.Oct 26, 2024, 12:32 PM ETUndefeated UFC featherweight champ Ilia Topuria produces the initial defense of his title against previous champ Maximum Holloway generally event of UFC 308 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.Topuria (15-0) won the belt in February with a second-round knockout blow of Alexander Volkanovski. Topuria is actually No. 3 in the ESPN pound-for-pound guys's rankings.The 10th-ranked Holloway (26-7), who ruled coming from June 2017 up until December 2019, has succeeded 3 fights in a row, very most recently a KO of Justin Gaethje at 4:59 of the fifth round in their April bout at lightweight.Brett Okamoto, Andreas Hale, Jeff Wagenheim and also Dre Waters break down all the action from UFC 308. Exactly how to check out the fightsWatch the pay-per-view as well as prelims on ESPN+: Get ESPN+ here.There's additionally FightCenter, which provides real-time updates for every single UFC memory card.UFC 308 battle cardESPN+ PPV, 2 p.m. ETFeatherweight championship: Ilia Topuria (c) vs. Maximum 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 heavyweight: 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) = speaking up for championA journeying MMA fighter's most difficult enemy while international? SleepFor a lot of the world, being fully operational at the workplace without a really good evening of remainder shows a substantial obstacle. Fortunately, a lot of don't need to worry about being typed the skin. Nevertheless, for boxers working without correct rest, the frame for inaccuracy at their spot of work is actually tiny as well as may be the variation in between a triumph as well as getting out of bed on the canvass. Handful of browse these less-than-optimal taking a trip situations along with Max Holloway." I live in the center of the sea," Holloway claimed in an interview with the UFC's Megan Olivi as he readied to compete in the UAE for the third time. "No matter what method I go, it's a very long way." There is actually no such trait as a home ready Holloway. He have not dealt with in Hawaii since his 4th professional fight in 2011. Ever since, the existing BMF champ has competed while driving in the UFC for 29 professional battles around 8 opportunity zones.Read the story.UFC 308 fight ranks: Does any sort of matchup top Topuria vs. Holloway?The purchases sound for the light championship clash between Ilia Topuria and Maximum Holloway may follow current occasions. It can easily start and end in very early 2024. One battle apiece-- one of the most latest for each and every of them-- is all we require to learn about to be sold on Saturday's match in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.For Topuria, that a person influential battle happened in February, when he snatched away the district along with a knockout blow that abruptly ended Alexander Volkanovski's four-year supremacy. When it comes to Holloway, his cold call came 2 months eventually, when he authored possibly the greatest KO in MMA history by sending out Justin Gaethje face-first to the canvas along with just one 2nd staying in their 5th round of violence.Read the story.UFC 308 initial appeal: Big questions on Topuria-Holloway, Chimaev's gain, moreIlia Topuria seized the instant at UFC 298 when he dealt with among the featherweight GOATs, Alexander Volkanovski. Topuria deposed Volkanovski in February as well as ended up being the 145-pound champion. Eight months eventually, Topuria is going to currently take on perhaps the other light GOAT, as Maximum Holloway will certainly hope to recover his title.Andreas Hale, Brett Okamoto and Jeff Wagenheim supply their first ideas, analysis and prophecies on UFC 308. Read the story.Best active MMA knockout musicians across body weight classesMaybe our company should place one thing additional vulnerable when Holloway difficulties Topuria on Oct. 26. Along with the UFC featherweight championship, how concerning we likewise damage a tie and announce the winner as the best KO artist at 145 pounds?. That can be the scenario, certainly, merely if the person who walks out of the crate along with the belt has actually secured the win by means of knockout blow. As well as it'll be a notable achievement if it happens, as Topuria is actually undefeated and also Holloway has never ever been knocked out in thirty three expert fights.Read the account.2024 mixed martial arts midyear awards: Consensual victors, unusual articles as well as impressive knockoutsThere will definitely certainly never be a consensus "greatest ko in UFC history," yet Holloway's KO of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in April could be one of the most popular pick. Standing in the facility of the Octagon in the last few seconds of a five-round battle he was actually precisely winning and also resting Gaethje-- it was just all Holloway. It determined Holloway as a competitor and a person. The fact it took place up a body weight prestige in a BMF label fight could not have actually been actually any more perfect.Read the tale.