Mixed martial arts fans were treated to a sensational weekend of combat action inside the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, setting the stage for the biggest fight week of 2024 as the promotion touched down in the United Arab Emirates for the monumental UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. With championship gold, divisional contenderships, and BMF bragging rights on the line, fight week has officially erupted.
UFC Fight Night Recap: Knockouts, Submissions & APEX Finishes
Saturday’s UFC Fight Night card delivered five electrifying stoppage finishes across the main card:
- Main Event Flyweight Title Eliminator: Anthony Hernandez put on a relentless pace and wrestling clinic, dominating Michel Pereira before securing a fifth-round TKO through ground-and-pound elbows, logging his sixth consecutive UFC victory.
- Co-Main Event Bantamweight War: Rob Font displayed his trademark crisp boxing combinations, out-pointing Kyler Phillips across three rounds to defend his top-10 ranking with a unanimous decision victory (29-28 x3).
- Performance of the Night: Charles Johnson rallied from early adversity to secure an explosive flying-knee knockdown, earning a $50,000 performance bonus alongside Hernandez.
For in-depth striking analytics and round-by-round odds for the Abu Dhabi main event, read our UFC 308: Ilia Topuria vs Max Holloway Fight Night Prediction and UFC 308 Co-Main Event: Robert Whittaker vs Khamzat Chimaev.
UFC 308 Abu Dhabi Fight Week Kickoff: Arrival Pressers & Open Workouts
Fight week in Abu Dhabi officially commenced on Monday morning with the grand fighter arrivals at Yas Island. The atmosphere reached fever pitch as undefeated featherweight champion Ilia Topuria and BMF champion Max Holloway traded fiery verbal jabs during their initial media encounters.
Topuria reiterated his promise to knock Holloway out within the first ten seconds of round one, while Holloway calmly countered that Topuria has never faced the kind of 25-minute attrition warfare he brings to the Octagon. In the co-main event, former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker appeared in peak physical condition ahead of his five-round non-title war against undefeated wrestling phenom Khamzat Chimaev.
UFC 308 Main Card Lineup & Consensus Opening Odds
| Bout | Weight Class | Favorite (Odds) | Underdog (Odds) | Stakes / Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ilia Topuria vs Max Holloway | Featherweight (145 lbs) | Ilia Topuria (-240) | Max Holloway (+195) | UFC Featherweight Championship |
| Robert Whittaker vs Khamzat Chimaev | Middleweight (185 lbs) | Khamzat Chimaev (-225) | Robert Whittaker (+185) | 5-Round Title Eliminator |
| Magomed Ankalaev vs Aleksandar Rakić | Light Heavyweight (205 lbs) | Magomed Ankalaev (-360) | Aleksandar Rakić (+280) | Title Shot vs Alex Pereira |
| Lerone Murphy vs Dan Ige | Featherweight (145 lbs) | Lerone Murphy (-210) | Dan Ige (+175) | Top-12 Featherweight Ranking |
| Shara Magomedov vs Armen Petrosyan | Middleweight (185 lbs) | Shara “Bullet” (-175) | Armen Petrosyan (+145) | Striking Showcase Opener |
What to Watch Next on Fight Week
The official Pre-Fight Press Conference will take place on Thursday at Etihad Arena, followed by ceremonial weigh-ins on Friday before Saturday’s world championship pay-per-view kicks off at 7:30 PM IST (2:00 PM GMT).
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UFC 308 Co-Main Event Breakdown: Robert Whittaker vs Khamzat Chimaev Middleweight Title Eliminator
UFC 308 Main Event: Ilia Topuria vs Max Holloway Featherweight Championship Fight Night Prediction
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