.Oct 26, 2024, 12:32 PM ETUndefeated UFC light champion Ilia Topuria helps make the first protection of his title versus former champ Max Holloway in the main celebration of UFC 308 at Etihad Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.Topuria (15-0) succeeded the belt in February with a second-round ko of Alexander Volkanovski. Topuria is actually No. 3 in the ESPN pound-for-pound guys's rankings.The 10th-ranked Holloway (26-7), that ruled from June 2017 until December 2019, has succeeded three fights in a row, most just recently a KO of Justin Gaethje at 4:59 of the 5th cycle in their April battle at lightweight.Brett Okamoto, Andreas Hale, Jeff Wagenheim and Dre Waters break down all the action coming from UFC 308. How to view the fightsWatch the pay-per-view as well as prelims on ESPN+: Receive ESPN+ here.There's also FightCenter, which delivers online updates for every single UFC memory card.UFC 308 battle cardESPN+ PPV, 2 p.m. ETFeatherweight championship: Ilia Topuria (c) vs. Max 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 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 journeying MMA boxer's hardest rival while overseas? SleepFor a lot of the globe, being completely operational at work without a great night of rest offers a considerable challenge. The good news is, the majority of don't must worry about being actually typed the face. Nevertheless, for boxers running without proper sleeping, the margin for inaccuracy at their place of employment is actually microscopic and also can be the variation in between a victory as well as waking up on the canvas. Couple of navigate these less-than-optimal traveling conditions along with Maximum Holloway." I stay in the center of the sea," Holloway pointed out in a job interview along with the UFC's Megan Olivi as he readied to complete in the UAE for the third time. "No matter what technique I go, it is actually a long way." There is actually no such trait as a home ready Holloway. He have not combated in Hawaii since his fourth qualified match in 2011. Ever since, the existing BMF champion has actually competed while driving in the UFC for 29 qualified matches all over eight time zones.Read the story.UFC 308 battle rankings: Performs any sort of matchup top Topuria vs. Holloway?The sales sound for the lightweight championship clash between Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway can easily stay with current celebrations. It can easily begin and end in very early 2024. One battle each-- the best current for each of them-- is actually all our team need to learn about to be sold on Saturday's matchup in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.For Topuria, that a person engaging fight took place in February, when he seized away the belt with a ko that suddenly finished Alexander Volkanovski's four-year regime. When it comes to Holloway, his cold call came pair of months later on, when he authored possibly the best KO in mixed martial arts record by sending Justin Gaethje face-first to the canvass along with only one second staying in their 5th shot of violence.Read the story.UFC 308 initial appeal: Big inquiries on Topuria-Holloway, Chimaev's yield, moreIlia Topuria took possession of the instant at UFC 298 when he encountered some of the featherweight GOATs, Alexander Volkanovski. Topuria dethroned Volkanovski in February as well as ended up being the 145-pound champ. Eight months eventually, Topuria is going to now handle arguably the other lightweight GOAT, as Maximum Holloway are going to look to reclaim his title.Andreas Hale, Brett Okamoto as well as Jeff Wagenheim deliver their initial ideas, study and forecasts on UFC 308. Go through the story.Best active mixed martial arts ko artists throughout body weight classesMaybe we need to put one thing additional on the line when Holloway obstacles Topuria on Oct. 26. Along with the UFC featherweight champion, just how regarding our team additionally break a connection and also declare the champion as the leading KO performer at 145 pounds?. That could be the scenario, obviously, only if the individual that goes out of the cage along with the belt has protected the gain using knockout. And it'll be actually a significant success if it takes place, as Topuria is actually unbeaten as well as Holloway has actually never been actually knocked out in 33 professional fights.Read the story.2024 mixed martial arts midyear awards: Unanimous winners, rare submittings as well as legendary knockoutsThere will definitely never be actually an opinion "best knockout in UFC background," however Holloway's KO of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in April might be the best well-liked pick. Filling in the center of the Octagon in the last few seconds of a five-round fight he was actually precisely gaining as well as resting Gaethje-- it was just all Holloway. It specified Holloway as a competitor and an individual. The simple fact it took place up a weight class in a BMF headline battle couldn't have been actually anymore perfect.Read the account.