Winners And Losers From Topuria Vs. Holloway Card

The UFC is at Etihad Enviornment in Abu Dhabi for tonight’s UFC 308 pay-per-view struggle card. UFC 308 encompasses a title fights on the high of the cardboard. In the primary 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 doable title eliminator can also be on the PPV portion of the struggle card as Magomed Ankalaev matches up with Aleksandar Rakic at mild 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 struggle 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 resolution. 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), struggle evening bonuses (10), complete struggle time (6:47:23), vital strikes landed (2,892), and complete 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 in opposition to Aldo (TKO), Brian Ortega (TKO), and Frankie Edgar (resolution). He additionally tried to win the interim UFC light-weight belt throughout that run, however he fell brief, shedding a choice to Dustin Poirier.

Holloway’s championship run resulted in December 2019 when Alexander Volkanovski beat him by resolution. 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 struggle within the operating for 2024’s “Combat 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 struggle 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 struggle 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 mild heavyweight, whereas Rakic (14-4) is ranked at No. 5.

UFC 308 Winners

Ibo Aslan: Ibo Aslan overwhelmed Raffael Cerqueira within the last prelim of UFC 308. Aslan absorbed one vital strike whereas touchdown 28 of the 36 strikes he tried to get a 51-second end over Cerqueira. Aslan uncorked a flurry of strikes that pressured referee Marc Goddard to wave off the struggle. Aslan regarded superb in getting the end.

Geoff Neal: Geoff Neal’s welterweight matchup in opposition to former UFC light-weight champion Rafael dos Anjos didn’t final lengthy, however Neal’s hanging regarded good within the early going because the 34-year-old scored an early knockdown earlier than a knee harm prevented Dos Anjos from persevering with. The win ended a two-fight shedding skid for Neal.

Mateusz Rebecki vs. Myktybek Orolbai: In a violent and bloody 160-pound catchweight scrap, these two left all the things that they had within the Octagon on Saturday. Each males confirmed toughness and grit, whereas additionally trying to end their opponent in a back-and-forth scrap.

Mateusz Rebecki picked up the break up resolution win, however Myktybek Orolbai deserves a whole lot of reward for not giving up when issues regarded horrible for him. This was a fantastic struggle.

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 hanging targets and strategies. That strategy allowed Magomedov to get somewhat too comfy, which allowed Ferreira to seek out his mark together with his hanging.

As soon as Magomedov tasted Ferreira’s energy, he targeted on his grappling abilities. 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 regarded to make use of his punches when the chance arose. The heavyweight competitor regarded good earlier than ending the struggle inside the primary spherical.

Farid Basharat: Farid Basharat moved to 13-0 with a choice victory over Victor Hugo in a featherweight struggle 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 regarded 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 combo within the third stanza.

Basharat deserves a step up in competitors.

Ismail Naurdiev: Ismail Naurdiev fought like a person who needed to make a press release 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, largely 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 on the lookout for 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 struggle in 2013. That run continued on Saturday when he earned a controversial resolution over Carlos Leal, who made his UFC debut at UFC 308.

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

UFC 308 Losers

Rafael dos Anjos: Rafael dos Anjos celebrated his fortieth birthday on Saturday, however issues didn’t go his method, as a knee harm stopped his struggle in opposition to Geoff Neal early within the first spherical. With the TKO setback, Dos Anjos is on a three-fight shedding skid and 1-4 in his previous 5 relationship again to July 2022.

Brunno Ferreira : Brunno Ferreira had a tough first spherical in opposition to 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 damage Magomedov, however he couldn’t preserve the struggle standing, which led to his downfall, a third-round choke.

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

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

Bruno Silva: Was 1-5 within the UFC coming into his matchup in opposition to Ismail Naurdiev. He fell to 1-6 with a lackluster effort at UFC 308. Silva regarded flat all through all the 15-minute matchup. It could not be shocking to see Silva exterior the UFC following this loss.

Carlos Leal: Carlos Leal made his UFC debut Saturday in opposition to 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 regarded good within the early going, shutting down a number of takedown makes an attempt in opposition to Fakhretdinov. He then confirmed superior hanging, throwing highly effective head strikes whereas including efficient calf kicks. Leal pale a bit down the stretch, however his takedown protection, stopping 17 of 19 makes an attempt, and hanging have been on level and may have been sufficient to guide him to victory, however he was on the fallacious aspect of a choice.

UFC 308 Combat 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

Shara “Bullet” Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan

UFC 308 Preliminary Card Outcomes

Ibo Aslan defeats Raffael Cerqueira through TKO at 0:51 of Spherical 1 (Punches to move at distance)

Geoff Neal defeats Rafael dos Anjos through TKO at 1:30 of Spherical 1 (Leg harm)

Mateusz Rebecki defeats Myktybek Orolbai through break up resolution (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Abus Magomedov defeats Brunno Ferreira through submission at 3:14 of Spherical 3 (Arm triangle from aspect 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 resolution (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

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

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

UFC 308 Video Highlights

UFC 308 Scorecards

UFC 308 Combat Night time Bonuses

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