Winners And Losers From Topuria Vs. Holloway Card

The UFC is at Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi for tonight’s UFC 308 pay-per-view combat card. UFC 308 encompasses a title fights on the high of the cardboard. In the principle occasion, UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria faces former UFC 145-pound champion Max Holloway. In the meantime within the co-main occasion, ex-UFC middleweight titleholder Robert Whittaker meets Khamzat Chimaev in what may very well be a 185-pound title eliminator. One other attainable title eliminator can also be on the PPV portion of the combat card as Magomed Ankalaev matches up with Aleksandar Rakic at gentle heavyweight.

The primary card for UFC 308 streams on ESPN+ PPV at 2:00 p.m. ET following prelims ESPN+ at 10:00 a.m. ET.

Topuria(15-0), a former Cage Warriors champion, joined the UFC in 2020 with a 9-0 file. He was ranked No. 14 at 145 kilos after three bouts with the promotion at featherweight and one contest within the light-weight division. Topuria received three of these contests by knockout.

In his first combat as a ranked featherweight, Topuria submitted Bryce Mitchell within the second spherical. He moved to No. 9 within the rankings after that victory.

A matchup with No. 5 ranked Josh Emmett adopted. Topuria received that scrap by determination. Topuria then confronted Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC featherweight title at UFC 298. Topuria entered that bout because the No. 3 ranked 145-pounder. He left the occasion because the UFC champion after knocking out Volkanovski within the second stanza.

Holloway (26-7) has been with the UFC since 2012. If there’s a stat that the UFC tracks, chances are high Holloway is among the many leaders. He holds the UFC featherweight file for wins (20), finishes (11), knockouts (9), win streak (13 straight), combat night time bonuses (10), whole combat time (6:47:23), important strikes landed (2,892), and whole strikes landed (3,096).

Holloway’s run as UFC featherweight champ started in June 2017 when he knocked out Jose Aldo. Holloway entered that contest because the interim champ, a title he received by knocking out Anthony Pettis in December 2016. He defended his title towards Aldo (TKO), Brian Ortega (TKO), and Frankie Edgar (determination). He additionally tried to win the interim UFC light-weight belt throughout that run, however he fell quick, dropping a choice to Dustin Poirier.

Holloway’s championship run led to December 2019 when Alexander Volkanovski beat him by determination. Volkanovski retained the title in a rematch.

Wins over Calvin Kattar and Yair Rodriguez earned Holloway one other shot at Volkanovski and his title in July 2022, however the champ retained his belt with a choice victory.

Since that loss, Holloway has defeated Arnold Allen, the Korean Zombie, and Justin Gaethje. The Gaethje victory, an April light-weight combat within the operating for 2024’s “Struggle of the Yr” and “Knockout of the Yr,” earned Holloway the BMF title. Holloway has not competed since he picked up that highlight-reel KO.

Holloway is the No. 2 fighter within the official UFC featherweight rankings, the place he trails Volkanovski.

Whittaker (26-7) is the No. 3 fighter within the official UFC middleweight rankings, whereas Chimaev (13-0) is the No. 12 fighter within the UFC’s 185-pound division. There’s a likelihood the winner of Saturday’s middleweight co-main occasion might face the as but unbooked combat between middleweight champ Dricus du Plessis and ex-champ Sean Strickland.

With Alex Pereira’s profitable title protection over Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307, the winner of the Ankalaev vs. Rakic combat may very well be subsequent in line for a shot at Pereira’s belt. Ankalaev (18-1-1-1) is the No. 2 ranked UFC gentle heavyweight, whereas Rakic (14-4) is ranked at No. 5.

UFC 308 Winners

Abus Magomedov: Abus Magomedov had a large top and attain benefit over Brunno Ferreira of their middleweight prelim. He used these attributes effectively within the first spherical, pressuring his opponent to the fence whereas mixing up his putting targets and methods. That method allowed Magomedov to get a little bit too snug, which allowed Ferreira to seek out his mark together with his putting.

As soon as Magomedov tasted Ferreira’s energy, he targeted on his grappling expertise. That was a sensible adjustment, because it led to Magomedov getting the submission win within the third stanza.

Kennedy Nzechukwu: UFC 308 was the primary UFC bout at heavyweight for Kennedy Nzechukwu since signing with the promotion in 2018. He had a large top and attain benefit and used his size effectively, using straight kicks to remain at a distance and mixing up his targets. Nzechukwu additionally appeared to make use of his punches when the chance arose. The heavyweight competitor appeared good earlier than ending the combat inside the primary spherical.

