Tag: UFC 308

  • Tom Aspinall Explains How Stipe Miocic Can Beat Jon Jones At UFC 309

    Tom Aspinall Explains How Stipe Miocic Can Beat Jon Jones At UFC 309

    Tom Aspinall recently shared his insights on how Stipe Miocic could secure victory over Jon Jones in their highly anticipated title showdown.

    Jones is slated to put his undisputed heavyweight title on the line for his first defense against Miocic in the main event of UFC 309, scheduled for Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

    The clash between Jones and Miocic has ignited significant debate within the MMA community, with many asserting that interim heavyweight champion Aspinall — who also serves as the backup fighter — deserves the opportunity to compete in a title unification bout.

    Aspinall might not see his dream of facing the winner of the UFC 309 headliner come to fruition, as Jones has stated that his showdown with Miocic is likely to be the last bout of his MMA career.

    However, the Salford native has devised a strategy for how he would approach “Bones,” who is renowned for his grappling-heavy, pressure-fighting style in the Octagon.

    During a recent interview with Safest Casino Sites, Aspinall outlined the game plan he would adopt if he were in Miocic’s position facing off against Jones.

    “I’d be looking for the knockout against Jon Jones is what I’d be looking for with him,” Aspinall said. “I’d be trying to push him back and use his size. It’s not even like he can use the experience. They’re both as experienced as one another, but I’d just be using my size on him, trying to push him back and knock him out. I think that Stipe Miocic has got big knockout power in comparison to Jon Jones. So I think he can knock him out.”

    The Jones vs. Miocic matchup was initially set for UFC 295 in November 2023. However, “Bones” had to withdraw from the bout due to a torn pectoral muscle.

    Consequently, Aspinall stepped up to challenge Sergei Pavlovich for the interim heavyweight title and has since defended that championship with a stunning knockout victory over Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in July.

  • Armen Petrosyan Doesn’t Consider Shara Magomedov’s ‘Lucky Punch’ At UFC 308 A Loss

    Armen Petrosyan Doesn’t Consider Shara Magomedov’s ‘Lucky Punch’ At UFC 308 A Loss

    UFC middleweight Armen Petrosyan believes Shara Magomedov was saved by an early stoppage in their clash this past weekend.

    Petrosyan was on the wrong end of one of the top highlights to come from Saturday’s UFC 308 pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi, where he opened the main card opposite a fellow striking specialist in Magomedov.

    The Armenian was looking to stall the undefeated Dagestani’s rise, and he looked in a good place to do so through a competitive opening round. But in the second, “Superman” fell victim to an innovative spinning backfist.

    After being put down by the blow, Petrosyan quickly found the referee standing over him while “Bullet” vaulted the cage wall to celebrate.

    Though there hasn’t been much discourse surrounding the stoppage, Petrosyan firmly believes it to have been egregious, going as far as to state that Magomedov was “gifted” the win at Etihad Arena.

    “It was a lucky punch,” Petrosyan told Red Corner MMA. “I was conscious, I was still in control. I heard the coaches shouting that it was the end of the round with 30 seconds left, so I kept working. He caught me. I thought he would go for the finish but he apparently didn’t. So I looked up and saw the referee (waving the fight off). I didn’t understand what’s up. … I was speechless.

    “I don’t consider it a loss. He got gifted a W. The win was simply gifted to him, that’s all. … I’ve gotten a billion messages by now (saying the same),” Petrosyan continued. “Shara can say whatever he wants now. … I saw in his eyes that he was lost. He couldn’t complete any of his actions. … He couldn’t do anything. I eliminated all of his moves. … Of course I would like to get an immediate rematch.”

    It appears unlikely that Petrosyan will get his wish for a rematch, with Magomedov’s entry into the middleweight rankings this week seemingly paving the way for a more high-profile matchup for “Bullet” next time out.

    If Magomedov gets his wish, that’ll be against former two-time champion Israel Adesanya. But having not received a positive response to that ambitious callout, the Dagestani may have to settle for “The Last Stylebender’s” friend, Michael “Venom” Page, instead.

  • Aleksandar Rakić On UFC 308 Loss To Ankalaev: ‘The Decision Could Go Either Way’

    Aleksandar Rakić On UFC 308 Loss To Ankalaev: ‘The Decision Could Go Either Way’

    UFC light heavyweight contender Aleksandar Rakić evidently believes he was unlucky not to leave the United Arab Emirates with a win added to his record this past weekend.

    Rakić slumped to 0-2 in 2024 at Saturday’s UFC 308 pay-per-view. He met the division’s top-ranked contender, Magomed Ankalaev, on the main card inside Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena.

    The bout went the distance, with the Dagestani securing three 29-28 scorecards to extend his unbeaten run to 13 straight fights and once again stake his claim for a long-desired shot at Alex Pereira.

    In terms of the result, most appeared to share the same view as the judges. On MMA Decisions, all 14 media members who submitted scorecards had Ankalaev winning, with half giving him all three rounds. Just over 85 percent of fan scorecards, meanwhile, also went the way of the Russian.

    The defeated Rakić, however, seemingly saw it as a fifty-fifty fight…

    “I‘m proud of the support my country my dear people !! Last night I had a competitive fight against the No.1 ranked guy in the world I am proud of my achievement; the decision could go either way,” Rakić wrote on Instagram. “Thanks to my family, friends & team !!!
    I‘ll rest couple days and get back to work 🚀 | #UFC308 🇦🇪”

    The contest marked Rakić’s second since recovering from the torn ACL he suffered in an Apex main event opposite Jan Błachowicz back in May 2022. He made his return this past April at UFC 300, where his strong start against Jiří Procházka was rendered null when he faded and was finished in round two.

