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411’s UFC 308 Report: Topuria KOs Holloway

October 26, 2024 | Posted by Robert Winfree
UFC 308 Image Credit: UFC

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 2 p.m. ET)
(c) Ilia Topuria (145 lbs.) vs. #2 Max Holloway (145 lbs.) – for featherweight title
#13 Khamzat Chimaev (186 lbs.) vs. #3 Robert Whittaker (185.5 lbs.)
#1 Magomed Ankalaev (204.5 lbs.) vs. #5 Aleksandar Rakic (206 lbs.)
#14 Dan Ige (146 lbs.) vs. #12 Lerone Murphy (145.5 lbs.)
Shara Magomedov (185 lbs.) vs. Armen Petrosyan (186 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 10 a.m. ET)
Ibo Aslan (205 lbs.) vs. Raffael Cerqueira (203 lbs.)
#15 Rafael dos Anjos (171 lbs.) vs. #10 Geoff Neal (171 lbs.)
Myktybek Orolbai (159 lbs.) vs. Mateusz Rebecki (160 lbs.)
Brunno Ferreira (185.5 lbs.) vs. Abus Magomedov (185 lbs.)
Chris Barnett (264 lbs.) vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu (241 lbs.)
Farid Basharat (137 lbs.) vs. Victor Hugo (145.5 lbs.)
Ismail Naurdiev (185 lbs.) vs. Bruno Silva (186 lbs.)
Rinat Fakhretdinov (171 lbs.) vs. Carlos Leal (169.5 lbs.)

Hello everyone and welcome to 411mania’s LIVE coverage of UFC 308, I’m Robert Winfree and I’ll be your host for the event. Today the UFC is back in the United Arab Emirates because at least one of the fighters on this card can’t get into the United States, but whatever the reason this PPV is headlined by arguably the best fight that can be made in the whole sport. Ilia Topuria has risen through the featherweight ranks to claim the title when he knocked out Alex Volkanovski earlier this year and now has the chance to firmly put the last generation of featherweight champions in his rear view mirror against Max Holloway. Holloway knocked out Justin Gaethje in what is most likely the Knockout of the Year at UFC 300, Holloway is a beloved figure and is one of the greats, how he matches up with Topuria is one of the most interesting questions in the sport. The co-main event is another relevant fight, Robert Whittaker is looking to build towards another title fight while Khamzat Chimaev is trying to recapture the hype and spark he had four or so years ago but a win over Whittaker would largely do that and might even secure a title shot. We’ve also got Magomed Ankalaev and Aleksandar Rakic and given the wasteland of light heavyweight this is a very important fight, plus Dan Ige vs. Lerone Murphy is getting overlooked but it’s a solid fight. The prelims have a few things, Rafael dos Anjos vs. Geoff Neal and Myktybek Orolbai vs. Mateusz Rebecki both deserve circling on the card. Beyond that it’s a little more hit and miss but all in all a pretty solid offering on paper. Now let’s hope it lives up to expectations.

UFC 308 comes to the world from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Jon Anik, Daniel Cormier, and Paul Felder will be on the call with John Gooden as our roving reporter. The countdown is on to the new rules being in the near future but they’re not in play just yet. I think we’ll have instant replay since the UFC basically self regulates but we’ll only know for sure if a situation comes up where it might be relevant.

Rinat Fakhretdinov has gone 4-0-1 in the UFC but has managed just one finish during that stretch and most recently fought to a split decision with Nicolas Dalby, he’s still got some hype because of his absurd 21 fight winning streak but needs to turn in a memorable performance to begin making headway in the division. Carlos Leal brings a two fight winning streak into his UFC debut and a win over a talent with the success of Fakhretdinov would be a heck of a way to announce your arrival on the big stage. The odds like Fakhretdinov at -230 against +190 for Leal.

Welterweight Bout: Rinat Fakhretdinov (21-1-1, 171 lbs.) vs. Carlos Leal (21-5, 169.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Fakhretdinov is an inch taller while the reach is identical. The body acne on Leal is genuinely impressive, dude must have been on a lot of juice. They touch gloves to get us going. Fakhretdinov lands an inside leg kick then begins probing with the lead hand. A few calf kicks go back and forth. Double leg from Fakhretdinov, Leal pretty quickly wall walks into a clinch. A few knees to the leg and body from Fakhretdinov. Leal is able to land a knee then break. They trade some punches then Leal sprawls away from a double leg. Fakhretdinov lands a couple of left hooks. Double leg from Fakhretdinov, quickly Leal pops up into a clinch. Leal is able to break and they trade punches again. Both men probe with the lead hand again. Leal goes southpaw and lands a left. They trade power hand punches. Fakhretdinov with a few jabs. Both men land left hooks. Leal avoids a takedown then lands a right hand. Fakhretdinov tries a double leg, Leal defends. Bit of a high kick from Fakhretdinov then they split a few jabs to end the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Fakhretdinov but a close one

