UFC 308 LIVE: Topuria defends title against Holloway in featherweight blockbuster
Follow live updates and results as Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway meet in a highly-anticipated title fight
Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway clash in a highly-anticipated title fight tonight, headlining UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi.
The unbeaten Topuria claimed the men’s featherweight belt in February, ending Alexander Volkanovski’s long title reign with a brutal knockout in round two.
In doing so, he achieved what Max Holloway could not accomplish in three fights; the Hawaiian lost the belt to Volkanovski in 2019 and failed to regain it in two rematches, losing all three bouts via decision.
However, Holloway tends to bounce back well, and his current winning streak peaked in April, when he dominated Justin Gaethje before faceplanting him in the very last second – securing the ‘Baddest Motherf*****’ belt with an all-time great KO.
Tonight’s main event is one of the most anticipated fights of the year, and the co-main event has also been long-awaited: Robert Whittaker, a former middleweight champ, takes on unbeaten, rising star Khamzat Chimaev – four months after the Russian withdrew from their match-up due to illness.
Follow live updates and results from the UFC 308 main card and prelims, below.
UFC 308 LIVE: Shara Magomedov vs Armen Petrosyan
The main card is finally here! First up, middleweight action: the flashy up-and-comer Shara “Bullet” Magomedov faces Armen Petrosyan.
These two have trained together before, and know each other well from their amateur fighting days. The unbeaten Magomedov basically has one working eye, and there’s a belief he can’t get fights sanctioned in the US.
UFC 308 LIVE: Ibo Aslan vs Rafael Cerqueira
Light-heavyweights wrap up the main card, as Ibo Aslan faces Rafael Cerqueira.
A bit of a wait for this one, as the UFC shows a promo for tonight’s main event: Ilia Topuria vs Max Holloway.
Okay, finally, the fighters are in the ring!
Round one
Both men stand orthodox at first, though Cerqueira quickly starts switching back and forth.
Short left hook from Aslan early, and Cerqueira backs up to the fence and covers up!
Aslan is pouring on punches, changing the target – going from head to body and back – and Cerqueira has no answer!
He’s rocked a few times, and the fight is waved off in 50 seconds!!
Ibo Aslan def. Rafael Cerqueira via first-round TKO (punches, 0:51).
UFC 308 LIVE: Geoff Neal vs Rafael dos Anjos
Two more fights before the main card! First up, the pick of the prelims tonight: Geoff “Handz of Steel” Neal faces ex-lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos at welterweight.
Round one
Neal presses forward early. Both men stand southpaw.
RDA, who turned 40 today, is already dropped by a left hand! He still seems lucid, though, as Neal enters half-guard...
Now he backs off and lets RDA stand. Good move. OH! A one-two by Neal, and RDA falls again, but clutching his left knee this time! An injury ends this fight early...
Geoff Neal def. Rafael dos Anjos via first-round TKO (strikes and injury, 1:30).
UFC 308 LIVE: Mateusz Rebecki vs Myktybek Orolbai
Round three
A replay shows that a clash of heads caused the cut over Rebecki’s right eye.
OH! Rebecki floors Orolbai with a left hook, and Orolbai looks to be out?! But the ref lets it go, and Rebecki is pouring on punches, as Orolbai turtles up. Orolbai might have just been woken UP by those shots!!
Somehow, Orolbai – who has shown his toughness tonight – manages to stand and survive for now... There’s blood EVERYWHERE, some of it Rebecki’s, some of it Orolbai’s.
This fight should have been stopped. Orolbai can’t see and is just eating shots. He’s holding Rebecki and hoping for the best.
But as time passes, Rebecki tires, and Orolbai briefly gets on top of the grappling! Emphasis on ‘briefly’; Rebecki is back in control with 90 seconds left.
OH! But Orolbai reverses the position again! Now the fighters stand. They are COVERED in blood. One-two by Orolbai, and Rebecki staggers!
What a fight. What a card so far. Mateusz Rebecki def. Myktybek Orolbai via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
UFC 308 LIVE: Mateusz Rebecki vs Myktybek Orolbai
Up next Mateusz Rebecki fights Myktybek Orolbai at a 160lb catchweight.
Round one
Rebecki stands southpaw; Orolbai is orthodox. Some bombs thrown by each man so far. Rebecki is sporting a little bruising on his face from Orolbai’s punches, already.
Rebecki lands an overhand left, but Orolbai is taking his opponent’s shots well so far. Lots of low kicks from the 160lbers, too.
Orolbai skips back to avoid a left hook – barely. He then blitzes forward. Now he lands a single shot, a long right hook.
Orolbai is sporting his own damage, though, and it’s BAD around his right eye! Severe swelling.
Round two
A delayed start to this round, as Orolbai’s swelling is checked. He’s allowed to continue, but for how long?
Under way, and there’s lots of close-range fighting so far. Both men land clean punches in the pocket. Rebecki looks sharper than his opponent, though.
The pair grapple against the fence, with Rebecki controlling Orolbai for a while. Now they separate, and it’s back to loading up on punches in the middle of the cage.
Orolbai with a great rear uppercut, inflicting his own damage on Rebecki, who is now pawing at a bloody cut around his right eye. Jeez, they’re both so beaten up!
