One of the biggest title fights the UFC could book has been rubber-stamped, with the undisputed featherweight title on the line at UFC 308.
The event, which takes place on October 26 on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, will feature a huge clash for the 145-pound title, as newly-crowned champion Ilia Topuria puts his title on the line for the very first time as he takes on current BMF champion and former longtime featherweight king Max Holloway.
The fight was announced on social media by UFC CEO Dana White, who said the Topuria was “the best combat sports athlete to come out of Spain, and his career is coming full-circle, because he made his UFC debut in Abu Dhabi.”
Holloway, meanwhile, heads into the bout after one of the most spectacular wins of his, and any UFC fighter’s, career, thanks to a stunning last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje to capture the BMF title fight at UFC 298.
Holloway moved up a division to lightweight to take on “The Highlight” and, after having the better of the action through the five-round clash, invited noted knockout artist Gaethje to stand and bang in the final seconds of the fight, then knocked him out cold in an iconic finish that will be replayed in every UFC highlight reel from now on.
Now Holloway is set to return to his natural weight class to take on Topuria in a bid to recapture the featherweight title he held for more than two years.
White also highlighted Holloway’s other remarkable stats, saying, “Max holds the record for most strikes landed, most featherweight wins, most featherweight finishes, and third longest UFC win streak, at 13!”
The event will also feature a five-round middleweight title eliminator between former champion Robert Whittaker and undefeated Khamzat Chimaev, while heavyweight contenders collide on the main card, as France’s Ciryl Gane takes on Russia’s in-form former Bellator heavyweight champion Alexander Volkov.
Light heavyweight contenders will also go head to head, as Russia’s Magomed Ankalaev will bid to earn a shot at the 205-pound title against hard-hitting Austrian striker Aleksandar Rakic.
UFC 308: Confirmed fights
- Ilia Topuria (c) vs. Max Holloway – for undisputed featherweight title
- Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev – five-round middleweight bout
- Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov – heavyweight
- Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic – light heavyweight