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves for the second round. Fakhretdinov misses a few punches then Leal lands a calf kick. A few front kicks from Fakhretdinov then lands a left hook. Knee from Fakhretdinov in close. Leal lands a one two. They both swing heavy punches in close. Calf kick from Leal. Leal is building his offense now. Jabs from Fakhretdinov are landing now. Leal lands a calf kick then a right hand and another calf kick. Fakhretdinov is playing with southpaw after those calf kicks but he does land a right hand. Fakhretdinov pushes into a clinch but his takedown game is not layered and Leal is really blocking his double legs. Leal is able to spin out of the clinch. Left hand from Fakhretdinov. One two from Fakhretdinov. Leal lands a one two. Calf kick from Leal, then he blocks a double leg and they trade rights. Both men are swinging in close but they’re not quite landing from the pocket. Fakhretdinov lands a couple of jabs then Leal lands a calf kick. Leal with a front kick, Fakhretdinov returns it then lands a right hand. Calf kick from Leal bothers Fakhretdinov. Fakhretdinov hits a takedown against the fence. Some rights from Fakhretdinov land to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Leal, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: They hug to start the last round. Leal lands a calf kick. They trade some jabs, Leal then avoids a takedown and digs body shots against the fence but Fakhretdinov lands a left hand. Fakhretdinov lands a right hand. Fakhretdinov fails another takedown. Left hook from Fakhretdinov. Leal looks to be fading just a bit. Fakhretdinov punches into a clinch on the fence. They break without incident. Both men land punches, Fakhretdinov seemed to land better. Back fist from Fakhretdinov then a body kick. Leal with a one two. Leal fights off a takedown and they trade knees in the clinch. Double leg from Leal, he gets to the ride position but Fakhretdinov wall walks and they break. Some punches go back and forth. Elbow from Fakhretdinov in close then a left hook. They trade lefts in close then Fakhretdinov follows with another couple of punches. Leal lands a calf kick. Some slightly sloppy brawling from both men then Leal lands a one two. Leal defends a double leg and lands a knee. Knee from Leal. Fakhretdinov with an elbow in a clinch then a knee. A few punches from Fakhretdinov land. They trade leg kicks then Fakhretdinov lands a one two. They swing punches again as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Leal, 29-28 Leal overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Rinat Fakhretdinov via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

I don’t get the 30-27 there, at a minimum the second felt fairly clear to me. The other rounds were close enough that I’m not up in arms but that’s still not a strong indicator for the judging tonight. Oh, and commentary is totally miffed by that decision. No interview for the winner.

I’m not fully on calling the whole decision a joke, but that 30-27 is just bad and that judge needs to get the ax if he’s on any other fights tonight.

Ismail Narudiev was cut from the UFC in 2020 after going 2-2 in the promotion, now he’s made his way back and is hoping that moving up to middleweight will yield better results. Bruno Silva had a good run going for a bit early in his UFC time but recently he’s 1-5 in his last six fights and is on a three fight losing streak, he really needs a win here or he could get cut from the UFC. Narudiev is the -170 favorite to a +140 comeback on Silva.

Middleweight Bout: Ismail Naurdiev (23-7, 185 lbs.) vs. Bruno Silva (23-11, 186 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Silva is two inches taller but the reach is identical. They touch gloves to get us going. Silva starts looking to jab right away, he also looks to be the bigger man not just the taller one. Naurdiev with an inside leg kick and some punches, Silva is playing southpaw now. Body kick from Naurdiev. Naurdiev jabs the body but there was an early calf kick from Naurdiev that seems to have prompted the move to southpaw. Short right hook from Silva. Naurdiev catches a high kick then lands a left hand as they clinch up. A few lefts from Naurdiev as he’s got Silva on the fence. Elbow from Naurdiev then Silva blocks some punches as they break. Naurdiev avoids a leg kick then lands one of his own. Silva avoids a takedown against the fence but Naurdiev has slipped to his hip and is driving him down onto his hands. They settle into a clinch, knee from Naurdiev then they trade elbows and break. Double leg from Naurdiev, Silva is seated on the cage and Naurdiev mounts the legs. A few punches from Naurdiev then he jumps to the backpack as Silva stands. Naurdiev is fishing for the choke but wont find it and Silva is able to fight free. Nothing else happens before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Naurdiev

ROUND TWO: Naurdiev lands a body kick. Jab from Silva. Bit of a right from Naurdiev in close. Silva goes orthodox now and misses a calf kick. Naurdiev jabs the body. Right hand from Naurdiev to off balance a kicking Silva then he gets to the ride position. Naurdiev with some elbows as he’s got Silva sitting on the fence. Silva wall walks but Naurdiev is after a double leg, though Silva defends and lands an elbow before they break. Naurdiev lands a few jabs while circling. Silva badly reaches for a takedown, Naurdiev grabs a standing guillotine and pushes him to the fence then lands a knee before Silva pushes free. Knee from Naurdiev in close. Naurdiev with a double leg then mounts the legs against the fence. Naurdiev lands punches then Silva moves to the turtle position. More punches from Naurdiev from the ride position. Silva just looks a little listless and Naurdiev hits a few more punches to the body and head. Silva is able to wall walk then Naurdiev lands a body shot as they break. Silva swings a couple of lefts. Naurdiev with jabs of his own then a bit of a one two. They clinch again but Silva slips free as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Naurdiev, 20-18 Naurdiev overall

ROUND THREE: Naurdiev jabs the body to start the round. Silva shows a few kicks. Naurdiev lands a body kick then tries a double leg against the fence which turns into a clinch. A few lefts from Naurdiev land then a couple of knees and a body shot. Naurdiev lands another knee before they break. Silva with a left hand then a front kick. Naurdiev fights off a takedown and grabs a front headlock, he lands a couple of legal knees and in a couple more weeks the hands being down wont make you downed. Some jabs from Naurdiev after they break the clinch. Naurdiev lands a right hand and tries a double leg that stalls out on the fence. Silva avoids an inside trip then lands a knee but Naurdiev lands a punch as they break. They trade lefts. Solid right hand from Naurdiev. Calf kick from Naurdiev when Silva went orthodox. They trade punches then Silva finds a knee. Naurdiev keeps chopping with leg kicks as he’s backing Silva up to the fence. Some more jabs from Naurdiev as he circles away the final seconds.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Naurdiev, 30-27 Naurdiev overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Ismail Narudiev via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

No surprises on the scorecards that time. Narudiev gets an interview, he expected a tough fight then thanks the king of Morocco. He puts over his coaches to close.

