It doesn’t matter what occurs with Max Holloway and Robert Whittaker at UFC 308, these former champions are proof you’ll be able to’t maintain a superb fighter down.
First, let’s speak about Holloway, the present “BMF” champion and former featherweight champion trying to regain the latter title when he takes on the undefeated Ilia Topuria in Saturday’s essential occasion in Abu Dhabi. Holloway had a superb run as champion from 2017 to 2019 earlier than operating into rival Alexander Volkanovski, a fellow future Corridor of Famer that simply so occurs to be his excellent foil. Holloway’s incapability to get one over on Volkanovski appeared to sign the tip of his run as 145’s high canine, however he simply stored profitable robust fights, placing on spectacular performances, and creating viral moments to the purpose that he compelled his means again into the title dialog.
Now we’ll see if Holloway can cap off some of the feel-good tales we’ve ever seen.
The stakes aren’t fairly as excessive for Whittaker within the co-main occasion, however he faces an analogous problem as he takes on a gifted opponent who has by no means tasted defeat. Whittaker confronted his personal model of Volkanovski within the type of then-champion Israel Adesanya and future champion Dricus du Plessis, two opponents that relegated Whittaker to contender standing. However like Holloway, he’s crawled his means again into spitting distance of a title, and an upset of Chimaev could have followers blowing up Dana White’s socials to present “The Reaper” his due.
Everybody ought to respect what Holloway and Whittaker try to attain right here, as a result of nobody would have blamed them in the event that they gave up on their championship goals once they have been at their lowest.
In different essential card motion, No. 1 mild heavyweight contender seems to be to turn into, uh, much more the No. 1 contender (?) when he fights Aleksandar Rakic, Lerone Murphy meets Dan Ige in a bout with sneaky featherweight title implications, and the favored Shara Bullet opens the principle card towards Armen Petrosyan.
What: UFC 308
The place: Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi
When: Saturday, Oct. 26. The eight-fight preliminary card begins at 10 a.m. ET on ESPN+, adopted by the five-fight essential card at 2 p.m. ET solely on ESPN+ pay-per-view
(Numbers in parentheses point out standing in MMA Combating’s World Rankings and Pound-for-Pound Rankings)
Ilia Topuria (1, P4P-4) vs. Max Holloway (3, P4P-T9)
Whether or not you’re rooting for Max Holloway or not, there’s loads of cause to consider he can beat Ilia Topuria apart from good vibes.
Sure, Topuria beat Alexander Volkanovski and Volkanovski beat Holloway 3 times, however put apart the MMA math and also you’ll see this can be a basic case of types making fights. The “end quick” thoughts set Topuria employed towards Volkanovski gained’t serve him as properly towards the titanium-chinned Holloway. If Topuria goes too arduous within the opening rounds, he may discover himself swimming upstream within the championship frames.
It’s on Holloway to make him work although. Holloway’s combination of excessive quantity and precision will give Topuria complications, however Topuria’s technical expertise are so sharp, he may catch Holloway with a number of the similar pictures that felled Volkanovski. I don’t anticipate Holloway to go down and keep down, however may Topuria turn into simply the second fighter to knock him down? I see it.
I’m wanting previous the entire bizarre facet quests Topuria appears decided to speak about and trusting him to be at his finest on combat evening, as a result of when he’s on, he’s legitimately one of many 5 finest fighters on this planet. Topuria could make an enormous assertion with a convincing win over Holloway and whereas I don’t anticipate him to dominate from bell-to-bell, he ought to come out with a controversy-free choice victory.
Decide: Topuria
Robert Whittaker (4) vs. Khamzat Chimaev (12)
Look, I can’t let you know for positive I didn’t write all these good issues about Robert Whittaker and Max Holloway to melt the blow of me choosing towards them each. However I’m choosing towards then each.
Dricus du Plessis wrote the blueprint for bullying Whittaker and as a lot as Whittaker discovered from that loss, I don’t assume he he has a solution for the sheer physicality of Khamzat Chimaev. I’ve by no means hopped off the Chimaev bandwagon, assured in my perception he can beat anybody so long as he makes it to the cage.
