UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria will face off against #2 Max Holloway on 26 October.
UFC fans across the capital will tell you there’s no such thing as a slow summer. Just last week, there was a big shift in the 135-pound division after Umar Nurmagomedov’s win over Cory Sandhagen during UFC Fight Night — the Russian fighter moved up eight spots to reach No. 2 in the UFC bantamweight rankings. Now, as UFC 308 tickets go on sale and fight card details are revealed, it’s all about the action-packed night that’s less than three months away.
Taking over Etihad Arena on 26 October, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organisation will make its return to Abu Dhabi with a title fight for the ages as UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria faces off against No. 2 ranked Max Holloway. Tickets to this upcoming showdown, held in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, are available via etihadarena.ae and ticketmaster.ae.
Boasting a resumé of nine first-round finishes and dethroning UFC legend Alex Volkanovski of the featherweight title earlier this year, Topuria (15-0-0, fighting out of Spain by way of Georgia) aims to defend his featherweight title against world-class striker Holloway. The American fighter, meanwhile, enters the Octagon in Abu Dhabi after an emphatic win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 to take the fan-favourite BMF title — one of only three BMF titles to ever be awarded. Holloway is aiming to regain the featherweight title this October, so needless to say, a no-holds-barred spectacle is all but guaranteed.
The co-main event features a clash of top middleweights, No. 3 ranked contender Robert Whittaker and No. 11 ranked Khamzat Chimaev in a five-round matchup with title implications. Whittaker (26-7-0, fighting out of New South Wales, Australia) will arrive fresh off his victory over Ikram Aliskerov at UFC’s inaugural event in Saudi Arabia, looking to defend his winning streak in the middleweight division as his long-awaited matchup against Chimaev comes to fruition. Now based in the UAE, Chimaev (13-0-0) enters the ring off a career-defining win against Kamaru Usman. With six wins by knockout, five by submission, and eight first-round finishes, all eyes are on him as he aims to continue his undefeated streak.
In addition to being the second UFC event in Abu Dhabi this year, UFC 308: TOPURIA vs HOLLOWAY marks a milestone as the 20th UFC event held in the UAE over the past decade. VIP Experience packages are now available via On Location, UFC’s official VIP Experience provider — you’ll be able to enjoy exclusive access with an official ticket package that can feature premium seating, VIP access to weigh-ins, all-inclusive hospitality, meet-and-greets with UFC athletes and more.
DSCVR: UFC 308, Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. @etihadarena.ae