Farid Basharat is undefeated including three wins in the UFC, he’s looking to begin the transition from prospect to contender with another win here. Victor Hugo has a 14 fight winning streak including his UFC debut from April but he’s also the reason this fight is at featherweight as he couldn’t even sniff 135 on weigh in day and Basharat agreed to move it up to featherweight, and he’ll need a good performance to try and smooth that whole issue over. Basharat is among the bigger favorites on the card at -800 while Hugo’s comeback sits at +550.

Featherweight Bout: Farid Basharat (12-0, 137 lbs.) vs. Victor Hugo (25-4, 145.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Basharat is an inch taller while Hugo has half an inch of reach advantage, and of course the weight issues are on display. The “woos” have begun now. Basharat avoids a punch and lands a right hand. Hugo is probing with leg kicks now. Hugo lands a left hook. Basharat with a right hand. Hugo pushes into a clinch and they start jockeying for position then break apart. Jab from Hugo. Hugo checks a calf kick. Basharat tries a takedown but Hugo defends. Hugo jabs the body. Basharat lands a right hand. Spinning elbow from Hugo lands. Basharat lands a jab. Hugo with an Imanari roll into a leg lock, he’s got the leg tied up but Basharat is able to get his leg free and gets on top. Side control for Basharat. Hugo rolls and gets to his feet. Basharat misses a wheel kick. Right hand from Hugo in close. Right hand from Basharat. Hugo misses a spinning back kick. Basharat lands a right hand, Hugo ties up the legs and grabs at a heel hook as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Basharat but a close one

ROUND TWO: Hugo pressures forward and lands a knee. Inside leg kick from Hugo. Jumping knee to the body from Basharat, that bothers Hugo and Basharat looks to follow up. Hugo lands a calf kick, he seems recovered and kicks the calf a few more times. Basharat lands a right hand. Hugo misses a spinning elbow. Basharat lands another right hand. Some jabs go back and forth then Basharat lands a calf kick. Left hook from Hugo. Basharat lands a counter right hand. A lot of stance switching from Basharat now as he’s moving around. They trade power hand punches. Bit of a right from Hugo. Hugo lands a left hook that bothers Basharat, then another one. Basharat tries a knee but winds up clinched and Hugo gets a takedown. Quick wall walk from Basharat and they reset. Southpaw for Hugo for a moment and he lands a front kick before going back orthodox. Back elbow from Hugo lands. Basharat misses a wheel kick. Left hook then a right hand from Basharat. Spinning back kick from Hugo partially lands to end the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Basharat but another close one, 20-18 Basharat overall

ROUND THREE: Both men come out swinging punches. Basharat tries a single leg but Hugo defends. Right uppercut from Hugo then he off balances Basharat with a spinning back kick and Basharat comes up to clinch. They break and Hugo lands a right hand. Hugo just wont stop coming forward, he feels he needs a finish. Basharat grabs a clinch and lands a knee then breaks. Hugo lands a left hook but Basharat counters with a left. Basharat hits a takedown into guard. Hugo quickly to rubber guard, Basharat pulls free of that and passes to side control. Hugo tries a buggy choke but Basharat is able to avoid it getting fully locked up and slips to the ride position. Full guard now for Hugo again then he stands with Basharat on his back. Basharat with a mat return then gets one hook in and grabs at the choke but can’t find it. Hugo is able to wall walk into the clinch, he lands an elbow but Basharat hits a single leg forcing a scramble and they reset on the feet. Hugo avoids a takedown. Basharat winds up in the ride position again after a brief scramble. A few lefts from Basharat then he gets both hooks in. Body triangle for Basharat. Hugo is able to break that and get full guard but Basharat is all over him. Basharat avoids a leg entanglement and they stand just before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Basharat, 30-27 Basharat overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Farid Basharat via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

Hugo might have gotten either the first or second, the second is probably more likely. Mic time for Basharat, he wants respect and wants to be ranked after this win which is a bit of a stretch given how stacked bantamweight is. He admits to having to shift his game after the weight class change but he did make the adjustment and got the win.

Kennedy Nzechukwu has been up and down but most recently lost his last two fights and now he’s moving up to heavyweight hoping to breathe some life back into his UFC run. Chris Barnett stepped in on fairly short notice to replace Marcos Rogerio de Lima and he’s been out of action for a little over two years, but he did win his last fight and now looks for his first winning streak since 2020. Another heavy favorite here, Nzechukwu stands at -750 while +525 on Barnett might tempt a few bettors out there.

Heavyweight Bout: Chris Barnett (23-8, 264 lbs.) vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu (12-5, 241 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Nzechukwu has a big eight inches of height and reach advantage. They touch gloves, both men fighting southpaw. Nzechukwu starts stance switching. A few inside leg kicks go back and forth. Bit of a left from Barnett. Nzechukwu keeps stalking forward and lands a front kick. One two from Nzechukwu. Inside leg kick from Barnett. Nzechukwu keeps with the front kicks then avoids a wheel kick. More front kicks from Nzechukwu then a left hand. There’s something wrong with Barnett’s left foot I think, he’s not moving much on it. Nzechukwu keeps landing front kicks then misses a head kick. That leg is bothering Barnett and the body work from Nzechukwu isn’t helping things. Barnett can’t really move well on that leg, if he gets out of the round they should not let him out for the second. Nzechukwu with front kicks then a punch. Knee from Nzechukwu then a few punches, Barnett is covering up and swings back but he slips down and clutches his left leg as the fight is stopped.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Kennedy Nzechukwu via TKO, punches, at 4:27 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Nzechukwu for his work this morning. It actually looks like Barnett might have started that injury during his introduction, really unfortunate for him. Mic time for Nzechukwu, he thanks God first and then plays with the crowd. He talks about working on his front kicks and how he’s been trying to upgrade and get away from just using athleticism. Asked about the future he’ll fight whoever.

