The UFC is back in Abu Dhabi with a stacked fight card as fans cannot wait for this event to begin. The Main Event sees Ilia Topuria makes his first title Featherweight title defence against the former champion and current BMF title holder, Max Holloway. The Co-Main Event showcases a long-awaited Middleweight bout between the #3 contender, Robert Whittaker, and the #13 contender, Khamzat Chimaev. Here is everything you need to know before UFC 308 kicks off.
The official poster for UFC 308 🏆 pic.twitter.com/fJZLTSGmEr
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) September 20, 2024
preliminary card
Rinat Fakhretdinov vs Carlos Leal (UFC Welterweight Bout) - Fakhretdinov did just enough to keep his unbeaten streak when he defeated Nicolas Dalby by split decision at UFC Saudi Arabia. The Gladiator has most of his decision wins occurring recently in his career, despite being know to stop fights as the Russian has earned 10 KO/TKO and seven submission wins. The Saransk-born fighter is not far away from returning to the Welterweight rankings as a victory in Abu Dhabi would help him do so.
Leal makes his UFC debut on short notice after Nursulton Ruziboev was the original opponent for this 170-pound matchup. The Lion has defeated the majority of his opponents by knockout, securing 10 KO/TKO wins in his MMA career. A victory for the Brazilian would not only be a big shock to the MMA community, but it could become a huge shortcut to be one step away from the Welterweight rankings.
Ismail Naurdiev vs Bruno Silva (UFC Middleweight Bout) - Naurdiev makes his return to the UFC after leaving the promotion four years ago, since then, he has been fighting with Brave CF. The Austrian Wonderboy rarely likes to take battles to the scorecards, securing 18 finishes out of 23 victories. Naurdiev's last two wins have ended in the first round, so another one on his return would really boost his career.
Silva is currently on a three-fight losing streak after suffering an unanimous decision loss to former UFC Middleweight Champion, Chris Weidman, at UFC Atlantic City. Blindado loves to finish a fight by knockout with 20 of his 23 wins ending by KO/TKO. The Brazilian has only won once in his last six fights, so a victory would not only redeem himself, but save his UFC career.
Farid Basharat vs Victor Hugo (UFC Bantamweight Bout) - Basharat is undefeated with 12 victories after winning his last bout by unanimous decision against Taylor Lapilus at UFC Vegas 84. Ferocious is more of a submission threat when he's in the Octagon as half of his MMA triumphs have ended by submission. The Afghanistan fighter will aim to remain undefeated as he closes in on the Bantamweight rankings.
Hugo made his UFC debut in his last bout when he defeated Pedro Falcao by unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 90. Striker is dangerous on the feet as well as on the ground, earning seven KO/TKO wins and 10 submissions in his MMA career. Hugo is currently on a 14-fight unbeaten streak and will try to keep that as he plans to continue his success in the promotion.
Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Chris Barnett (UFC Heavyweight Bout) - Nzechukwu just missed out on victory in his last fight, losing by split decision to Ovince Saint Preux at UFC Vegas 88. The African Savage prefers to fight on the feet with eight of his 12 wins ending by KO/TKO. The Nigerian makes his Heavyweight debut in the UFC, which will give him the opportunity to realise if that was the right choice to make, moving from Light Heavyweight.
Barnett has not fought since September 2022 when he secured a second-round TKO win over Jake Collier at UFC 279. Beastboy loves to keep the fight on the feet as well as knock his opponents out, earning 18 KO/TKO victories from 23 MMA triumphs. Barnett is arguably considered as a fan-favourite in the UFC, and now that his long-awaited return is ready to happen, he will aim to please the crowd.
Abus Magomedov vs Brunno Ferreira (UFC Middleweight Bout) - Magomedov found redemption in his last fight when he defeated Warlley Alves by unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 92. The German is a threat on the feet and on the ground as he's claimed 14 KO/TKO victories and six submissions. Magomedov is currently 2-2 in the UFC, so a win would put him in a more positive position with the organisation.
Ferreira is currently on a two-fight winning streak after knocking out Dustin Stoltzfus in the first round at UFC Louisville. The Hulk has a 100% finish rate in his MMA career, defeating nine of his opponents by KO/TKO and three by submission. All of the Brazilian's last six wins have ended in the first round as another one on the record could edge him just outside the Middleweight rankings.
Mateusz Rebecki vs Myktybek Oralbai (UFC Lightweight Bout) - Rebecki lost his 16-fight unbeaten streak when he suffered a third-round TKO loss to Diego Ferreira at UFC St Louis. Chinczyk has been known to stop fights whether it is on the feet or ground, winning nine times by KO/TKO and seven times by submission. The Gryfice-born mixed martial artist will aim to get back in the win column as well as redeem himself in the Lightweight division.
Oralbai continued his success in the organisation when he earned an unanimous decision win over Elves Brener at UFC 301. The Kyrgyzstan fighter is dominant in wrestling, earning 11 finishes out of 13 victories as he becomes a danger once he's on the ground. Oralbai has only had two fights in the UFC, but he looks to prove that experience does not matter.
Geoff Neal vs Rafael Dos Anjos (UFC Welterweight Bout) - Neal came close to victory in his last bout, but was unable to defeat Ian Machado Garry, losing by split decision at UFC 298. Handz of Steel is a dangerous fighter on the feet with nine of his 15 successful battles ending by KO/TKO. The #10 Welterweight contender is on a two-fight losing streak, so redemption will be in his mind at the Etihad Arena.