    Having fallen short against two names above him in the pecking order this year to send him on a three-fight losing skid, “Rocket” will likely be tasked with defending his #5 spot on the ladder next time out.

  • Shara Magomedov Adds 3 Names To Hit List After Israel Adesanya Callout At UFC 308

    Shara Magomedov Adds 3 Names To Hit List After Israel Adesanya Callout At UFC 308

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya isn’t the only prominent name Shara Magomedov has his eye on following this past weekend’s event.

    Magomedov made a splash in his latest Octagon outing on Saturday in Abu Dhabi. In his third fight since June, the Dagestani was tasked with opening the UFC 308 pay-per-view main card opposite a fellow striking specialist in Armen Petrosyan.

    Both men had their moments through a round and a half, but it was “Bullet” who closed the show in memorable fashion before the second horn. He connected with an innovative spinning backfist to send his Armenian counterpart to the canvas.

    While the heights he can rise to on MMA’s biggest stage remain unclear given his perceived grappling deficiencies, Magomedov has broken into the rankings this week and appears to be an entertaining addition to the middleweight top 15.

    During his post-fight press conference at UFC 308, Magomedov called his shot for an opportunity to climb further up the ladder, reiterating his desire to meet Adesanya next time out.

    Whether or not that ambitious request comes to fruition in 2025 remains to be seen. But should the promotion have other plans for “The Last Stylebender,” Magomedov isn’t short on alternative callouts.

    “I’m in no rush. I’m not running in front of the train. The only way for Israel Adesanya to avoid the fight with me is to retire,” Magomedov said. “Of course I would like to fight Israel to prove that I’m the best striker in the division. But also, I would like to fight Marvin Vettori to prove that my wrestling is good. Those two names really excite me.

    “Besides them, guys like Kevin Holland, Michel Pereira,” Magomedov continued. “Our middleweight division is full of predators and sharks, but I’m the only pirate.”

    Vettori, a former title challenger, hasn’t competed since a decision defeat to Jared Cannonier in a June 2023 main event. He’s gone 2-2 across his last four, leaving him at #7 in the rankings.

    Holland and Pereira, meanwhile, are coming off more recent setbacks, with “Trailblazer” injuring his rib against Roman Dolidze in Salt Lake City earlier this month and “Demolidor” suffering a convincing headline loss to Anthony Hernandez at the Apex on Oct. 19.

    Be it against one of those names or a different middleweight entirely, all eyes will no doubt be on Magomedov’s next walk to the cage given the performance he put in at the Etihad Arena this past weekend.

  • Aljamain Sterling: I Have The Style To ‘Neutralize’ Ilia Topuria’s Offense

    Aljamain Sterling: I Have The Style To ‘Neutralize’ Ilia Topuria’s Offense

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling is confident he could hand featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria his first defeat in mixed martial arts.

    Topuria continued to pave a violent path toward greatness on MMA’s biggest stage this past weekend when he headlined the UFC 308 pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi alongside fan favorite Max Holloway.

    Eight months on from his crowning at the expense of Alexander Volkanovski, “El Matador” added a successful defense to his résumé by becoming the first to knock the previously indestructible Holloway out.

    Having gotten past two of the division’s best this year, many are wondering who at 145 pounds could unseat the Spaniard. During a recent podcast episode uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sterling put his name in the hat.

    ‘Funk Master,” who won his featherweight debut against Calvin Kattar at UFC 300 this past April, explained how his style could pose problems for Topuria that both Volkanovski and Holloway’s did not.

    “I ain’t standing with that guy. I would never stand and trade with that guy! I saw comments from the reaction, ‘You should change weight classes.’ I thought that was so funny… I made a joke, ‘I want to go back to 135,’” Sterling joked. “I’ll point to the ground but I’ll do my running man dance instead.

    “If I were to fight him, god willing, I beat Movsar and I do get the crack, I do think I have a great style to neutralize his offense,” Sterling continued. “Most of these guys are striking with him. I ain’t doing that, bro! I ain’t doing that. We’re sitting there looking for a takedown. I have to make it a grappling match. I’m trying to the the W, I’m not trying to get my brain and my head sent to the next dimension again. I’m cool on that.”

    When fans reacted to those remarks on social media by taking aim at his striking, Sterling hit back and defended his boxing.

    Before looking ahead to a potential chance to prove that against the champ down the line, Sterling must first blemish a different undefeated record.

    After their clash fell off the UFC 307 card earlier this month, the #9-ranked Sterling is set to share the cage with top-five contender Movsar Evloev at the UFC 310 PPV in Las Vegas on Dec. 7.

    Should “Funk Master” remain unbeaten at featherweight, perhaps a shot at Topuria’s gold and two-division glory will await him in 2025.

  • UFC Rankings Report: Charles Oliveira Off P4P List, Shara Magomedov Gets MW Number After UFC 308 Knockout

    UFC Rankings Report: Charles Oliveira Off P4P List, Shara Magomedov Gets MW Number After UFC 308 Knockout

    As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away.