Abus Magomedov has gone 2-2 in the UFC but he is coming off of a win and now looks for his first UFC winning streak. Brunno Ferreira has gone 3-1 in the UFC and is on a two fight winning streak, and he’s hoping to prove he’s ready for a step up in class with a third win in a row here. Magomedov closed as a slight -155 favorite to Ferreira’s +130.

Heavyweight Bout: Brunno Ferreira (12-1, 185.5 lbs.) vs. Abus Magomedov (26-6-1, 185 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Magomedov is four inches taller with a significant six inches of reach advantage. Ferreira switches his stance while circling early. Jumping kick from Magomedov partially lands, he’s doing some stance switching as well. Ferreira blocks a left hook. Calf kick from Magomedov. Ferreira with a front kick. A bit of feinting, both men are coiled but not really unloading yet. Ferreira blocks a high kick. Magomedov lands a jab. Ferreira misses a couple of hooks. Magomedov lands a front kick, he’s been doing a lot of poking with kicks. Bit of a right from Ferreira. Magomedov lands a one two. They stare away the final seconds.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Magomedov

ROUND TWO: Both men feint a bit to start the round. Ferreira starts moving forward and checking leg kicks then lands a left to the body. They trade jabs. Magomedov starts pressing forward but Ferreira lands a lunging left. Bit of a one two from Ferreira. Glancing right from Ferreira. A right from Ferreira staggers Magomedov then he lands a high kick, Magomedov hits a takedown to stifle the momentum though. Ferreira is fishing for a guillotine from half guard but there’s not much there for him. Magomedov with some body shots. Ferreira to his knees and Magomedov jumps to the back with both hooks in. Ferreira scrambles to his feet and they separate. Right hand from Ferreira. Magomedov might be wilting a bit, Ferreira’s pressure is upping and he lands a body kick. Left hand from Ferreira and he blocks a takedown. Another left from Ferreira lands. Magomedov is really bothered, Ferreira backs him up and lands punches but Magomedov lands an elbow and hits a mat return to again slow things down. Ferreira to his knees but Magomedov is able to push him over and get on top in full guard. Magomedov is just slowing things down here and looking to recover. Magomedov passes to half guard. The round will end there.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Ferreira, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Both men continue stance switching as they move around. Ferreira punches into a clinch and lands a knee but Magomedov lands a bit of a right as they break. Bit of a left from Ferreira. Magomedov lands a left hook. Clubbing left from Ferreira. Both men miss punches. Ferreira with a one two, Magomedov tries a takedown and eventually finishes it against the fence. Half guard for Magomedov as he looks to ice the round. Ferreira gives up the back but Magomedov only gets one hook in before Ferreira spins to his feet. Both men look tired, Magomedov just hits a double leg to again try and ice things. Magomedov passes to full mount then tries an arm triangle, it’s pretty tight and he’s able to get the tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Abus Magomedov via Submission, arm triangle choke, at 3:14 of Round 3

The Final Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Magomedov for his work. Mic time for Magomedov, he’s really happy to have won. He talks us through the finish to close.

Mateusz Rebecki has gone 3-1 in the UFC but had a 16 fight winning streak broken in his last fight and now he’s trying to avoid his first ever losing streak. Myktybek Orolbai has an eight fight winning streak going including two in the UFC, if he can get a third here it could signify he’s ready to start moving from prospect to contender. The odds are with Orolbai at a rather heavy -350 while +270 on Rebecki might be a tempting value bet.

Catchweight Bout: Myktybek Orolbai (13-1-1, 159 lbs.) vs. Mateusz Rebecki (19-2, 160 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Orolbai is two inches taller with a big eight inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Rebecki as he starts pushing forward. Both men punch into a clinch but nothing comes of it. Left hook from Orolbai. Rebecki misses a few punches then lands an inside leg kick. Right uppercut from Orolbai. Rebecki with a left hand. Orolbai side kicks the leg. They trade in close. Bit of a right from Orolbai. Rebecki lands a few punches but Orolbai just eats them. Right hand from Orolbai. Rebecki lands a left to the body. Rebecki avoids a clinch. Left to the body from Rebecki then Orolbai lands a right hand. High kick from Orolbai partially lands. Rebecki lands a left hand. Glancing right from Orolbai. Rebecki lands a left hook and now Orolbai’s right eye is a little damaged. They wrestle briefly but nothing comes of it. Bit of an elbow from Orolbai but his right eye is really swelling up. A right from Orolbai off balances Rebecki before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Rebecki

ROUND TWO: The doctor is in to check the right eye of Orolbai, it’s really badly swollen but he can see enough to continue apparently. They touch gloves for the second round. Orolbai starts pressuring forward. Short left from Rebecki. Orolbai with a right hand then a high kick. Rebecki fights off a single leg then lands a left hand. A hard right from Orolbai bothers Rebecki. Orolbai is finding the right hand now and he’s looking to wear down Rebecki. Rebecki gets the back in a clinch and looks to slow things down. Orolbai gets into a clinch and hits a takedown but can’t capitalize and they just reset. A left hand from Rebecki lands. They trade power hand punches a few times. Rebecki lands another left hand. Orolbai side kicks the leg. Bit of a right from Orolbai. Another right from Orolbai. Rebecki misses a left hand. Orolbai is landing a right uppercut when they get close, he’s grabbing a collar tie to guide the punch. Orolbai tries a double leg, that hits the fence though and he has to switch to an outside reap. Rebecki is cut around the right eyebrow and moves to his knees. Orolbai with rights to the head as they stand up into a clinch. Rebecki is able to slip free. Orolbai keeps up the pressure and lands a few jabs. Rebecki looks to be fading a bit. They trade left elbows, Orolbai’s just relentless. Another right hand from Orolbai lands to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Orolbai, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Both men get back to landing punches. Bit of a right from Orolbai. Right to the body from Orolbai. Orolbai with some jabs, Rebecki lands an inside leg kick. Both men land rights, Orolbai got hurt. Rebecki drops Orolbai with a left hand, he gets around and lands more punches while Orolbai fights to his feet. Rebecki keeps landing punches, the ref could stop this you know. Takedown from Rebecki into side control and he lands a few punches. Orolbai gets half guard but he looks very done. Rebecki lands lefts as Orolbai fights to his feet again. Orolbai pushes Rebecki into the fence and lands a few short punches then slips to the back in the clinch. Orolbai rides Rebecki to his knees and starts landing punches but Rebecki counters with a single leg to get on top. Both men are bleeding quite a bit. Rebecki moves to side control but Orolbai sweeps to get into the ride position. Orolbai with punches to the head and elbows to the body from half guard. Orolbai is after an arm triangle but can’t find it. More punches from Orolbai but he likely needs a finish with 50 seconds left. Rebecki wrestles up into a clinch and they break. Orolbai stalks forward and lands a one two. 20 seconds left. Orolbai with a few jabs but misses a right hand, and then can’t find another strike before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Rebecki, 29-28 Rebecki overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Mateusz Rebecki via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)

