Our Clients:

Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

Oct 25, 2024 2:44 am

Ilia Topuria set to defend title vs. Max Holloway

Ilia Topuria

UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria returns to the Octagon for the second time this year, opposite Max Holloway, the former champion and current ‘BMF’ champion, in the main event of UFC 308 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.

Topuria (15-0 MMA) has quickly entered the UFC scene, winning all seven fights since making his promotional debut in 2020. He won the belt in February against then-champion Alexander Volkanovski (26-4 MMA), becoming the first Georgian UFC champion. He is now joined by newly minted UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA), who is also from the region.

“It’s gonna be exactly the same,” Topuria said. “I’m gonna take his lights out in the first round. I took (Volkanovski’s) lights out in the second round; but, in this case, it’s gonna be a little bit different. I’m gonna do it in the first round.”

Holloway (26-7 MMA) earned the title shot after upsetting former interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje (25-5 MMA) at UFC 300 in April with a fifth-round KO. It was his third straight win since losing to Volkanovski in July 2022 at UFC 276. It was the pair’s third fight in 31 months. Before his fights with Volkanovski, Holloway had held the featherweight title since June 2017, successfully defending the belt four times.

Holloway, 32, said he is excited about potentially becoming the first man to beat Topuria while regaining his belt. Holloway has fought for the promotion since 2012, competing against some of the sport’s best, including Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier and Anthony Pettis.

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t (think I could win), brother,” Holloway said. “We get to find out come Saturday night, my guy. Tune in.”

The co-main event is a five-round non-title eliminator between former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (27-7 MMA) and Khamzat Chimaev (13-0 MMA). Whittaker is fresh off a first-round KO victory against Ikram Aliskerov (15-2 MMA) in June, part of a 3-1 stretch in his past four fights.

Meanwhile, Chimaev returns to the Octagon for the first time since last October, when he defeated former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman (20-4 MMA) by decision. Usman reportedly accepted the fight after Chimaev’s original opponent, Paulo Costa, withdrew due to an elbow infection.

UFC 308 features 13 fights, beginning at 10 a.m. ET for the prelims on ESPN+ and ESPN News and continuing with the main card at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+ pay-per-view.

Below is the main card bout order:

–Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway, featherweight — Topuria’s UFC featherweight title
–Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev, middleweight (five rounds)
–Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic, light heavyweight
–Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige, featherweight
–Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan, middleweight

–Field Level Media

You may also like

nascar darlington general view
Aug 29, 2025 1:38 pm

Round of 16 playoff action revs up at Darlington

With all of the discussion, from advocates and dissenters alike, surrounding the NASCAR Cup Series’ postseason format, what better venue to make everyone happy than by starting the Round of…

minnesota united portland timbers
Aug 29, 2025 11:45 am

Minnesota United chasing points record as Timbers visit

Minnesota United can tie the franchise’s single-season points record when they host the Portland Timbers on Saturday night in Saint Paul, Minn. The Loons (14-6-8, 50 points), second in the…

austin fc san jose
Aug 29, 2025 11:19 am

Austin FC, Earthquakes meet in match with playoff implications

In a match that could prove pivotal to both teams’ MLS Cup Playoff hopes, host Austin FC and the San Jose Earthquakes face off Saturday night in a key contest…

More Preview News

nascar darlington general view
Aug 29, 2025 1:38 pm

Round of 16 playoff action revs up at Darlington

With all of the discussion, from advocates and dissenters alike, surrounding the NASCAR Cup Series’ postseason format, what better venue to make everyone happy than by starting the Round of…

minnesota united portland timbers
Aug 29, 2025 11:45 am

Minnesota United chasing points record as Timbers visit

austin fc san jose
Aug 29, 2025 11:19 am

Austin FC, Earthquakes meet in match with playoff implications

Sean Johnson
Aug 29, 2025 11:09 am

Toronto FC hope to keep playoff hopes alive vs. CF Montreal

d.c. united new york city fc
Aug 29, 2025 10:54 am

D.C. United looking to snap winless streak at NYCFC

Read all
fb-post
advertisment
title-icon

Upcoming events

See all odds
[gs-fb-comments]