    And in the aftermath of UFC 308, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: For the first time since his May 2021 title crowning, Charles Oliveira is off the P4P list. The Brazilian lightweight has exited the top 15 to make way for ex-middleweight kingpin Israel Adesanya’s return (#15). Further up, meanwhile, Max Holloway has fallen one place below Alexandre Pantoja (#11) to #12 after his defeat to Ilia Topuria at UFC 308.

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: No changes.

    Women’s Strawweight: No changes.

    Women’s Flyweight: No changes.

    Women’s Bantamweight: No changes.

    Flyweight: No changes.

    Bantamweight: No changes.

    Featherweight: Lerone Murphy has received a small UFC rankings boost following his win over Dan Ige in Abu Dhabi. He’s risen by one place to #11 at 145 pounds, jumping Giga Chikadze (#12) in the process.

    Lightweight: Renato Moicano made his frustrations with the rankings known in the aftermath of his dominant win over Benoît Saint Denis last month. It’s taken a while, but the Brazilian has finally been pushed into the top 10. He’s now sharing the #10 spot with Rafael Fiziev.

    Welterweight: No changes.

    Middleweight: The biggest mover this week was unsurprisingly the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev, who achieved his biggest win to date by brutally submitting Robert Whittaker with a face crank at UFC 308. Days on, “Borz” has climbed a mammoth 10 places to #3. The defeated “Reaper” is now ranked #4.

    Further down, Shara Magomedov’s double spinning backfist knockout of Armen Petrosyan to open Saturday’s PPV card has earned him a number next to his name. The Dagestani has entered the UFC rankings at #14, one place above Michel Pereira. His entry has been facilitated by the removal of Chris Curtis.

    Light Heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev couldn’t rise as a result of his victory over Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308, but he does now have less company. The Russian no longer shares the #1 spot, with former champ Jiří Procházka slipping back to #2.

    Heavyweight: No changes.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • Sean O’Malley On Ilia Topuria After UFC 308: ‘Like A Little F**king Alex Pereira’

    Sean O’Malley On Ilia Topuria After UFC 308: ‘Like A Little F**king Alex Pereira’

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley watched on this past weekend as Ilia Topuria, a man whom he’s discussed fighting down the line, continued his violent undefeated run.

    Topuria returned to headline Saturday’s UFC 308 pay-per-view eight months on from his featherweight title crowning in Anaheim. After getting the better of one divisional legend in Alexander Volkanovski, “El Matador” repeated the feat in Abu Dhabi.

    This time, it was fan favorite Max Holloway on the receiving end of a violent ending. “Blessed,” who holds the symbolic BMF title, was knocked out for the first time in his career after being caught with a vicious left hook in round three.

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, O’Malley reacted to the main event at Etihad Arena, which saw Topuria further enhance his legacy on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    “God, Ilia’s a f*cking finisher, huh? He’ll jump on you,” O’Malley said. “Ilia’s so dangerous until the last bell. … Ilia landed a beautiful left hook. … This is exciting times. Great time to be alive. great time to be a UFC fan.

    “Ilia just hurt Max bad…Ilia lands a bomb. Max is still stunned. Oh! Left hook! Ilia finishes Max Holloway with a left hook in round three. Holy sh*t, Ilia is that guy,” O’Malley continued. “Who at 145 wants to fight Ilia right now? Ilia’s just so dangerous the whole fight. He’s a like a little f*cking Alex Pereira. You can’t tell me Islam (Makhachev) vs. f*cking Ilia isn’t a fight you’d want to see.”

    Talk of a super fight involving Topuria previously centered around O’Malley looking to move up to 145 pounds to challenge “El Matador.” But while that might have been on the menu should he have turned away Merab Dvalishvili’s challenge, O’Malley was unseated from the bantamweight throne inside the Sphere last month.

    With that, it appears Topuria is entertaining thoughts of a champ-champ pursuit himself, having gone back and forth with lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev in recent times.

    For now, though, the Spaniard will seemingly need to further cement his grip on the crown at 145 pounds by adding a second win over Volkanovski to his UFC résumé.

  • UFC Champion Gets Inspired By Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 308 Win: ‘I Need To Learn More…’     

    UFC Champion Gets Inspired By Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 308 Win: ‘I Need To Learn More…’     

    Khamzat Chimaev’s grappling has always been one of the most feared wrestling skillsets that we have seen inside the Octagon but he took it to whole new levels at UFC 308. In his biggest test to date, the undefeated contender submitted Robert Whittaker in the first round.

    Not only did “Borz” give his opponent little chance to defend the takedown by shooting right at him early on in the fight, he did significant and gruesome damage to the jaw of the former champion in just a few seconds of pressure.

    Fight fans have known for a long time now that any opponent of Chimaev’s was going to have to weather a rough storm early on because of his aggressive grappling threat. After Kamaru Usman was able to do that and make the fight competitive at UFC 294 last year, there were some doubts hanging over Chimaev’s potential.

    He was back to his best in Abu Dhabi and his grappling looked so dominant that it inspired a current UFC champion to keep working harder and learning more. Interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall gave his thoughts on the fights in a video on his YouTube channel.

    Having given his live reactions via a watch-along, Aspinall was massively impressed by Chimaev’s performance and as someone that tries to take lessons from other fighters, the Brit was certainly able to gain something from this display.

    “What he does for me as a fighter myself, me as an already established champion, I look at him and I feel like I need to learn more with the grappling. I need to learn more with the attacks. I need to learn more with how to control someone and not let him move and play the game like he does.”