That’s going to be tough to beat for Fight of the Night, frankly it might end up in the Fight of the Year discussion. I’m not sure how you can give rounds one or three to Orolbai, he rallied in three but also almost got stopped. Rebecki gets an interview he talks about how hard this fight was especially after his loss in his last fight. He puts over Orlolbai as a fighter to close.

Geoff Neal has gone just 2-4 in his last six fights, most recently dropping a close split decision to Ian Garry, he needs to get back on the winning side of things here if he wants to remain a relevant welterweight. Rafael dos Anjos has been with the UFC since 2008, is a former lightweight champion, and one of those great fighters who tends to get a little lost in the shuffle when talking about great fighters. Dos Anjos has gone 3-3 in his last six fights and has moved around between lightweight and welterweight, he is on a two fight losing streak though and needs to get back on the winning side of things to remain something more than an older fighter still hanging around. Neal is a rather heavy favorite at -310 to a +250 comeback on dos Anjos.

Welterweight Bout: #15 Rafael dos Anjos (32-16, 171 lbs.) vs. #10 Geoff Neal (15-6, 171 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Neal is three inches taller with five inches of reach advantage. Both men fighting southpaw. A bit of feinting from both men, Neal is poking out the jab as well. Dos Anjos lands a calf kick. They’re both showing a fair amount of low kicks. Neal with some jabs to compliment his leg kicks. Left hand from Neal drops dos Anjos and he gets on top. Neal then stands free and makes dos Anjos stand. They trade then clinch and Neal hits a takedown. Again Neal lands punches then makes dos Anjos stand. A left from Neal lands but dos Anjos is clutching his left knee as he sinks down and that’ll prompt the stoppage.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Geoff Neal via TKO, punches/knee injury, at 1:30 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Neal for his work. Neal gets an interview, he puts over dos Anjos as a legend of the sport and he hopes the injury isn’t too severe. He talks us through the finish and then when asked about the future he’ll fight anyone ranked above him. Neal does bring up that he’s the last man to have beaten Belal Muhammad and he’d love to give the new champ a chance to get that one back.

Ibo Aslan has a five fight winning streak going including his UFC debut back in March, he’s trying to continue that success and begin proving he’s a prospect for a division badly in need of them. Raffael Cerqueira is undefeated coming into his UFC debut and he’s hoping to announce himself as a bright talent for the division. Super close one here according to the odds, -115 on Cerqueira to -105 for Aslan.

Light Heavyweight Bout: Ibo Aslan (13-1, 205 lbs.) vs. Raffael Cerqueira (11-0, 203 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Aslan has an inch and a half of reach advantage. General pressure from Aslan, Cerqueira looks taller than him but they’re both listed at 6’3. Left hook from Aslan bothers Cerqueira, he gets close and unloads with punches to the body and head, Cerqueira never drops but he just covers up and the ref eventually steps in to stop things.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Ibo Aslan via TKO, punches, at :51 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Aslan for his work. Mic time for Aslan, he plays with the crowd then talks us through the finish. Asked what he wants next he says he’s coming for everyone in the division.

Well that wraps up the prelims, onto PPV for the main card.

Shara Magomedov is undefeated including three wins in the UFC, he’s looking to continue building hype and prove he might be the next big thing at middleweight. Armen Petrosyan has gone 2-2 in his last four fights but he did lose his last fight and is trying to avoid his first losing streak. Magomedov is the -185 favorite to +155 on Petrosyan.

Middleweight Bout: Shara Magomedov (14-0, 185 lbs.) vs. Armen Petrosyan (9-3, 186 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Petrosyan is an inch taller while Magomedov has two inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves then both men start showing kicks. Petrosyan firing a lot of inside leg kicks to start. Calf kick from Petrosyan. Magomedov with a side kick then they trade rights. Magomedov is hurt and Petrosyan is stalking, he lands another right hand then they clinch on the fence. They break without much incident. Petrosyan lands another few inside leg kicks. Jab from Petrosyan. Magomedov jabs the body, he seems recovered now. Petrosyan keeps picking away with leg kicks to set up his punches. Magomedov with a right hand to counter a high kick. Petrosyan lands a knee to the body then Magomedov lands a right hand. Left hook from Petrosyan. They clash on kicks then Petrosyan catches a side kick and lands a left hand. Right hand from Petrosyan but Magomedov lands a counter left hook. More leg kicks go back and forth, Petrosyan is playing around with southpaw at times. Body kick from Petrosyan. These two are constantly throwing out leg kicks. Right hand from Magomedov. Petrosyan lands a right hand. Side kick from Magomedov, that one was well timed then they both check leg kicks. Petrosyan lands a body kick. Magomedov lands a spinning back fist, Petrosyan then closes the round with a couple of inside leg kicks.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Petrosyan but could go either way