Farid Basharat: Farid Basharat moved to 13-0 with a choice victory over Victor Hugo in a featherweight combat that was initially booked at 135 kilos. Basharat weighed in at 137, however his foe got here in at 145.5. Basharat, trying to compete, and receives a commission, accepted the change in weight divisions.

Basharat appeared good in staying unbeaten. He was sooner, had higher motion, footwork, and pace, and had Hugo biting on feints all through the competition. He added some wrestling to the combination within the third stanza.

Basharat deserves a step up in competitors.

Ismail Naurdiev: Ismail Naurdiev fought like a person who needed to make an announcement at UFC 308. The 28-year-old had a stint within the UFC from 2019 to 2020, the place he went 2-2. The UFC allowed him to stroll after that. Naurdiev went 4-3 exterior the UFC, principally with Courageous CF earlier than getting the decision to return to the promotion to face Bruno Silva.

Naurdiev was aggressive in his return, throwing highly effective strikes, particularly his kicks, and touchdown takedowns whereas in search of finishes when the chance was there. Naurdiev confirmed the UFC they didn’t make a mistake in giving him a second likelihood.

Rinat Fakhretdinov: Rinat Fakhretdinov has been with the UFC since 2022. He introduced a prolonged unbeaten streak with him, final dropping a combat in 2013. That run continued on Saturday when he earned a controversial determination over Carlos Leal, who made his UFC debut at UFC 308.

The UFC commentary workforce was incredulous after the scorecards had been learn for the opening combat on the cardboard, they usually had been appropriate to be upset.

UFC 308 Losers

Brunno Ferreira : Brunno Ferreira had a tough first spherical towards Abus Magomedov, however he discovered a gap across the center of the second spherical, rocking Magomedov with a straight proper adopted by a head kick after which threatening a choke. Ferreira was extra aggressive as soon as he harm Magomedov, however he couldn’t preserve the combat standing, which led to his downfall, a third-round choke.

Chris Barnett: At UFC 308, Chris Barnett competed in his first combat since knocking out Jake Collier in September 2022. Barnett struggled with the size of his opponent all through the combat. He additionally appeared to injure his leg through the combat, which left him unable to stave off the putting of Kennedy Nzechukwu.

Victor Hugo: Victor Hugo weighed 145.5 kilos for a combat initially booked at bantamweight. Regardless of having a dimension benefit over Farid Basharat, Hugo dropped a choice at UFC 308.

Bruno Silva: Was 1-5 within the UFC getting into his matchup towards Ismail Naurdiev. He fell to 1-6 with a lackluster effort at UFC 308. Silva appeared flat all through your entire 15-minute matchup. It will not be shocking to see Silva exterior the UFC following this loss.

Carlos Leal: Carlos Leal made his UFC debut Saturday towards Rinat Fakhretdinov in a welterweight scrap. The Brazilian hung out with PFL, LFA, and Bellator earlier than getting the decision to compete on UFC 308.

Leal appeared good within the early going, shutting down a number of takedown makes an attempt towards Fakhretdinov. He then confirmed superior putting, throwing highly effective head strikes whereas including efficient calf kicks. Leal light a bit down the stretch, however his takedown protection, stopping 17 of 19 makes an attempt, and putting had been on level and may have been sufficient to steer him to victory, however he was on the incorrect facet of a choice.

UFC 308 Struggle Card Outcomes

UFC 308 Pay-Per-View card Outcomes

Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway

Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev

Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige

Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic

Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan

UFC 308 Preliminary Card Outcomes

Ibo Aslan vs. Raffael Cerqueira

Geoff Neal vs. Rafael dos Anjos

Mateusz Rebecki vs. Myktybek Orolbai

Abus Magomedov defeats Brunno Ferreira through submission at 3:14 of Spherical 3 (Arm triangle from facet management)

Kennedy Nzechukwu defeats Chris Barnett through TKO at 4:27 of Spherical 1 (Knee to physique at distance)

Farid Basharat defeeats Victor Hugo through unanimous determination (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Ismail Naurdiev defeats Bruno Silva through unanimous determination (30-27 x 3)

Rinat Fakhretdinov defeats Carlos Leal through unanimous determination (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

UFC 308 Video Highlights

UFC 308 Scorecards

UFC 308 Struggle Evening Bonuses

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UFC 308 Principal Occasion: Odds, Picks And Predictions – Topuria Vs. Holloway

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UFC 308 Preview, Odds, Picks And Predictions: Ankalaev Vs. Rakic