A 13-fight card at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi was headlined by a featherweight title combat between champion Ilia Topuria and former champ Max Holloway. Topuria, Khamzat Chimaev and Magomed Ankalaev emerged as large winners from the night time, however what’s subsequent for every fighter? To make sense of all of it, Andreas Hale, Brett Okamoto and Jeff Wagenheim provide their last takeaways on a dramatic night time of fights.
Topuria delivers a first-class efficiency
Ilia Topuria has made solely this one protection of his featherweight championship, however in Saturday’s UFC 308 essential occasion, he achieved rather a lot. First, he did one thing no fighter had ever achieved. Then he did one thing this sport may use way more of.
By knocking out Max Holloway, Topuria did what the game’s main purveyor of violence, Justin Gaethje, couldn’t do. He did what a parade of former UFC champions from Alexander Volkanovski to José Aldo, Frankie Edgar to Anthony Pettis, and Charles Oliveira to Conor McGregor couldn’t. Volkanovski and Aldo, two of the best featherweights ever, had a number of pictures and could not get it achieved.
However Topuria did, and his beautiful third-round KO dealt a blow that had not occurred within the earlier 33 fights in Holloway’s profession. “Blessed” had by no means beforehand even been knocked off his toes.
So Topuria now stands in a class of 1. That is the form of factor folks say about fighters who’re thought-about the best ever of their weight class. And whereas it is untimely to anoint the 27-year-old Spaniard because the featherweight GOAT, even in case you couple this efficiency with the knockout of Volkanovski again in February that made him the champion, Topuria is headed in that distinguished route by leaps and bounds.
No much less notable than the knockout efficiency, although, was the category that Topuria confirmed within the moments after his victory. He twice spent prolonged occasions embracing Holloway, then referred to the previous champ as “a legend,” saying, “I characterize the brand new era, and I hope I’ll be a small portion of the instance he has been for me for the brand new era.”
Topuria’s graciousness continued even when Volkanovski was introduced into the cage simply because the champ was being requested who ought to get the subsequent title shot. After the boys shook palms, the champ stated Volkanovski is most deserving. “He defended his title seven occasions, I do not know what number of occasions,” Topuria stated. “If somebody deserves it, it is him.”
None of those variety phrases diminished the ferocity Topuria dropped at his fights with Holloway and Volkanovski. If both of these ex-champs will get a rematch, Topuria might be flinging leather-based their method at full power once more. He would not must trash speak anybody. Topuria understands what it means to be a real champion. — Wagenheim
It is title time for Chimaev
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Khamzat Chimaev stays good with first-round submission win
Khamzat Chimaev defeats Robert Whittaker, retaining his good file alive with a submission within the first spherical.
Is there any purpose the UFC should not catapult Khamzat Chimaev right into a title combat? Who’re we kidding right here?
I do know the promotion promised former champion Sean Strickland a rematch with the person who took his title with a slender choice. However this promise deserves to be damaged as a result of what Chimaev did to Robert Whittaker was a daunting reminder of why many topped him a future champion simply 4 fights into his UFC profession again in 2021.
The well being points should not be ignored, as they’ve slowed Chimaev from injecting himself into the title image. However what he did to a former world champion who hadn’t been submitted in practically 13 years did not function a suggestion — it was a requirement.
Strickland beating Paulo Costa by cut up choice and Chimaev steamrolling the higher-ranked Whittaker aren’t in the identical stratosphere on the subject of which efficiency is deserving of a title alternative.
Sure, Strickland will definitely be sad that Chimaev jumped the road however this was a one-sided outing in opposition to a former champion. Whittaker landed a grand complete of two leg kicks earlier than being sucked into the Chimaev vacuum and being compelled to put on a “Borz” blanket.
And let’s speak about that end. It might have appeared like Whittaker tapped early as soon as the face crank was sunk in. Nonetheless, Daniel Cormier shared a photograph of Whittaker’s crushed jaw on the printed, additional cementing Chimaev as a power in contrast to another within the division.
Chimaev took zero injury within the combat and stated he is able to problem for the gold. It will be foolish to disclaim him that chance. Typically, ready for a title alternative leaves you open to watching somebody dart forward of you. It is the price of standing nonetheless when everybody else is transferring. However, actually, is not the combat to make for Strickland a rematch with Israel Adesanya?
How about we do this and let Du Plessis and Chimaev duke it out in early 2025. — Hale
How the UFC treats the Ankalaev state of affairs is anybody’s guess
For my cash, Magomed Ankalaev ought to have already been a UFC champion. I believed, very strongly, he beat Jan Blachowicz after they fought for the vacant title in 2022. The judges dominated that one a cut up draw, as UFC CEO Dana White was not a fan of the way it performed out, and Ankalaev has been on the slowest attainable route again to a title ever since. The UFC already handed him up for a title combat earlier this yr, when a 205-pound-title shot went to Khalil Rountree, who was a lot decrease within the rankings.
It is fairly obvious Ankalaev deserves a shot in opposition to Alex Pereira, however it’s additionally fairly apparent he is not one of the best factor for enterprise. He is simply not. And proper now, the UFC has seen some fights go in a method that is not one of the best for enterprise. Sean O’Malley shedding his title is not nice for enterprise. Jon Jones combating as soon as in over a yr as heavyweight champion, not nice. Belal Muhammad, extensively recognized for his tendency to take opponents the gap, additionally not nice.
The UFC is implausible in that it usually makes fights of one of the best in opposition to one of the best, however I do surprise how they’re going to deal with this one. Loads may trip on what occurs subsequent month at heavyweight between Jones and Stipe Miocic. Who wins that? And who retires after? — Okamoto
