The stage is about for one of the anticipated important and co-main occasion pairings in latest UFC pay-per-view historical past on Saturday as UFC 308 arrives in Abu Dhabi at Etihad Area.
The long-awaited featherweight title matchup tops the invoice pairing Ilia Topuria in his first title protection towards former champion and division legend Max Holloway. Within the co-headliner, former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker tangles with upstart Khamzat Chimaev in a key matchup that might produce the subsequent title challenger.
As we draw nearer to this weekend’s can’t-miss occasion, let’s take a better take a look at the most important storylines.
1. Is Ilia Topuria the subsequent breakout star in world MMA?
It is a query that definitely gained a ton of steam following Topuria’s convincing second-round knockout of Alexander Volkanovski in February at UFC 298 to win the 145-pound title. Topuria, nevertheless, has been idle for the final eight months, which considerably slowed that very same momentum. However, with a well-rounded recreation, crushing energy and the fanbase of two nations (his native Georgia and his new residence of Spain) behind him, Topuria has the entire substances to be the brand new face of the promotion. He is cocky, good, speaks a number of languages and seems to have friendships with many high European soccer gamers. So, what occurs subsequent ought to Topuria do the identical factor to Holloway that he did to Volkanovski, who owns three separate wins over the Hawaiian legend? We’re doubtless speaking fighter of the 12 months honors, for certain, even with the trio of victories for Alex Pereira, a cemented spot within the high three of the pound-for-pound rankings and a vibrant future calling out everybody from Islam Makhachev to Conor McGregor, and everybody in between. UFC followers have been ready a protracted whereas to seek out out who is able to take McGregor’s place as the subsequent breakout star and Topuria could be yet another spectacular efficiency from turning into simply that.
2. What number of reinventions does Max Holloway have left?
The previous featherweight king, who twice knocked out a primary Jose Aldo, is technically nonetheless within the midst of considered one of his best profession renaissances up to now after shifting as much as light-weight and knocking out Justin Gaethje with one second left at UFC 300 in April. The reigning “BMF” champion would be the underdog as soon as once more as he cuts again all the way down to 145 kilos to attempt to regain his featherweight crown towards Topuria. And from a betting perspective, the oddsmakers have proven a ton of respect for the 32-year-old Holloway’s possibilities on this struggle, regardless of being the underdog towards such a harmful champion. However the issue with counting Holloway out in his struggle towards, presumably, the game’s subsequent large factor is that we have now had a number of causes to do this to “Blessed” lately just for him to resurrect his recreation and focus on the proper time. The largest second in query, in fact, was his one-sided loss to Volkanovski of their trilogy struggle in 2022, which noticed Holloway bloody and bruised (with some calling for his retirement). What did Holloway do subsequent? He rifled off a present three-fight win streak, which included a aggressive resolution over Arnold Allen and back-to-back knockouts, of the highlight-reel selection, towards Chan-Sung Jung and Gaethje. If anybody can discover a technique to lean on his expertise, guile, high-paced putting and elegant boxing abilities contained in the Octagon to drag off one more large upset, it is Holloway. His chin has but to crack regardless of a 33-fight profession, which started at age 20, and his stingy takedown protection stays sturdy. Holloway has additionally not misplaced at featherweight to anybody not named Volkanovski since 2013 when he dropped a call to Conor McGregor, years earlier than turning into champion.
3. It is time for Khamzat Chimaev to actually make the leap into middleweight title rivalry
Ever since he arrived on the UFC scene mid-pandemic in 2020 and rifled off three dominant victories within the span of two months, followers have been ready to see Chimaev booked in a title struggle throughout two completely different divisions. The next 4 years have been extraordinarily up and down for Chimaev who, regardless of going 4-0 throughout that stretch, has battled numerous accidents and sicknesses via a string of canceled fights (to not point out that odd weight miss towards Nate Diaz which value him a PPV important occasion slot). Now campaigning full-time at middleweight, Chimaev is now not a prospect on the rise, particularly not after defeating former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman on late discover final October at 185 kilos. Chimaev welcomes the previous champion Whittaker on Saturday in not solely the hardest check up to now for the No. 13-ranked UFC middleweight however a struggle sufficiently big the place a win may very effectively catapult Chimaev into the subsequent title shot following the eventual Dricus du Plessis-Sean Strickland title rematch. Chimaev’s a number of scares with COVID and the fallout unintended effects have slowed his momentum, for certain. However now, at age 30, it is time for Chimaev to actually again up the entire hype which adopted him up to now.
4. Will yet another hurdle be sufficient for Magomed Ankalaev to lastly land Alex Pereira?
It was a head-scratching resolution by the UFC to match the 32-year-old Ankalaev, who was beforehand ranked No. 2 at gentle heavyweight, towards Aleksandr Rakic, who’s recent off two stoppage defeats (solely to announce Pereira’s latest title shot towards No. 8 Khalil Rountree Jr. instantly after). Ankalaev continues to be coping with the destructive PR he obtained from an unexciting vacant title shot towards Jan Blachowicz in 2022 that resulted in a disappointing draw whereas affixing Ankalaev with a considerably unfaithful fame as a boring fighter. In some ways, Anakalev represents the ultimate boss on the finish of the online game for Pereira’s present (and spectacular) title reign. Not solely is Ankalaev a strong finisher, his benefits on the bottom may pose a serious problem for the champion. However he will must convincingly defeat an at all times recreation Rakic first (and is at present a 4-to-1 betting favourite to take action).
5. Sharabutdin Magomedov is in nice want of a convincing victory
Regardless of hailing from Dagestan, Russia, and looking out the a part of film villain together with his vibrant pink hair and beard combo, “Shara Bullet” hasn’t essentially lived as much as his billing as the subsequent nice international destroyer able to take over the Octagon. In the beginning, Magomedov is something however a dominant wrestler. As an alternative, the aggressive striker has produced simply as many questions as solutions about his present inventory regardless of a trio of victories over the previous 12 months at 185 kilos. Magomedov definitely makes enjoyable fights however a great deal of that’s the injury he takes whereas inflicting his personal. Magomedov, who has solely fought for the UFC in Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia, is as soon as once more receiving celeb remedy so far as his placement on the cardboard within the PPV opener towards slight betting underdog Armen Petrosyan. This has all of the makings to be an upset particular simply as a lot because it does for Magomedov to ship the standout efficiency his quick UFC run has wanted thus far.