headliner in Saudi Arabia this past June.
Ankalaev, Murphy, Magomedov Set The Stage For Title Headliners At UFC 308
Before Topuria defends his belt and Whittaker looks to secure a shot at regaining champ status in the Middle East, a number of other high-profile names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major card.
That includes surging featherweight Lerone Murphy. Despite an impressive main event win over Edson Barboza earlier this year, “The Miracle” will be defending his #12 spot in the rankings against Dan Ige, who is returning for the first time since his same-day assignment opposite Diego Lopes this past June.
Prior to that, Pereira’s next challenger at light heavyweight could be decided as #2-ranked contender Magomed Ankalaev shares the cage with the highly regarded Aleksandar Rakić
Those pairings have gotten the nod to feature on the main card over the welterweight clash between ex-lightweight titleholder Rafael dos Anjos and Geoff Neal, which is currently slated to top the preliminary portion of the event.
See below for the full UFC 308 card, as it stands.
Main Card:
Featherweight Championship Main Event: Ilia Topuria (C) vs. Max Holloway
Middleweight Co-Main Event: Robert Whittaker vs. Max Holloway
Featherweight: Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige
Light Heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakić
Middleweight: Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan
Preliminary Card:
Welterweight: Geoff Neal vs. Rafael dos Anjos
Lightweight: Mateusz Rębecki vs. Myktybek Orolbai
Bantamweight: Said Nurmagomedov vs. Daniel Santos
Middleweight: Abus Magomedov vs. Brunno Ferreira
Heavyweight: Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Justin Tafa
Bantamweight: Farid Basharat vs. Victor Hugo
Welterweight: Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
Middleweight: Bruno Silva vs. Ismail Naurdiev
Light Heavyweight: Ibo Aslan vs. Raffael Cerqueira