ROUND TWO: Petrosyan throws a body kick to get the second round going. Bit of a leg kick from Petrosyan. More leg kicks from Petrosyan then Magomedov lands a right hand. Magomedov takes a kick to the groin so we’ve got a time out, he doesn’t take too long, around 30 seconds, then we’re back to fighting. They trade and clinch up. They break without incident. Petrosyan checks an inside leg kick. Magomedov lands a side kick. Inside leg kick from Petrosyan. They trade jabs, then Magomedov lands a left hook. Petrosyan’s entries are becoming a tad predictable and Magomedov’s counters are becoming more effective. Magomedov lands a right hand. Right to the body from Magomedov. A few leg kicks from Petrosyan. Magomedov with a high kick that partially lands. Now it’s Petrosyan who takes a kick to the groin so we’ve got another time out. Petrosyan only takes 35 seconds and we’re back to fighting. They get back to landing inside leg kicks. Petrosyan with a body kick. Petrosyan catches a side kick and lands a left hand. Magomedov lands a right to the body then blocks a spinning back fist. Body kick from Petrosyan. Magomedov with some side kicks to the leg. Right hand from Magomedov then a side kick. Magomedov tries a spinning back fist, it’s mostly blocked so he spins on the other side and ENDS Petrosyan.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Shara Magomedov via TKO, spinning back fist, at 4:52 of Round 2

That’s gonna be worth a bonus by the end of the night. Mic time for Magomedov and the translator, he’s very happy and thinks he’s the best striker in the division and would beat Adesanya. He tries to make a pirate and treasure joke but that kind of pun needs a better understanding of English than he has but I wont kill him for trying. Asked about the finish he says he learned that from his older brother and finally got to land it. He closes by thanking the crowd for their support.

Lerone Murphy is undefeated including a stellar 6-0-1 record in the UFC, most recently he scored a good win over Edson Barboza back in May and now looks to further solidify himself as a top featherweight. Dan Ige has been a little up and down going 3-4 in his last seven fights and most recently stepping in on a few hours notice at UFC 303 but now he’s back in action and looking to avoid his first losing streak since 2022. The odds really like Murphy at -270 to Ige’s +220.

Featherweight Bout: #14 Dan Ige (18-8, 146 lbs.) vs. #12 Lerone Murphy (14-0-1, 145.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Murphy is two inches taller with two and a half inches of reach advantage. Ige comes out looking to jab and push forward. Murphy is circling and lands a jab of his own. Leg kick from Ige. Murphy lands a front kick towards the face. Murphy wit a calf kick. Both men are showing some stance switches but Ige prefers orthodox. Body kick from Murphy but Ige is landing and moving forward. Bit of a left from Ige then a double leg against the fence. Murphy has the head wrapped and is looking to start his wall walk. Ige has mounted the legs but Murphy gets half guard. Murphy tries to octopus guard and stand, Ige tries for the back but Murphy is up and lands knees in the clinch. Body shot from Murphy, Ige lands a knee then they break. Ige is cut around the right eyebrow, doesn’t look bad but it’s there and was caused by an elbow. A couple of calf kicks from Ige land. Murphy has mostly slowed the fight down now though and lands a right hand then a spinning back kick. Body kick from Murphy but Ige counters with a punch and drops Murphy. Ige with follow up shots, Murphy stands up and lands an elbow. Ige keeps looking to unload but Murphy with punches then a jumping knee. Murphy is after a takedown and gets Ige down into half guard. Ige tries a kimura sweep, they wind up scrambling as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Ige

ROUND TWO: Both men feinting as the round starts. Murphy jabs the body. They’re both still showing stance switches. Bit of a right from Murphy. Elbow from Murphy as Ige lands a bit of a left. Ige jabs the body. Left hook from Ige. Murphy keeps showing the front kick. A few jabs from Murphy then a spinning back kick. Ige reaches for a takedown, that hits the fence and things settle into a clinch. Murphy spins Ige into the fence and hits the body a few times then a couple of lefts to the head. Ige turns Murphy and they trade elbows then break apart. Bit of a counter right from Murphy then a front kick. Right to the body from Murphy. Ige misses a left hook. Elbow from Murphy, Ige seems to have slowed a bit. They clinch and Murphy hits a takedown then moves to full mount. Murphy postures up and lands an elbow, Ige gives his back but turns into Murphy and Murphy tries a triangle choke. Ige is able to posture and avoid the triangle getting locked up but the danger is there as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Murphy, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Ige comes out jabbing and looking to move forward. Murphy is circling and ties up then looks for a trip but just lands lefts in a clinch then a knee and a right hand before they break. Calf kick from Murphy. Bit of a high kick from Murphy then he tries a double leg, Ige counters though and they scramble on the mat ultimately with Ige getting on top in side control. Murphy catches half guard and starts looking to move. Octopus guard from Murphy and he grabs a toe hold for a sweep but Ige is with him and retains top position. Ige is looking for an arm triangle but Murphy avoids that. Murphy shrimps to full guard. Triangle choke attack from Murphy, again the position is present but not fully locked in. Ige moves to the back but can’t secure it and they wind up clinched on the fence. Murphy with some knees in the clinch then he turns Ige into the fence and trips him down. Murphy with punches from the ride position. Ige reaches for a leg, Murphy grabs at an anaconda choke but loses the grip and shifts back to the ride. They fight up into another clinch and Murphy lands an elbow. Murphy with punches out of the clinch then lands a flurry in close to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Murphy but could go either way, 29-28 Murphy overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Lerone Murphy via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

I’m a little surprised none of the judges gave Ige the third given how close it was. Mic time for Murphy and he admits the fight was close but thinks his damage when he got takedowns helped things in his favor. He says he got knocked down in the first but was always clear and frankly expected to get knocked down at some point given how hard Ige hits. He does say he thinks there’s still more in him and he can get even better. Asked what he wants next he calls out Josh Emmett, which feels reasonable.