    Aspinall was left stunned by what Chimaev did against an opponent like “The Reaper” who he believed would be able to overcome the early adversity and get his hand raised.

    “That was an unbelievable performance and I think, to top it all off, he did it to Robert Whittaker. He went out there and schooled Robert Whittaker which is unbelievable.”

  • Daniel Cormier Reacts To Rinat Fakhretdinov’s UFC 308 Commentary Criticism: ‘I Don’t Care, That Dude Lost’

    Daniel Cormier Reacts To Rinat Fakhretdinov’s UFC 308 Commentary Criticism: ‘I Don’t Care, That Dude Lost’

    UFC 308 featured one of the most controversial decision outcomes in some time as Rinat Fakhretdinov beat Carlos Leal via unanimous decision. Had this fight not opened up the card in Abu Dhabi, there would likely be more discussion around it right now.

    The decisions throughout the remainder of the night appeared to follow the consensus opinion but the opener certainly raised alarm bells that we might be in for a bumpy ride.

    All three judges had different scorecards with one of them, Hade Mohamed Ali, scoring all three rounds for Fakhretdinov which seemed incredibly unlikely when the final bell sounded. Leal, who stepped in on late notice, put up a very good fight and looked like he may have secured a big upset on his UFC debut.

    When the scorecards were announced, there was a surprised reaction from fans online and from the UFC staff inside the Etihad Arena on Saturday night. The decision was heavily criticised by the commentary booth of Jon Anik, Paul Felder and Daniel Cormier who discussed the scoring when the cards were shown on the broadcast.

    Fakhretdinov responded to this in his post-fight press conference, labelling them as “really bad commentators” who would give across the impression of biased judging.

    In his immediate reactions video posted on his YouTube channel once the main event came to a close, Cormier responded to Fakhretdinov’s comments. “DC” doubled down on Leal winning the fight when he gave shout-outs to the winners of each fight on the prelims.

    “Congratulations to… and Rinat Fakhretdinov, who did not win that fight. Rinat Fakhretdinov, I don’t care if he goes on any press conference and complains about our commentary, that dude lost! But still, congratulations, even though I think it was one of the worst decisions I’ve seen in a really long time.”

  • Rafael dos Anjos Speaks On UFC 308 Injury: ‘Not How I Wanted To Spend My 40th Birthday…’

    Rafael dos Anjos Speaks On UFC 308 Injury: ‘Not How I Wanted To Spend My 40th Birthday…’

    The welterweight return and 40th birthday of UFC veteran Rafael Dos Anjos did no go to plan at UFC 308 this past Saturday night. His bout with the #10-ranked Geoff Neal came to an end in just 90 seconds after “RDA” suffered a knee injury that he couldn’t continue from.

    Neal started the fight incredibly well and was able to drop Dos Anjos early on in the fight. Unfortunately, the second time that the former lightweight champion went down, it was the end of the fight due to an injury which isn’t how anyone would’ve wanted the fight to go.

    Despite this, Dos Anjos appears to be in good spirits as evident from his first social media post after the injury. Following consecutive losses to Vicente Luque and Mateusz Gamrot, the Brazilian was hoping to kick off another run at 170-pounds in this fight.

    He’ll now be resting up before returning to the drawing board but given everything that he has been through in his career, the 49-fight warrior promises to be back once again.

    He posted on Instagram to thank people for their support and tell them that he’s doing okay and is focused on making a return once he’s healthy again.

    “Thank you all fight fans for the support, sorry I let you guys down. Definitely it was not how I want to celebrate my 40th birthday, it was a tough loss. During my whole UFC career it’s my second time been hospitalized after a fight, it make me feel blessed, it could been worse, it’s a tough game. Time to heal up, enjoy the family. I’m not done yet, I’ll be back soon. God bless you all. I’ll keep you guys updated on my stories.”

  • VIDEO: Israel Adesanya’s Live Reaction To Chimaev Dominantly Submitting Whittaker At UFC 308

    VIDEO: Israel Adesanya’s Live Reaction To Chimaev Dominantly Submitting Whittaker At UFC 308

    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.

    The Australian’s decision to do so was explained soon after when an image showed that the pressure from Chimaev’s hold had caved his front teeth in.

    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.

  • MMA Analyst Says Khamzat Chimaev Doesn’t Deserve A Middleweight Title Shot After Whittaker Win

    MMA Analyst Says Khamzat Chimaev Doesn’t Deserve A Middleweight Title Shot After Whittaker Win

    For a lot of people, Khamzat Chimaev reminded them why he was once the talk of the MMA world with his performance this past weekend at UFC 308. The undefeated contender was able to submit Robert Whittaker in the first round in Abu Dhabi.

    Not only has the former middleweight champion only lost to the absolute best at 185-pounds, no one has been able to tear right through him like that. After Chimaev secured an early takedown, he maintained control of the fight until applying a submission that instantly forced his opponent to tap after the damage that was done to his jaw.

    The question then became whether this was enough for him to leapfrog over Sean Strickland and be the next man to challenge Dricus Du Plessis for the title. Strickland has been very clear that he’s the next in line after his split decision loss to Du Plessis in January and bounce back win over Paulo Costa.

    Though most appear to be leaning towards Chimaev after that incredibly impressive performance, Josh Thomson doesn’t think that “Borz” deserves the next shot.

    The former UFC fighter said during a recent episode of the Weighing In podcast that in his opinion, Chimaev hasn’t beaten enough legitimate middleweights to justify this. His last win over Kamaru Usman did take place at middleweight despite Usman moving up to the weight class on short notice.