UFC 308 LIVE: Abus Magomedov vs Brunno Ferreira
Round two
Ferreira is trying to get Magomedov’s respect now, pressing forward a bit more.
Magomedov shows his grappling advantage, however, and he gets the first takedown of the fight! He takes the back, then gets side mount, then the back again... but Ferreira scrambles free! Good work!
And Ferreira cracks Magomedov with a brutal left hand! Magomedov gets back to his wrestling, wisely, with another takedown late in the round.
Round three
More success on the feet for Ferreira, but once again he’s taken down! Magomedov has the back by the fence...
Ferreira shows more resilience to shrimp free and stand again, but he’s quickly taken down once more!
And Magomedov works on an arm-triangle from mount... and gets the tap!!
Abus Magomedov def. Brunno Ferreira via third-round submission (arm-triangle choke, 3:14).
UFC 308 LIVE: Abus Magomedov vs Brunno Ferreira
Middleweights step up next, as Abus Magomedov fights Brunno Ferreira. Here we go.
Round one
Ferreira and Magomedov (who looks HUGE by the way) are switching stances early. Magomedov is holding the centre of the cage. Ferreira barely blocks a left hook.
Lots of feints from Ferreira, but very little actual activity. That said, the feints are having an effect; Magomedov seems hesitant to let his hands or legs go.
Now Magomedov throws, though, launching a left high kick that Ferreira just blocks. Another high kick from Magomedov – this time on the right – and it skims off Ferreira’s head.
Stabbing front kick by Ferreira now. He had to leap forward to land that. Magomedov with his own front kick. He kicks low now, and Ferreira barely misses with a simultaneous overhand.
UFC 308 LIVE: Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Chris Barnett
Heavyweights enter the cage now: Kennedy Nzechukwu and Chris Barnett. These two have been through a lot in recent years. Barnett’s wife passed away, while Kennedy has been caring for his brother – who has autism – and his wife, who has ALS. Can they both win, please?
Round one
Kennedy comes forward, and Barnett throws a couple of leg kicks to try to deter the much taller man. Both fighters stand southpaw.
An overhand left connects for Barnett, but it’s only a grazing punch. Kennedy feints a spinning attack, and Barnett laughs and gives him a high-five.
Kennedy kicks around the waist and hits Barnett’s cup, but Barnett is okay to continue. Clean cross by Kennedy. Barnett misses with a couple of flashy kicks.
Kennedy with a scraping head kick. And again. He can’t quite get a clean connection on the shorter man. But he does manage a clean land to the body with the next kick.
Barnett appears to be compromised. Is his left foot causing him some problems? He had an Achilles injury just recently.
“He’s hurt,” Kennedy is told by his corner. Yep, Barnett is moving so sheepishly, and now he clutches his leg! He covers up, and Kennedy just pours on punches.
The ref should stop it, but he lets it go a few more seconds, and Barnett drops to the canvas, holding that leg again. So maybe it was a leg injury, not the ankle? A replay shows Barnett injured himself while jumping during the fighter introductions! He then aggravated his leg, seemingly, while throwing one of those high kicks.
Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Chris Barnett via first-round TKO (strikes and injury, 4:27).
UFC 308 LIVE: Farid Basharat vs Victor Hugo
Round two
A knee cracks Hugo! He felt that. Basharat ups the pressure, as Hugo tries to recover.
Some dynamic striking exchanges in the middle of the Octagon, with Hugo seemingly lucid now.
Lots of stance-switching from Basharat. Some taunting from Hugo. He tags Basharat with two to three left hands – a combination of hooks and stiff jabs – and those had a clear effect.
Round three
Hugo with a spinning back kick, and it sends Basharat cascading back to the fence and down to the mat! Hugo tries to follow up with a flying knee, but it just misses...
Basharat with a tidy takedown, picking the ankle and driving Hugo down with the spare hand. He’s controlling Hugo by the fence, and now he moves into half-guard.
Hugo stands against the cage wall, but Basharat drives him down again. Hugo shakes him off, though, and the pair move into space.
Another takedown by Basharat, and he ends the round – and fight – on top.
Farid Basharat def. Victor Hugo via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).
Justice after Hugo’s 10lb weight-miss?
UFC 308 LIVE: Farid Basharat vs Victor Hugo
The prelims roll on. Next up: Farid Basharat vs Victor Hugo at featherweight. This bout was due to take place at bantamweight, but Hugo missed weight.
Round one
Both men stand orthodox. Hugo closes range, misses with an uppercut but lands a left hook. Basharat comes back with a right cross.
Basharat slips as he backs up to the fence, and Hugo clinches. Basharat reverses the position, and the pair separate. Hugo kicks low and hard.
Basharat eats an elbow, ouch. Hugo with a daring roll now, a variation on an Imanari, and he tries a leg lock! Basharat stays calm and gets his leg free.
He ends up in half-guard but chooses to back off. Hugo stands and leans back to evade a wheel kick attempt! Now Hugo tries a spinning back kick, but Basharat closes range and gets a body lock.
Another separation. Basharat shoots for a takedown, but again Hugo gets creative with a leg-lock attempt! Nothing doing before the buzzer, though.
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