.Oct 26, 2024, 12:32 PM ETUndefeated UFC light champ Ilia Topuria creates the initial self defense of his headline versus former champ Maximum Holloway generally activity of UFC 308 at Etihad Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.Topuria (15-0) won the belt in February with a second-round knockout of Alexander Volkanovski. Topuria is No. 3 in the ESPN pound-for-pound guys's rankings.The 10th-ranked Holloway (26-7), who reigned from June 2017 up until December 2019, has actually succeeded three fights in a row, very most recently a KO of Justin Gaethje at 4:59 of the fifth round in their April fight at lightweight.Brett Okamoto, Andreas Hale, Jeff Wagenheim and Dre Waters break down all the action from UFC 308. Just how to enjoy the fightsWatch the pay-per-view and prelims on ESPN+: Get ESPN+ here.There's additionally FightCenter, which offers live 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 abundant: 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 Disk operating system 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 taking a trip mixed martial arts boxer's most difficult rival while foreign? SleepFor considerably of the globe, being actually entirely operational at work without a great night of rest offers a substantial challenge. Luckily, most do not need to stress over being punched in the face. Nevertheless, for fighters working without appropriate rest, the margin for mistake at their place of work is actually tiny and also could be the distinction between a victory and also getting out of bed on the canvass. Couple of navigate these less-than-optimal taking a trip scenarios and also Maximum Holloway." I stay in the center of the sea," Holloway pointed out in a job interview with the UFC's Megan Olivi as he prepared to contend in the UAE for the third opportunity. "Regardless of what means I go, it's a long way." There's no such point as a home ready Holloway. He have not fought in Hawaii due to the fact that his 4th expert match in 2011. Ever since, the current BMF champ has contended while driving in the UFC for 29 qualified battles across 8 time zones.Read the story.UFC 308 battle ranks: Does any match top Topuria vs. Holloway?The sales sound for the featherweight championship clash between Ilia Topuria as well as Max Holloway can easily stick to latest events. It can easily begin and also finish in early 2024. One match apiece-- one of the most recent for each of them-- is actually all our company need to find out about to become availabled on Sunday's matchup in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.For Topuria, that convincing fight took place in February, when he nabbed away the belt along with a knockout that abruptly ended Alexander Volkanovski's four-year supremacy. As for Holloway, his hard sell happened 2 months later on, when he authored maybe the best KO in MMA past through delivering Justin Gaethje face-first to the canvas with merely one 2nd remaining in their fifth round of violence.Read the story.UFC 308 first appearance: Big concerns on Topuria-Holloway, Chimaev's profit, moreIlia Topuria took the instant at UFC 298 when he dealt with one of the featherweight GOATs, Alexander Volkanovski. Topuria displaced Volkanovski in February and came to be the 145-pound champ. 8 months eventually, Topuria is going to currently tackle probably the various other featherweight GOAT, as Maximum Holloway are going to seek to restore his title.Andreas Hale, Brett Okamoto and Jeff Wagenheim supply their initial notions, study and also predictions on UFC 308. Review the story.Best energetic mixed martial arts ko artists around weight classesMaybe our team need to put something additional vulnerable when Holloway obstacles Topuria on Oct. 26. Besides the UFC featherweight champion, how concerning we likewise break an association and also announce the champion as the best KO performer at 145 extra pounds?. That can be the situation, of course, only if the fella that walks out of the crate along with the belt has safeguarded the win using knockout blow. And also it'll be a significant accomplishment if it happens, as Topuria is undefeated and Holloway has actually never ever been knocked senseless in 33 professional fights.Read the tale.2024 mixed martial arts midyear awards: Unanimous winners, rare submissions and also impressive knockoutsThere will certainly never ever be an opinion "ultimate knockout blow in UFC history," but Holloway's KO of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in April could be the best well-liked selection. Standing in the facility of the Octagon in the ultimate secs of a five-round battle he was clearly gaining as well as resting Gaethje-- it was actually merely all Holloway. It defined Holloway as a fighter and also an individual. The simple fact it took place up a weight social rank in a BMF label battle could not have actually been actually any more perfect.Read the story.