    Chimaev’s only other middleweight wins are over John Phillips on his UFC debut and Gerald Meerschaert who he stopped in under 20 seconds.

    “He’s literally beat a bunch of 70 pounders but was supposed to be fighting at 85 and now, he’s not getting a title shot at 170, he’s getting a title shot at 185, it doesn’t make sense to me. Like I’m not saying that he’s not skilled and I’m also saying that in that fight with Gilbert Burns, he was exhausted and he was also exhausted in the Kamaru Usman fight, who is a 170 pounder. So look, I’m not taking away what he did today because what he did today spoke for itself, absolutely fantastic performance but we’ve seen this before where he’s dominated round one like this.”

  • Islam Makhachev’s Coach Breaks Down Potential Ilia Topuria Superfight After UFC 308

    Islam Makhachev’s Coach Breaks Down Potential Ilia Topuria Superfight After UFC 308

    Following Ilia Topuria’s successful title defense this past weekend, the coach of UFC lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev has assessed the possibility of a champ vs. champ collision down the line.

    Topuria cemented his grip on the featherweight gold in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 308 pay-per-view, which he headlined opposite fan favorite Max Holloway eight months on from his crowning at the expense of Alexander Volkanovski in Anaheim.

    Like against the Australian, “El Matador” sent “Blessed” to the canvas in brutal fashion, becoming the first to knock the Hawaiian out in the process.

    At just 27 years old, Topuria has already established himself as one of the featherweight division’s all-time greats. And at such a young age, the Georgian-Spaniard has plenty of time to achieve his other ambitions on MMA’s biggest stage.

    That unsurprisingly includes two-division glory, and having already recorded a vicious KO up at 155 pounds back in 2022, Topuria is confident in his chances of adding the UFC lightweight belt to his trophy collection.

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Javier Mendez — coach of current lightweight titleholder Makhachev — reacted to Topuria’s triumph in Abu Dhabi.

    The AKA trainer threw praise on the featherweight champ, notably branding his boxing the best in mixed martial arts. With that in mind, he wouldn’t be looking to have Makhachev throw down with the Spaniard in a potential super fight down the line.

    “I mean, when he took Max down with ease in the first round, I said, ‘That’s the way you fight MMA.’ And he has a very strong stand-up game,” Mendez said. “I would think that he’s probably the best boxer in the whole entire division. He’s really crisp and very on point with his boxing, and therefore you see how he uses it really, really well. His boxing, I think, is his best attribute out of everything he does. He’s impressive, very impressive. … I’ve been saying he’s a good boxer. But last night proved to me that he’s the best boxer presently in the UFC. Actually, in the entire world. He’s the best boxer in MMA.

    “That would be an area I’d be foolish to want to try to go up against, boxing for boxing. That’s not a smart move, you know? And it just would be like, if Ilia decided to go submission for submission with Islam, that’s not a smart move on his part either,” Mendez continued. “So, it’s all strategy, and how you approach it, how your fighter approaches it, and, you know, what mistakes you can correct while the fight is going on. That’s what I think is more important than anything. When the fight does get matched, it’s just your gameplan, your strategy, executing it, you know?”

    And if Topuria was to attempt to beat Makhachev at his own game, Mendez warned that he’d be taking on a challenge only achieved by the great Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    “The only person that really did the most with him was Khabib. And at the end of the day, the longer you grapple with Islam, the worse it’s going to get,” Mendez concluded.

    The lightweight champ didn’t have much to say in the aftermath of the UFC 308 main event and didn’t address a potential clash with his featherweight counterpart down the line. Instead, Makhachev offered his congratulations to Topuria and some comforting words for the defeated Holloway.

    The Dagestani’s focus, then, is no doubt entirely on the challenge seemingly awaiting him in January 2025, as he prepares to run it back with Arman Tsarukyan.

  • Jamahal Hill Roasts ‘Boring’ Ankalaev vs. Rakić At UFC 308: ‘Against Alex & I…’

    Jamahal Hill Roasts ‘Boring’ Ankalaev vs. Rakić At UFC 308: ‘Against Alex & I…’

    Consider former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill among those unimpressed by Magomed Ankalaev’s latest victory.

    After controversially being snubbed of the chance to challenge reigning champion Alex Pereira in Utah earlier this month, Ankalaev returned nine months on from his main event win over Johnny Walker to meet the highly regarded Aleksandar Rakić.

    The pair shared the Octagon on the main card of this past weekend’s UFC 308 pay-per-view, with the Russian getting the nod on the scorecards to extend his undefeated streak to 13 straight fights in Abu Dhabi.

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Hill reacted to the events that unfolded inside the Etihad Arena on Saturday night, unsurprisingly paying close attention to the crucial contest that played out in his division.

    The former champ had criticisms for both contenders, noting a “lack of weapons” on the part of Ankalaev and poor “fight IQ” from Rakić across the three-round contest in the Middle East.

    “Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakić, holy sh*t, what a pretty boring fight,” Hill said. “Pretty boring, fellas. I’m going to be real. I’m always going to be real whenever it comes to talking about fights, and this fight was boring. It showed a lack of weapons — I’m not going to say on Rakić’s side, because Rakić kind of got into his bag a little bit and showed some of the weapons he has. It showed a lack of weapons on Magomed’s end.

