UFC 308 is scheduled to take place on Saturday at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. In the main event, featherweight champion Ilia Topuria will defend his title against former champion Max Holloway. Topuria caused a major upset by defeating Alexander Volkanovski, who has three wins over Holloway. Holloway will aim to create a triangular situation at the top of the featherweight division with his challenge.
Robert Whittaker will face Khamzat Chimaev in a middleweight bout in the co-main event. The fight is likely a title eliminator to determine the next challenger for the winner of Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland. However, the next middleweight title fight has not been confirmed yet.
The UFC 308 main card will also feature Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic in a probable light heavyweight title eliminator; Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige in a featherweight matchup; and Shara Magomedov against Armen Petrosyan in the middleweight division.
Topuria, Chimaev, Murphy, and Magomedov are all undefeated, while Ankalaev has only one loss.
The UFC 308 preliminary card includes a mix of undefeated prospects, seasoned contenders, and exciting matchups. Here are five bouts from the UFC 308 prelims to keep an eye on.
Ibo Aslan vs. Raffael Cerqueira
Aslan, with a 1-0 UFC record and 13-1 overall, will face the undefeated Cerqueira (11-0) in his UFC debut. Cerqueira, known for his finishing ability, has won eight fights by knockout.
The UFC chose to highlight Aslan and Cerqueira on the preliminary card, likely expecting an exciting and decisive finish in their light heavyweight bout.
Geoff Neal vs. Rafael dos Anjos
Former champion Rafael dos Anjos will return to the welterweight division to face Geoff Neal in a featured preliminary bout. Dos Anjos, known for his versatility and experience, has fought top fighters in multiple weight classes.
Neal, coming off a close loss in his last fight, has an opportunity to bounce back against a seasoned veteran like dos Anjos.
Myktybek Orolbai vs. Mateusz Rebecki
Orolbai, with a 13-1-1 record, will face Rebecki in a lightweight contest. Both fighters have had success in the UFC, with Orolbai holding a 2-0 record in the promotion.
Rebecki aims to rebound from a recent loss and regain his momentum in the lightweight division.
Abus Magomedov vs. Brunno Ferreira
Magomedov and Ferreira, both known for their finishing ability, will clash in a middleweight bout. Magomedov seeks to continue his promising career with a win over Ferreira, who has had success in the UFC.
This matchup promises excitement and potential title implications for the winner.
Farid Basharat vs. Victor Hugo
Undefeated Basharat will face Hugo in a bantamweight bout. With both fighters looking to climb the ranks in the UFC, this matchup has significant stakes.
If Basharat can secure a victory, he may be on track for a top-15 opponent in the near future.
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