Magomedov Ankalaev hasn’t lost since his UFC debut in 2018 and he’s gone 10-1-1 with 1 No Contest overall in the promotion, with a record like that you’d think he could have gotten the title by now but he’s had a few odd fights and some weird in fight decisions that led to weird results, he’s hoping to get his second crack at the gold with a win here. Aleksandar Rakic has shown a lot of ability but he’s on a two fight losing streak, he suffered a knee injury during a fight back in 2022 then despite having a great first round ultimately fell to Jiri Prochazka in April durin his return fight. Rakic is trying to get his first win since 2021 and prove it might be him who deserves a crack at the gold. It’s not surprising to see Ankalaev as the favorite but at -375 the +295 payout on Rakic might be asking for trouble given some of Ankalaev’s history.

Light Heavyweight Bout: #1 Magomed Ankalaev (18-1-1 1 NC, 204.5 lbs.) vs. #5 Aleksandar Rakic (14-4, 206 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Rakic is an inch taller with three inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Ankalaev. Rakic lands a jab then an inside leg kick. Ankalaev blocks a high kick. Another inside leg kick from Rakic. Ankalaev blocks another high kick. Bit of a one two from Rakic, then he counters a body kick with a leg kick. Ankalaev blocks a body kick. A few more leg kicks get traded. Bit of a high kick from Rakic. Left hand from Ankalaev. Rakic lands a couple of more inside leg kicks. Partially successful head kick from Rakic. Ankalaev with a left hand. Body kick from Ankalaev. Ankalaev blocks a high kick but falls short with his counter left. Both men miss power hand punches. Rakic lands a jab. Ankalaev blocks a high kick then side kicks the leg. Rakic misses a right hand, then bit of a left from Ankalaev to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Ankalaev but could go either way

ROUND TWO: Rakic opens the round with a couple of calf kicks. Ankalaev misses a punch, lands a bit of an elbow then eats a counter punch. Body kick from Rakic. Ankalaev misses a high kick. Bit of a right from Rakic, he’s still struggling to find his punching range consistently. Rakic lands a right hand. Jab from Rakic, then a bit of a left from Ankalaev. Ankalaev with a front kick. Ankalaev with a left to the body, not sure Rakic liked that one. They trade leg kicks. Ankalaev lands a left hand. Another left from Ankalaev then a body kick, he’s really getting dialed in at this point. Rakic with a right to the body. A couple of inside leg kicks from Rakic. They tie up and Rakic gets Ankalaev into the fence. They jockey for position, then break. Left hand from Ankalaev. Body shot from Ankalaev. Bit of a one two from Rakic. Ankalaev blocks a high kick. Both men miss punches to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Ankalaev, 20-18 Ankalaev overall

ROUND THREE: Rakic opens with a one two. Ankalaev lands a left hand. Rakic keeps probing with leg kicks. Ankalaev lands a left hand. Rakic misses a low kick then misses a back fist. Bit of a left from Rakic then Ankalaev lands a body kick. Right to the body from Rakic. Ankalaev lands a left hand. Another left from Ankalaev after he took an inside leg kick. Single leg from Rakic, that goes into the fence though and stalls out. A few knees go back and forth then they start jockeying for position. Ankalaev is generally getting the better of this but not by a huge margin. Another knee from Ankalaev then they trade in close before clinching back up. The round will end in the clinch.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Ankalaev, 30-27 Ankalaev overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Magomed Ankalaev via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

I’m not surprised at Rakic getting the first. Mic time for Ankalaev and the translator, he says it was hard to catch Rakic but he kept up the pressure. He didn’t understand Rakic’s strategy here and says the fight was uncomfortable. Asked why he should get the next title shot he thinks he’s done everything to earn it and asks Pereira to make the fight happen. Pereira doesn’t have that much say over that but OK.

Robert Whittaker is a former middleweight champion and one of the finer fighters in that divisions history, in fact he’s only lost in this weight class to Israel Adesanya and Dricus du Plessis. Whittaker has won his last two fights and could force another shot at the title if he can get an impressive win tonight. Khamzat Chimaev is undefeated including seven UFC fights but he’s taking a massive step up in class here, though with a win he could also put himself into the title picture. Chimaev is the favorite at -225 while any plus money on Whittaker is a tempting bet and +185 here definitely has get some money moving his way.

Middleweight Bout: #13 Khamzat Chimaev (13-0, 186 lbs.) vs. #3 Robert Whittaker (26-7, 185.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Chimaev is two inches taller with an inch and a half of reach advantage. Also remember we are scheduled for five rounds here. Southpaw for Chimaev. Whittaker lands an inside leg kick. A bit of stance switching from Chimaev, he tries a takedown that hits the fence. Whittaker to a knee against the fence and Chimaev starts working from the ride. Chimaev is working to get hooks but can only ever find one. A few knees to the leg from Chimaev but he’s not finding much offense. Whittaker scrambles around gets to his seat, Chimaev gets to the ride again though. Chimaev gets the back briefly but Whittaker is keeping the hooks from getting in. A few punches now land for Chimaev, he grabs a choke quickly and Whittaker taps.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Khamzat Chimaev via Submission, face crank, at 3:34 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Chimaev for his work. Whittaker seemed to indicate his jaw dislocated, Chimaev must have insane crushing strength. Mic time for Chimaev, he puts over Whittaker and says he wishes the champs would stop running from him. He calls for a title shot then puts over Abu Dhabi.