    “I’ll get into that. it seems like we’re probably going to be on a collision course,” Hill continued. “Rakić showed a lack of fight IQ. Magomed is wholeheartedly a counter fighter. That’s what I mean by lack of tools. Lack of tools is being able to come forward and enter, things that actually get you forward. That’s not something that he’s good at doing, which, against Alex (Pereira) and I, is going to be a problem.”

    Those comments come as little surprise given Hill’s immediate reaction on social media, which marked a repeat of his cageside response to Pereira’s successful title defense in Salt Lake City earlier this month.

    But despite his less than positive assessment of the latest win on Ankalaev’s unbeaten run, Hill did admit that the Dagestani is deserving of a long-awaited second title shot in the UFC. And Dana White appeared to reluctantly share the same sentiment during his post-fight press conference.

    “Sweet Dreams,” meanwhile, will be looking ahead to his chance to return to winning ways in pursuit of a shot against the Pereira vs. Ankalaev victor.

  • Paddy Pimblett Reacts To Rival Ilia Topuria’s UFC 308 KO: ‘Still Think I’d Beat Him’

    Paddy Pimblett Reacts To Rival Ilia Topuria’s UFC 308 KO: ‘Still Think I’d Beat Him’

    UFC lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett believes he’d be able to hand featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria his first defeat in mixed martial arts.

    Topuria returned to action this past weekend, headlining the UFC 308 pay-per-view in defense of his 145-pound gold. Eight months on from knocking out Alexander Volkanovski, “El Matador” was tasked with getting past Max Holloway in Abu Dhabi.

    The Georgian-Spaniard did so emphatically, becoming the first to knock “Blessed” out to continue his ruie atop the featherweight mountain and stake a strong claim for Fighter of the Year in 2024.

    The champ’s rise has been a rapid one, coming just a couple of years on from his name becoming more familiar owing to a blossoming feud with Pimblett. After taking offense to the Liverpool native’s remarks online, the pair almost came to blows at a hotel during fight week for a UFC Fight Night in London.

    While that appeared to lay the foundation for a future fight, Topuria has since returned to the lower weight and created a firm gap between himself and Pimblett in regard to their standing in the UFC.

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Pimblett reacted live to Saturday’s Topuria-headlined PPV at Etihad Arena.

    Despite Topuria dispatching one of the featherweight division’s greatest in Holloway — who was coming off a dominant lightweight win over Justin Gaethje — “The Baddy” remains confident of his chances should he and Topuria meet at 155 pounds down the line.

    “Heavy…Hand sanitiser boy with the win? Heavy,” Pimblett said. “Well done, Ilia, give you your due lad, 16-0 hand sanitiser boy. I can’t wait for him to come back up to lightweight, I still think I’d beat him. I really do, I still think I’d beat him, lad. Whether he’s just beat Max Holloway or not, I still think I’d beat him. Kicking him on the feet or taking him down and submitting him, I genuinely think I’d beat him, but congrats Ilia Topuria, well done son, congratulations, lad.

    “Obviously, hand sanitiser boy knocked Holloway out. I didn’t see that coming but give him his due, good finish. Max was the better boxer, but Ilia is the better swinger, he ended up catching him with them shots on the button,” Pimblett continued. “So congrats, fella. Can’t wait for Volk (Volkanovski) to come back and beat you up, and I’m willing to, any time.”

    Given their interaction inside the cage at UFC 308 and Dana White’s subsequent remarks, it would appear that Topuria’s next step will be a rematch with Volkanovski in 2025.

    Eventually, though, “El Matador” has outlined his plans to challenge for two-division glory. Whether a lightweight move in pursuit of doing so would result in his and Pimblett’s paths crossing, however, remains to be seen.

  • Max Holloway Addresses His Future After Suffering First Knockout At UFC 308

    Max Holloway Addresses His Future After Suffering First Knockout At UFC 308

    Though he had a strong performance against Ilia Topuria, Max Holloway’s efforts were not enough. He was knocked out for the first time in his professional career as Ilia Topuria retained the featherweight championship in the main event of UFC 308.

    Holloway appeared to be performing well, getting into his groove late in the first round and trying to keep distance to land counterstrikes and combinations. But the former champ was caught in the third round, eating a flurry and being dropped by a right hand.

    “It is what it is, I felt good,” Holloway said during his UFC 308 post-fight press conference. “Showing off my hands, I was landing, I was being fast, I think I had him surprised in there. Like I said, I was doing good until I wasn’t.

    “Game of inches. He landed something that I found myself looking up from the ground.”

    Max Holloway Mulling Over Potential Full-Time Move To Lightweight After UFC 308 Setback

    Holloway originally became undisputed featherweight champion with a TKO of José Aldo at UFC 212. He retained the title against the Brazilian legend, Brian Ortega, and Frankie Edgar before losing to Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 245.

    Since then, Holloway has rematched Volkanovski for the title twice, losing both times. UFC 308 marked the third time “Blessed” has unsuccessfully attempted to win back the 145-pound UFC gold. However, those are his only losses at the weight class since becoming the champion.

    So what could be next for Holloway? He isn’t ruling out, and is even thinking hard about, a potential move up in weight class given the potential fights that could happen there. But the Hawaiian said he’s not looking to fight again until the middle of 2025, and so there is time to think things over in full.

    “We’ll sit down with the team, relax, there’s nothing needed to be rushing back right now,” Holloway said. “[I’ll] probably try to come back summer, big July card in Vegas, do something, see what happens. [Lightweight] looks really good right now.