As I write this, there’s nonetheless loads of time for Saturday’s co-main occasion to fall by way of, however assuming Chimaev makes the stroll, I anticipate his unreal mixture of power, pace, wrestling skill, and uncooked energy to be on full show. We’ll know early if Whittaker is poised to play the spoiler if he can stuff a number of Chimaev takedowns and keep away from early flurries on the toes. Don’t neglect, this can be a five-round combat, and if Whittaker takes it previous Spherical 3, Chimaev’s possibilities of profitable lower exponentially with each passing minute.
So this can be a leap of religion of kinds as I’m going with Chimaev to maintain his act collectively and end Whittaker within the first or second spherical.
Decide: Chimaev
Magomed Ankalaev (3) vs. Aleksandar Rakic (7)
That is simply the last word banana peel for Magomed Ankalaev.
Unbeaten in 12 straight fights, Ankalaev is one way or the other vulnerable to probably dropping out on what ought to have been a surefire crack on the mild heavyweight title to Aleksandar Rakic, regardless of Rakic coming off of two straight losses separated by a two-year damage layoff. MMA.
Rakic is a menace, too! He regarded sharp in his comeback combat earlier than getting Prochazka’d and if he sticks to the sport plan of leg kicks and counter combos, it might be a significant issue for Ankalaev. When Ankalaev fought to a draw with Jan Blachowicz, a lot of his struggles got here because of Blachowicz chipping away at his leg for the primary three rounds. Then Ankalaev went to his wrestling to show the combat on its head.
Ought to he take into account specializing in his wrestling to stifle Rakic’s offense? It couldn’t damage, although the rangy Rakic has proven good takedown protection when he’s had to make use of it. With solely three rounds to work—and extra importantly, to impress Dana White—Ankalaev might need to throw warning to the wind and stick with a standup duel.
That gained’t be an issue for Ankalaev, an awesome striker that has surprisingly been labeled as an unappealing challenger for Pereira regardless of half of his UFC wins coming by the use of knockout. He’ll combine the martial arts to interrupt Rakic’s rhythm if it involves it, however when it’s time to complete, Ankalaev will let free together with his limbs and take Rakic out.
Decide: Ankalaev
Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige (15)
After a number of years the place he struggled to string collectively fights, Lerone Murphy is lastly within the swing of issues and now it’s only a matter of constructing that brutal climb up the featherweight ladder. Dan Ige is the following logical step, a veteran that has gone the gap with the very best of them even when he’s fallen wanting proving he’s a top-10 fighter himself.
Murphy confirmed off an unimaginable strain recreation in his current win over Edson Barboza, however don’t anticipate Ige to wilt towards the identical techniques. “50K” is at all times in nice form and a tough quarter-hour gained’t hassle him within the slightest. I’m guessing we see Murphy mixing up his techniques extra, stinging Ige on the toes when he finds a gap and taking him down if the standup exchanges get too sizzling.
General although, I like Murphy to edge out an in depth placing battle, doing simply sufficient to beat Ige to the punch and forestall him from getting his personal offense going. It gained’t be straightforward, however Murphy’s undefeated streak continues.
Decide: Murphy
Shara Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan
Don’t ask me why, I’m anticipating a lot weirdness on this matchup.
“Shara Bullet” ought to win this based mostly on his ending skill and unpredictable motion, however they haven’t given him a layup in Armen Petrosyan. The Russian-Armenian kickboxer makes a speciality of drawn-out, methodical standup fights, which may result in frustration for Magomedov (and people of us watching at dwelling). Neither fighter has proven an inclination to push the tempo, so stay up for lengthy stretches of halfhearted flicks and feints as they work to goad the opposite man right into a mistake.
That stated, I can’t shake the thought that this combat can be stuffed with odd fouls, a stressed crowd calling for extra motion, and perhaps even a scoring controversy if we’re fortunate. Magomedov brings an enormous following with him at any time when he steps into the octagon and there’s star potential there, however I stay unconvinced he can impose his will on a combat. Blissful to be confirmed mistaken.
Magomedov by choice?
Decide: Magomedov
Ibo Aslan def. Raffael Cerqueira
Rafael dos Anjos def. Geoff Neal (13)
Myktybek Orolbai def. Mateusz Rebecki
Brunno Ferreira def. Abus Magomedov
Chris Barnett def. Kennedy Nzechukwu
Farid Basharat def. Victor Hugo
Ismail Naurdiev def. Bruno Silva
Rinat Fakhretdinov def. Carlos Leal
