.Oct 26, 2024, 12:32 PM ETUndefeated UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria makes the very first protection of his label versus former champ Maximum Holloway in the main celebration of UFC 308 at Etihad Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.Topuria (15-0) succeeded the waistband in February with a second-round knockout of Alexander Volkanovski. Topuria is No. 3 in the ESPN pound-for-pound men's rankings.The 10th-ranked Holloway (26-7), that ruled coming from June 2017 until December 2019, has actually gained three matches in a row, most lately a KO of Justin Gaethje at 4:59 of the fifth cycle in their April bout at lightweight.Brett Okamoto, Andreas Hale, Jeff Wagenheim and also Dre Waters break down all the activity from UFC 308. How to enjoy the fightsWatch the pay-per-view and prelims on ESPN+: Get ESPN+ here.There's additionally FightCenter, which offers real-time updates for every UFC memory card.UFC 308 battle cardESPN+ PPV, 2 p.m. ETFeatherweight championship: Ilia Topuria (c) vs. Max HollowayMiddleweight: Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat ChimaevLight heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar RakicFeatherweight: Lerone Murphy vs. Dan IgeMiddleweight: Shara Magomedov vs. Armen PetrosyanESPN+, 10 a.m. ETLight abundant: Ibo Aslan vs. Rafael CerqueiraWelterweight: Geoff Neal vs. Rafael Dos AnjosLightweight: Mateusz Rebecki vs. Myktybek OrolbaiMiddleweight: Abus Magomedov def. Brunno FerreiraHeavyweight: Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Chris BarnettMen's bantamweight: Farid Basharat def. Victor HugoMiddleweight: Ismail Naurdiev def. Bruno SilvaWelterweight: Rinat Fakhretdinov def. Carlos Leal( c) = defending championA taking a trip mixed martial arts competitor's most difficult opponent while foreign? SleepFor a lot of the world, being actually fully practical at the office without an excellent night of rest shows a substantial difficulty. Fortunately, a lot of do not need to think about being typed the skin. Having said that, for competitors functioning without correct rest, the margin for inaccuracy at their location of work is actually microscopic and also may be the variation between a success and also awakening on the canvas. Few get through these less-than-optimal journeying situations and also Max Holloway." I reside in the center of the sea," Holloway stated in a job interview along with the UFC's Megan Olivi as he readied to compete in the UAE for the 3rd time. "Regardless of what way I go, it's a long way." There is actually no such factor as a home game for Holloway. He have not dealt with in Hawaii considering that his 4th qualified fight in 2011. Ever since, the existing BMF champion has actually completed when driving in the UFC for 29 qualified matches across 8 opportunity zones.Read the story.UFC 308 match rankings: Performs any kind of matchup best Topuria vs. Holloway?The sales pitch for the lightweight championship clash in between Ilia Topuria and also Max Holloway can stick to current occasions. It can start and end in early 2024. One fight each-- the most recent for every of all of them-- is all our experts require to know about to be availabled on Saturday's match in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.For Topuria, that people persuasive fight happened in February, when he snatched away the district with a knockout blow that abruptly finished Alexander Volkanovski's four-year supremacy. When it comes to Holloway, his high-pressure salesmanship happened two months later on, when he authored probably the greatest KO in MMA history by sending Justin Gaethje face-first to the canvas along with just one second continuing to be in their 5th round of violence.Read the story.UFC 308 first appearance: Big questions on Topuria-Holloway, Chimaev's profit, moreIlia Topuria took the moment at UFC 298 when he experienced among the featherweight GOATs, Alexander Volkanovski. Topuria deposed Volkanovski in February and came to be the 145-pound champion. Eight months later, Topuria will right now tackle arguably the other light GOAT, as Maximum Holloway will definitely seek to recover his title.Andreas Hale, Brett Okamoto and also Jeff Wagenheim use their initial thoughts, study as well as prophecies on UFC 308. Check out the story.Best active mixed martial arts knockout blow musicians around body weight classesMaybe our team should put one thing additional vulnerable when Holloway problems Topuria on Oct. 26. In addition to the UFC featherweight champion, just how regarding our team additionally break a tie and announce the champion as the leading KO musician at 145 pounds?. That could be the case, obviously, merely if the individual who goes out of the cage with the belt has gotten the succeed by means of knockout blow. And also it'll be a notable achievement if it occurs, as Topuria is unbeaten as well as Holloway has never ever been knocked out in thirty three expert fights.Read the tale.2024 mixed martial arts midyear honors: Consensual champions, uncommon submittings and also epic knockoutsThere will certainly never ever be an agreement "ultimate knockout in UFC background," but Holloway's KO of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in April could be one of the most well-liked pick. Standing in the center of the Octagon in the final few seconds of a five-round battle he was actually clearly succeeding and sleeping Gaethje-- it was simply all Holloway. It specified Holloway as a competitor and also an individual. The simple fact it happened up a body weight elegance in a BMF label battle couldn't have been anymore perfect.Read the tale.