    “I had a couple of times to reclaim [the featherweight title], new guys coming up, that would be fun, but I think ’55 looks more fun…”

    Holloway earned the title shot against Topuria through his famed knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 earlier this year, which gave him the BMF belt.

    “Blessed” fought at lightweight in the UFC just once prior to that, losing an interim title fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 236.

  • Robert Whittaker Issues First Statement On Brutal Submission Loss To Khamzat Chimaev

    Robert Whittaker Issues First Statement On Brutal Submission Loss To Khamzat Chimaev

    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.

    During the UFC 308 commentary team’s wrap-up at the end of the pay-per-view, Daniel Cormier displayed a graphic image of the hold’s aftermath, showing Whittaker’s front teeth damaged and sparking fears of a jaw fracture.

    Whittaker took to social media early on Oct. 27 to release a statement following the loss.

    Robert Whittaker Says His Jaw ‘Is Good’ Following UFC 308 Loss To Khamzat Chimaev

    https://twitter.com/acdmma_/status/1850479744732594223

    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.

  • PHOTO: Robert Whittaker Shows Gruesome Injury From Khamzat Chimaev Face Crank At UFC 308 (GRAPHIC)

    PHOTO: Robert Whittaker Shows Gruesome Injury From Khamzat Chimaev Face Crank At UFC 308 (GRAPHIC)

    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.

    https://twitter.com/jaypettry/status/1850283116423962941

    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.”

  • ‘Scariest 145er Of All Time’ – Fans, Fighters React As Ilia Topuria Becomes First To KO Max Holloway At UFC 308

    ‘Scariest 145er Of All Time’ – Fans, Fighters React As Ilia Topuria Becomes First To KO Max Holloway At UFC 308

    Ilia Topuria may have picked up more believers and fans with his successful title defense against Max Holloway in a wild fight that saw the champion become the first man in MMA history to knock out “Blessed.”

    After Holloway refused his offer to throw down in the center of the Octagon right away, Topuria managed to be patient and connected on several key combinations that busted up the former champ’s nose.

    “El Matador” also scored a pair of takedowns on Holloway in the first five minutes and landed a number of leg kicks. “Blessed,” however, brought out his usual volume and found his groove late in the round, forming a mousse around one of Topuria’s eyes — in addition to leg kicks of his own.

    The Spaniard continued to bring his power punching in the second round, looking to get inside, while Holloway looked to keep his distance and catch the reigning titleholder coming in.

    Topuria, however, brought things to an end in the third round with a cracking right hand that rocked Holloway. While the 32-year-old legend got away from the first flurry, he was dropped by a left hook in the second round before some ground-and-pounded finished the fight.

    Ilia Topuria Scores Third-Round KO Of Max Holloway To Cap Off UFC 308

    Topuria was 8-0 in the UFC and 15-0 in MMA entering tonight’s bout. This was his first fight as UFC featherweight champion after knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February.

    Holloway, meanwhile, became interim UFC featherweight champion at UFC 206 with a win over Anthony Pettis before defeating José Aldo at UFC 212 to become undisputed champion. He defended the title successfully against Aldo, Brian Ortega, and Frankie Edgar. “Blessed” lost the title at UFC 245 to Alexander Volkanovski, with the Australian being the only one at 145 pounds to defeat Holloway since his five-year unbeaten streak between 2014 and 2019.

    The Hawaiian had won his last three fights and five of his last six, including his last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 earlier this year to win the BMF title.

  • UFC 308 Results & Highlights: Ilia Topuria KOs Max Holloway

    UFC 308 Results & Highlights: Ilia Topuria KOs Max Holloway

    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
    • Catchweight (160lbs): Mateusz Rębecki def. Myktybek Orolbai via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
    • Middleweight: Abus Magomedov def. Brunno Ferreira via submission (arm-triangle choke): R3, 3:14
    • Heavyweight: Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Chris Barnett via TKO (punches): R1, 4:27
    • Featherweight: Farid Basharat def. Victor Hugo via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Middleweight: Ismail Naurdiev def. Bruno Silva via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Welterweight: Rinat Fakhretdinov def. Carlos Leal via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

    Main Card Highlights

    Sharabutdin Magomedov def. Armen Petrosyan

    Sharabutdin Magomedov continued his rise through the UFC middleweight ranks with a KO of Armen Petrosyan in the second round.

    Lerone Murphy def. Dan Ige

    In this featherweight bout, Lerone Murphy got it done on the scorecards against Dan Ige.

    Magomed Ankalaev def. Aleksandar Rakić

    Magomed Ankalaev earned a unanimous decision win against Aleksandar Rakić in their light heavyweight bout.

    Khamzat Chimaev def. Robert Whittaker

    In the co-main event, Khamzat Chimaev got it done in the first round with a submission of Robert Whittaker.

    Preliminary Card Highlights  

    Rinat Fakhretdinov Def. Carlos Leal

    Kennedy Nzechukwu Def. Chris Barnett

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1850205142257152384

    Abus Magomedov Def. Brunno Ferreira

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1850213432378712424

    Mateusz Rębecki Def. Myktybek Orolbai

    Geoff Neal Def. Rafael dos Anjos

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1850225049556451709

    Ibo Aslan Def. Raffael Cerqueira

    Ilia Topuria def. Max Holloway

    In the main event, Ilia Topuria retained his featherweight belt with a KO of Max Holloway in round three.