Dos Anjos failed to rise up the Lightweight rankings after losing by unanimous decision to Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 299. The former UFC Lightweight Champion has had just as many decision victories as stoppage wins out of his 32 triumphs in MMA. Dos Anjos has been fought in the Welterweight division many times before and whilst he is in the 155-pound rankings, he has a chance to become a Welterweight contender once again.
Ibo Aslan vs Rafael Cerqueira (UFC Light Heavyweight Bout) - Aslan made his UFC debut in his last fight when he defeated Anton Turkalj by third-round TKO at UFC Atlantic City. The Last Ottoman has stopped all of his 13 conquered opponents by KO/TKO with 11 of those victories happening in the first round. The Turkish knockout artist aims to continue his wild path to success and stand out with another first-round finish.
Cerqueira makes his debut at UFC 308 as the Brazilian is currently undefeated, while earning four consecutive first-round stoppage wins. The Lion has only gone to the judges scorecards once as he has picked up eight KO/TKO wins and two submissions, eight of those have ended in the first round. Cerqueira will look to make a big statement on his debut and put the Light Heavyweight division on notice.
main card
Sharaputdin Magomedov vs Armen Petrosyan (UFC Middleweight Bout) - Magomedov continued his undefeated record in MMA after defeating Michal Oleksiejczuk by unanimous decision at UFC Abu Dhabi. The Bullet is very dangerous on the feet, defeating 11 of his 14 conquered opponents by KO/TKO. The Russian has been a standout prospect in the UFC and if he can earn another knockout, he may potentially be one fight away from the Middleweight rankings.
Petrosyan lost his two-fight winning streak after being beaten by first-round submission to Rodolfo Vieira at UFC Vegas 86. Superman has earned the majority of his wins by KO/TKO, but has surprisingly never won in that fashion in the UFC. The Armenian will be finding redemption at UFC 308 and could arguably earn the biggest win of his MMA career, if he is successful on Saturday.
Magomed Ankalaev vs Aleksandr Rakic (UFC Light Heavyweight Bout) - Ankalaev increased his unbeaten streak to 12 after defeating Johnny Walker by second-round knockout in their rematch at UFC Vegas 84. The Makhachkala-born fighter is a dangerous knockout artist in the 205-pound division with 11 of his 19 wins ending by KO/TKO. The #1 Light Heavyweight contender will be desperate to win this bout as it will most likely give him the opportunity to face the champion of the division, Alex Pereira.
Rakic currently stands on a two-fight losing streak after his last fight did not go to plan, suffering a second-round TKO defeat to Jiri Prochazka at UFC 300. Rocket doesn't often go the distance in his fights as out of 14 victories, nine have ended by KO/TKO and one by submission. The #5 Light Heavyweight contender has another huge opportunity to move up to the top of the rankings which could possibly put him in title contention.
Lerone Murphy vs Dan Ige (UFC Featherweight Bout) - Murphy remained undefeated in his last bout after securing an unanimous decision win over Edson Barboza at UFC Vegas 92. The Miracle has earned half of his 14 wins by KO/TKO, five of those knockout victories ending in the first round, as he is a threat on the feet. The #12 Featherweight contender has been a big problem in the division and will want to continue his success if he wants to tise up the rankings.
Ige last fought on four hours' short notice when he took on Diego Lopes at UFC 303, losing by unanimous decision. The Hawaii-born fighter has had his fair share of stoppage wins with six of those ending by KO/TKO and five ending by submission. The #14 Featherweight contender has a great chance to not only redeem himself and rise up the rankings, but become the first fighter to defeat his opponent.
Robert Whittaker vs Khamzat Chimaev (UFC Middleweight Bout) - Whittaker continued to prevail this year when he took on short-noticed opponent, Ikram Aliskerov, and defeated him by first-round knockout at UFC Saudi Arabia. The Reaper has had plenty of experience with the UFC, winning most of his battles by unanimous decision or KO/TKO. The #3 Middleweight contender has a great chance to maintain his ranking by beating an undefeated fighter as he aims to get another shot at the Middleweight title.
Chimaev fought on Abu Dhabi's last UFC PPV event where he did enough to become victorious after defeating Kamaru Usman by unanimous decision at UFC 294. With a perfect record, Borz has stopped all but two oppoents, defeating six by KO/TKO and five by submission. The #13 Middleweight contender has a phenomenal chance to boost up the 185-pound rankings which could land him a title shot.
Ilia Topuria vs Max Holloway (UFC Featherweight Title Bout) - Topuria earned the biggest win of his career when he became UFC Featherweight Champion after knocking out Alexander Volkanovski in the second round at UFC 298. El Matador remains undefeated with 13 of his 15 triumphs ending with a finish, five by KO/TKO and eight by submission. The King of the Featherweights will look to take out another former champion of the division and continue his reign of terror.
Holloway arguably earned the best win of his career when he knocked out Justin Gaethje in the last second of the fight to become the BMF title holder at UFC 300. Blessed is dangerous on the feet, earning 12 of his 26 victories by KO/TKO, but has left some healthy damage to his opponents when going the full distance. The #2 Featherweight contender tries to become a two-time Featherweight Champion and become the first fighter to defeat the undefeated Georgian.
Written by Charlie Oxtoby
Instagram: charlue_oxtoby
MMA Instagram: undisputed._.mma
Twitter: Charlie_Oxtoby1
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