The latest UFC PPV lands in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Yas Island plays host to UFC 308 with a bevy of interesting matchups set to take place in the United Arab Emirates.
The main event sees one of the best matchups the sport can make at present when featherweight champion Ilia Topuria puts his title on the line against former champion and current BMF titleholder Max Holloway.
Topuria (15-0) ended Alexander Volkanovski’s five-year title reign earlier this year, the only featherweight to beat Volkanovski. Topuria accomplished a feat that Holloway failed to do on three separate occasions.
Equipped with terrifying power and submission skills, Spain and Georgia’s first UFC champion is ready to build his legacy.
Holloway has been the 1B at 145 pounds since first losing to Volkanovski in 2019. Since then, “Blessed” has bested everyone he’s fought in the division besides his fellow former champion. Riding a three-fight winning streak, including the 2024 Knockout of the Year frontrunner against Justin Gaethje in a lightweight BMF title fight.
“I want the accolades; I want records,” Holloway told UFC.com. “Everybody keeps (asking), ‘Who’s the best featherweight champion of all time?’
It has to be Jose Aldo. He has all the stats… How do you go against stats? He has what, (seven) title defenses? I have three. I would love to get more.
“If you want to be the G.O.A.T., you got to beat the G.O.A.T. and beat his records. You got to beat him (and) you got to beat the records. I’m coming for them.”
Beyond the main event is a loaded undercard filled with some of the top talents of the region and that side of the world. Look no further than the co-main event where a new title challenger could emerge after Khamzat Chimaev and Robert Whittaker collide. Chimaev, long considered a future star and champion, finally gets his chance to shine after multiple illnesses and injuries have slowed his progress. Chimaev exploded onto the scene in 2020 with activity, including two stoppage wins in 10 days. However, he’s fought just three times since April 2022. He faces a former champion in Whittaker who just continues to go about his business in workman-like fashion. Whittaker is 3-1 since losing his rematch with Israel Adesanya for the middleweight title in 2022.