  • ‘Du Plessis Losing That Belt’ – Fans React As Khamzat Chimaev Crushes Robert Whittaker In 1 Round At UFC 308

    ‘Du Plessis Losing That Belt’ – Fans React As Khamzat Chimaev Crushes Robert Whittaker In 1 Round At UFC 308

    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.

    https://twitter.com/sgtt101/status/1850270032431083825
    https://twitter.com/Yasinator5000M/status/1850269858560352589
  • ‘Ain’t Beating Pereira’ – Fans React As Magomed Ankalaev Outpoints Aleksandar Rakić At UFC 308

    ‘Ain’t Beating Pereira’ – Fans React As Magomed Ankalaev Outpoints Aleksandar Rakić At UFC 308

    Is Magomed Ankalaev next in line to face Alex Pereira for the light heavyweight title? That’s what the question is following his victory over Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308.

    The first round saw plenty of leg kick trading, with Rakić using his attacks to pile on damage to Ankalaev’s lower body. The Russian, however, slowly found success with the left hand, and that extended into the second round. In another close round, Ankalaev’s left hand proved to be a powerful weapon, with “Rocket” seemingly troubled by its attack toward his body.

    Ankalaev continued to find success, while Rakić sought for a takedown in the third round and hoped to play things safe — after his corner controversially told him he was up two rounds.

    The Austrian’s team may have been shocked (unlike plenty of others) then to find out the judges all gave 29-28 nods to Ankalaev.

    Magomed Ankalev Gets Decision Win At UFC 308, Tells Alex Pereira To ‘Stop Running’

    https://twitter.com/ElonovMMA/status/1850263439480111541
    https://twitter.com/ElonovMMA/status/1850262537285390678

    The top contender is unbeaten since dropping his UFC debut in 2018. He came into this fight off a brutal knockout of Johnny Walker in January.

    Rakić, meanwhile, has now lost three straight, which also includes a TKO loss to former champion Jiří Procházka at UFC 300.

  • ‘Future Champion’ – Fans React As Lerone Murphy Recovers From Early Knockdown To Beat Dan Ige At UFC 308

    ‘Future Champion’ – Fans React As Lerone Murphy Recovers From Early Knockdown To Beat Dan Ige At UFC 308

    Lerone Murphy earned his seventh consecutive win inside the Octagon at UFC 308 by defeating Dan Ige via unanimous decision.

    The Manchester fighter had to weather some heavy adversity in the opening round after he was dropped, with Ige pouring on the pressure to put him away.

    Murphy survived and was able to turn the fight on it’s head by producing a much better second round, striking off the back foot and outworking his opponent.

    Despite some grappling success from Ige in the third, it was the effective strikes that just about saw him take the final frame in order to earn the victory.

    It was another great display of resilience from the unbeaten fighter, who builds on his headline victory over Edson Barboza by adding another ranked opponent to his current streak.

    In his post-fight interview, Murphy called to face the #8-ranked Josh Emmett in what would be another great test for the rising contender.

    Fans reacted to his performance in a close fight via social media.

  • ‘Coolest F**king Dagestani’ – Fans React As Shara Magomedov Lands Crazy Double Spinning Backfist KO At UFC 308

    ‘Coolest F**king Dagestani’ – Fans React As Shara Magomedov Lands Crazy Double Spinning Backfist KO At UFC 308

    In what may have been a historic finish, Shara Magomedov landed a double spinning backfist en route to scoring a finish of Armen Petrosyan to kick off the main card for UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi.

    Magomedov actually found himself in trouble early on, as Petrosyan landed a number of rocking blows that hurt the Dagestani in the opening round. “Bullet,” however, managed to battle back and land several low kicks as he took control of the fight.

    In the closing seconds of the second round, Magomedov managed to land a short spinning backfist before spinning right back around and landing another with the opposite hand, dropping Petrosyan to the mat for a walk-off TKO.

    Shara Magomedov Pulls Off Highlight Double Spinning Backfist Finish At UFC 308

    https://twitter.com/MMAPauli/status/1850244615053381935

    Magomedov is now 4-0 in the UFC and is unbeaten in MMA at 15-0. The Russian already defeated Antonio Trócoli and Michał Oleksiejczuk this past summer.

    Petrosyan, meanwhile, has now lost two straight fights and three of his last five.

  • ‘GIVE THEM 100K EACH’ – Fans React To Rębecki & Orolbai’s Bloody Brawl At UFC 308

    ‘GIVE THEM 100K EACH’ – Fans React To Rębecki & Orolbai’s Bloody Brawl At UFC 308

    The undoubted highlight of the UFC 308 prelims came from the incredible catchweight war between Mateusz Rębecki and Myktybek Orolbai.

    In the end, Rębecki secured the win via split decision after taking the first and third rounds on two of the scorecards, but this wasn’t the biggest story of the fight.

    The real talking point here was the incredible toughness displayed by both men, especially Orolbai. Both men looked like zombies by the end of this one.

    Following the first round, the fight looked like it could have been stopped due to Orolbai’s eye appearing to be nearly totally swollen shut, but it continued into the second.

    Rębecki came close to ending it in the third round, but somehow his opponent stayed in the fight and came back into it despite the commentators saying that it could have been stopped.

    UFC 308 may have it’s fight of the night already because if something is going to beat that to the bonus, we’re in for a historic fight at some stages.

    Fans reacted on social media to an instant classic war between the two warriors.

    https://twitter.com/mad_scientistt_/status/1850223400729399330