UFC 308 is within the books and it was a memorable one. Ilia Topuria remains to be the featherweight champion after an astonishing knockout of former titleholder Max Holloway — the primary time that Holloway had ever even been knocked down in his 34-pro combat profession.
The bout was as anticipated from the bounce with each males unloading unbelievable energy pictures by way of two rounds. After the second intermission, it appeared like Holloway was gaining momentum along with his quantity placing and head motion, which had been irritating Topuria as he marched ahead. As an alternative, Topuria flipped the script within the third spherical by forcing Holloway towards the fence and beautiful him with a straight proper hand earlier than uncorking an ideal left hook to place him down for good.聽
Elsewhere on the cardboard, Khamzat Chimaev roared again onto the scene with a dominant efficiency towards former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. Chimaev took Whittaker down within the opening moments and by no means relented. He continued to hunt for submission makes an attempt along with his unbelievable floor management earlier than lastly forcing his forearm throughout Whittaker’s face and inflicting a submission. Whittaker stated that he thought he dislocated his jaw within the maintain. The win ostensibly places Chimaev on the quick monitor to a middleweight title showdown with Dricus du Plessis after years of ready as a consequence of sickness and damage.
“They confirmed me the photograph,” Chimaev聽stated聽when talking to reporters on the UFC 308 post-fight press convention. “I felt one thing was fallacious along with his chin once I pushed it. I really feel dangerous. I did not imply to interrupt his chin, nevertheless it’s my work. If I make somebody really feel ache, it makes me I am pleased.”
CBS Sports activities was with you all through combat week with the newest information, in-depth options and betting recommendation to think about. Thanks for stopping by and we’ll see you at UFC 309 in New York.
UFC 308 combat card, odds
- Ilia Topuria (c) def. Max Holloway through third-round knockout (punches)
- Khamzat Chimaev def. Robert Whittaker through first-round submission (face crank)
- Magomed Ankalaev def. Aleksandar Rakic through unanimous choice (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Lerone Murphy def. Dan Ige through unanimous choice (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Shara Magomedov def. Armen Petrosyan through second-round knockout (punch)
- Ibo Aslan def. Rafael Cerqueira through first-round TKO (punches)
- Geoff Neal def. Rafael dos Anjos through first spherical TKO (damage)
- Mateusz Rebecki def. Myktybek Orolbai through cut up choice (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Abus Magomedov def. Brunno Ferreira through third-round submission (arm triangle choke)
- Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Chris Barnett through first-round TKO (punches)
- Farid Basharat def Victor Hugo through unanimous choice (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Ismail Naurdiev def. Bruno Silva through unanimous choice (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Rinat Fakhretdinov def. Carlos Leal by unanimous choice (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
UFC 308 countdown
- Whittaker suffers ugly facial damage in loss to Chimaev
- Employees predictions and professional picks for the primary card
- Brookhouse: Finest bets to think about on the primary card
- Campbell: Topuria will get likelihood to unravel UFC’s star drawback
- Mahjouri: Why Chimaev is probably not the star many anticipated
- Mahjouri: Undercard fights value maintaining a tally of this week
- Campbell: 5 greatest storylines to look at in Abu Dhabi