Max Holloway is an all time great in the sport, he’s had all but four of his professional fights in the UFC and made his UFC debut way back in 2012. Holloway is a former featherweight champion and had several title defenses to his name before running into Alex Volkanovski who just seemed to have his number, since their third fight Holloway has gone 3-0 including earlier this year moving up to lightweight and knocking out Justin Gaethje, now he’s back at featherweight and looking to add to his legend by reclaiming the title. Ilia Topuria is undefeated and became the featherweight champion back in February when he knocked out Alex Volkanovski in the second round, if he can follow that up with a win over Max Holloway then Topuria will have bested two of the three best featherweights of all time and could definitively push the division forward while also beginning to form his own legend. Topuria closed at -285 while +215 on Holloway has to tempt some bettors out there.

Featherweight Title Bout: (c) Ilia Topuria (15-0, 145 lbs.) vs. #2 Max Holloway (26-7, 145 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Holloway is four inches taller but the reach is identical. Holloway opens orthodox but will switch as circumstance dictates. Topuria offers the stand and trade early, Holloway declines. Both men start probing a bit with the lead hand. Bit of a front kick from Holloway. Topuria with a jab. Holloway starts working his lead leg kicking game. Glancing right from Topuria. Topuria is backing Holloway towards the fence. Holloway lands a jab. Jab from Topuria. Topuria with a right hand then a left hook. Bit of a right from Holloway. Topuria tries a double leg and hits it. Holloway quickly looks to wall walk, he’s upright but Topuria is working mat returns. Short rights from Topuria before Holloway gets free and they reset. Calf kick from Topuria but Holloway lands a left. Right from Topuria. Holloway’s chin is the stuff of legend though and he’s OK thus far. Topuria lands a calf kick. Another Topuria calf kick. Bit of a right from Topuria. Holloway avoids a rush and resets. That jab and calf kick from Topuria are doing work already. Another Topuria calf kick. Both men are still trying to get the jab working. Holloway falls short with a one two. They both swing in close without landing cleanly. Holloway with a one two. Jab from Topuria. Bit of a left hook from Topuria to counter a right. Holloway’s lead hand is working well now and he’s landing that left hand. A left hook from Topuria off balances Holloway then Topuria jumps on the back but there’s not enough time so he’ll ride out the final 10 seconds in that position.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Topuria but a close one

ROUND TWO: Both men are a little marked up in the face area as they touch gloves for the second round. Bit of a jab from Topuria. Holloway lands a jab of his own. Right hand from Holloway. Calf kick from Topuria. Holloway is still keeping the jab going. Bit of a right from Topuria. Topuria lands a calf kick. Bit of a left hook from Topuria. Topuria jabs the body then lands a calf kick. Holloway is keeping his back off the fence but Topuria is starting to find spots for offense. Left hook from Topuria wobbles Holloway for a moment then he lands a calf kick as well. They both land in close. Topuria with a right hand. Holloway lands a short left. Another glancing right from Topuria. Both men miss rights. Right to the body from Topuria. Holloway has a few punches dodged then Topuria lands a calf kick. Bit of a knee from Holloway. Holloway lands a right hand. Right hand from Topuria. Topuria blocks a few punches. Right hand from Topuria but Holloway did land a body shot. Another right from Topuria then a calf kick. Topuria lands a right hand, Holloway just eats it. Holloway with a spinning back kick, that’ll be the last blow of the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Topuria but again close, 20-18 Topuria overall

ROUND THREE: They touch gloves again. Topuria starts jabbing, Holloway is showing a side kick to the lead leg now. Body kick from Holloway, he’s starting to show southpaw a little bit. Topuria lands a left to the body. Both men land in close. Topuria lands another calf kick. Left hook from Topuria then a calf kick. Holloway side kicks the knee a couple of times. Hard right from Topuria staggers Holloway, Topuria looks to unload on the fence but Holloway is able to circle away. Topuria keeps coming forward and floors Holloway with a left hook then pounds him out on the mat.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – and STILL UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria via KO, punches, at 1:34 of Round 3

That’s the first time Holloway has been stopped with strikes in his entire career. Topuria might also have locked up Fighter of the Year, the man knocked out Alex Volkanovski and Max Holloway in the same year and that’s a ridiculous achievement. Mic time for the champion after that one, he gives glory to God first then says beating a legend like Holloway is surreal and he’s followed Holloway forever and considers him an inspiration and hopes to maybe be a small part of the example Holloway was to the next generation. He talks us through the finish and says he felt the difference on the right hand that started the finish, you never see Holloway take back steps like that so he poured on the pressure and found the knockout. Asked about what’s next after knocking out Volkanovski and Holloway, he says he wants to fight Volkanovski again or Diego Lopes and is happy to fight either but specifically thinks Volkanovski should deserve a rematch after his title run. He thanks his family and calls himself a blessed man, he just wants to go celebrate with them. He switches to some Spanish to close.

Holloway gets an interview as well, he felt ready and just got caught and apparently hurt more than he thought. He did feel great out there though and did his thing but Topuria was the better man tonight, but Topuria called him the bounce back king in the lead up and he’s going to do that again.

Well on that note UFC 308 comes to a close. We’ll be breaking down all the fallout from this event tomorrow on the 411 Ground and Pound MMA Podcast plus look ahead to the next card when the new rules will be in play as the UFC heads to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I’ll have a write up for that one, I’m not entirely sure if it’ll be live or not given somethings in my personal life but at a minimum I’ll have it after the fact. I hope you’ll be back for that one as well, and if you care about professional wrestling I’ll be covering NXT’s Halloween Havoc tomorrow. But whenever it happens to be I’ll see you all next time, until then stay safe out there and keep checking 411mania for all of your pop culture needs.

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