Jeff Wagenheim, ESPN
Newer followers of combined martial arts usually want a historical past lesson to completely admire why hardcore followers are so pumped about an upcoming combat.
There is a rivalry going again a decade. A prolonged title reign in peril. A compelling comeback story. An extended-standing report on the verge of being shattered.
Nonetheless, within the case of the UFC 308 predominant occasion, the gross sales pitch for the featherweight championship conflict between Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway begins and ends in 2024. One combat apiece — the latest for every of them — is all we have to learn about to be offered on Saturday’s matchup in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (ESPN+ PPV at 2 p.m. ET, prelims on ESPN+ at 10 a.m.).
For Topuria, that one persuasive combat occurred in February, when he snatched away the belt with a knockout that abruptly ended Alexander Volkanovski’s four-year reign. As for Holloway, his onerous promote got here two months later, when he authored maybe the best KO in MMA historical past by sending Justin Gaethje face-first to the canvas with only one second remaining of their fifth spherical of violence.
That is all one must know to get excited for Topuria vs. Holloway. Nonetheless, a deeper dive into their pasts reveals that each contributors have accomplished way more to face other than all others who grace the Octagon. For example, there are 11 UFC champions, however Topuria (15-0) is the one one who’s undefeated. Holloway (26-7) is the all-time chief amongst UFC featherweights in virtually each statistic that issues — wins (20), finishes (11), KOs (9), important strikes (2,892) and complete strikes (3,096).
Deliver it on, fellas.
How does the remainder of UFC 308 stack up towards the primary occasion? This is a rating of the highest points of interest.
1. Featherweight championship: Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway
An undefeated champion versus a revitalized legend. What extra may combat followers ask for? Even earlier than knocking out Volkanovski, Topuria proved himself to be a lights-out finisher, with eight submissions and 5 KOs amongst his 15 wins. However his challenger hasn’t been knocked out in his 33-fight profession. Holloway has been completed solely as soon as, when he tapped out to a Dustin Poirier triangle armbar in his UFC debut … 12 years in the past. Sure, “Blessed” Max has been round for fairly a very long time and has completed loads. This is an opportunity for him to outdo himself.
2. Middleweight: Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev
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Khamzat Chimaev wins by choice over Kamaru Usman
Khamzat Chimaev wins a well-fought combat through majority choice towards Kamaru Usman.
Lastly, Chimaev’s run of dominance will get a full-sized take a look at. Positive, his most up-to-date victory was towards Kamaru Usman, a former UFC welterweight champion. However that bout occurred up at middleweight, and Usman was introduced in as a alternative opponent simply 10 days earlier than combat evening.
Now Chimaev is dealing with one other ex-champ, this one a real middleweight — and never simply any 185-pounder. Whittaker is a rumbling whirlwind for opponents anyplace a combat goes. If Chimaev can deal with all that Whittaker brings, he can have earned the title shot that a lot of the MMA fanbase has presumed to be his future. Having simply three fights prior to now three years has slowed the roll of the Chimaev hype prepare, however Saturday may get it chugging once more.
3. Gentle heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic
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Magomed Ankalaev stops Johnny Walker for predominant occasion end
Magomed Ankalaev finishes the combat vs. Johnny Walker after the referee places a cease to it in the primary occasion of UFC Struggle Evening.
I used to be tempted to rank this one larger than the co-main occasion as a result of it has clearer stakes, because the UFC has assured Ankalaev of a title shot if he places on a robust efficiency right here. Can he take that promise to the financial institution, although?
Ankalaev is unbeaten in his final 12 fights, the second-longest such streak in gentle heavyweight historical past (Jon Jones, 19). He had already accomplished sufficient to warrant first dibs when the final gentle heavyweight title bout was being booked. However Ankalaev was handed over for Khalil Rountree Jr., whom the UFC knew wouldn’t douse the thrill of an Alex Pereira efficiency with any of these disagreeable takedowns Ankalaev may try. Now, the UFC is setting yet one more impediment in entrance of Ankalaev. If he beats Rakic, he’d absolutely be up subsequent, proper?
4, 5, 6 and seven, in any order. The opposite undefeateds
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Lerone Murphy places on clinic in dominant main-event win
Lerone Murphy wins in dominant vogue vs. Edson Barboza in the primary occasion of UFC Struggle Evening.
There’s an unbeaten fighter in the primary occasion (Topuria) and one within the co-main (Chimaev), and whereas they will be the night’s consideration grabbers, they’re removed from the one unblemished rivals at UFC 308. Two compete earlier on the primary card. Featherweight Lerone Murphy (14-0-1), simply 5 months faraway from a dominant efficiency towards Edson Barboza, faces a less-aged take a look at towards Dan Ige. And middleweight Shara Magomedov (14-0) takes on Armen Petrosyan. There are two undefeated rivals on the prelims: Males’s bantamweight Farid Basharat (12-0) fights Victor Hugo and lightweight heavyweight Rafael Cerqueira brings an 11-0 report into his UFC debut towards Ibo Aslan. Six unbeaten fighters on the cardboard is virtually a assure of secure-the-seatbelts turbulence forward.
