UFC 308 outcomes, takeaways: Ilia Topuria deserves all accolades and reward, Khamzat Chimaev earns title shot

The already vibrant star of Ilia Topuria reached a blinding level on Saturday after the reigning featherweight champion grew to become the primary man to knock down and knock out Max Holloway at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi. 

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 together with his unbelievable floor management earlier than lastly forcing his forearm throughout Whittaker’s face and inflicting a submission. Whittaker mentioned 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 resulting from sickness and damage.

These have been only a few of the storylines that grabbed our consideration after a wild night time on the fights inside Etihad Area. Let’s take a better have a look at what we discovered from UFC 308. 

1. Ilia Topuria is one of the best boxer within the UFC

Whereas that title is a moniker Holloway beforehand gave to himself contained in the cage throughout his virtuoso dismantling of Calvin Kattar in 2021, it is secure to say after Saturday’s principal occasion that Topuria has eclipsed him. It isn’t simply the ability or the pace that in the end makes Topuria such a harmful puncher. His accuracy is simply as sensational, as is his poise and IQ. Following an in depth and tense opening two rounds that may greatest be described as high-speed chess between two of the highest strikers within the sport right this moment, Topuria lastly broke by means of with an excellent straight proper hand that stung Holloway on the nostril and precipitated him to backpedal. However it was the brutal placement of an ideal left hook shortly after which Topuria uncorked from his waist alongside the cage wall that looped across the guard of Holloway to catch him flush on the chin and knock him down for the primary time in his legendary profession. Topuria is as exact together with his fingers as he’s devastating. And that seems as if it is solely going to proceed to be an issue for the 145-pound division. 

All class from the champ 🌹@TopuriaIlia reacts after his first title protection 🎤

[ #UFC308 | #InAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/H6BlYFV8nx

— UFC (@ufc) October 26, 2024

2. There’s merely no strategy to overhype what Topuria simply did

Efficiency of the yr? Fighter of the yr? Breakout star of the subsequent technology? How in regards to the new pound-for-pound king? Severely, Topuria’s thrilling knockout of Holloway was so good and so essential to the hierarchy of the game that none of these superlatives above could be misplaced ought to one wish to heap it atop the Georgian fighter who was born in Germany and now calls Spain his beloved, adopted dwelling. For as unbelievable as Topuria’s second-round knockout of Alexander Volkanovski was to commandeer the 145-pound title in February, including the same demolition of Holloway in back-to-back fights, in the identical calendar yr is sort of actually the stuff of legend. Whereas Topuria’s overwhelming confidence turned off quite a lot of followers and critics to open 2024 as he continued his stand up the featherweight ranks, there actually is not a lot detrimental you may say in regards to the 27-year-old after the way in which he closed out the calendar yr. Sure, Topuria is assured however he is additionally humble, hard-working and a very well-rounded fighter who’s on the verge of serving to UFC break right into a market like Spain it has all the time dreamed of. “El Matador” can also be a magnet for European sports activities celebrities, as evidenced by soccer star Sergio Ramos celebrating with him contained in the cage. It was going to take one thing really spectacular out of Topuria to have a shot at besting gentle heavyweight champion Alex Pereira within the fighter of the yr race contemplating “Poaton” is recent off of three title defenses, all by stoppage, in a span of a UFC-record 175 days. However Topuria might need finished simply that resulting from what he simply did to one more pound-for-pound ranked fighter in Holloway. 

He did EXACTLY what he mentioned he’d do 🤯@TopuriaIlia simply knocked out Max Holloway at #UFC308!

[ #InAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/hbQjS5qplS

— UFC (@ufc) October 26, 2024

3. Khamzat Chimaev is again to being an absolute pressure of nature at 185 kilos

In hindsight, it did not really feel improper to query whether or not the 30-year-old native of Chechnya was actually nearly as good as his hype mentioned he was by means of 13 professional fights. Accidents, diseases and some unexplained occasions had conspired lately to decelerate Chimaev’s momentum. To not point out that in battle week, Chimaev seemed nearly too relaxed — nearly to the purpose of distraction — coming into such a tough battle towards Whittaker, the previous middleweight champion and future Corridor of Famer. However boy did Chimaev flip issues round in a rush on battle night time. After working to the cage from the backstage space forward of introductions, Chimaev shot for a takedown inside the first 15 seconds and by no means let Whittaker again as much as his ft. Three minutes later, a neck crank broke the jaw of Whittaker and produced an immediate faucet. When Chimaev is wholesome, there’s merely no restrict to his true potential. And though he entered the battle as simply the No. 13-ranked middleweight after transferring up from 170 kilos in 2022, Chimaev proved towards Whittaker that it would not be out of line for him to get the subsequent title shot, even when that meant him jumped former champion Sean Strickland in line to get to present king Dricus du Plessis. Make no mistake, Chimaev put each single middleweight on discover with the benefit during which he destroyed such an all-time nice opponent. 

He needs the belt 🗣@KChimaev requires a title shot after his unbelievable win at #UFC308 🐺

[ @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/skda0ntLdj

— UFC (@ufc) October 26, 2024

4. Sufficient already, it is time for Magomed Ankalaev to get his shot at Alex Pereira

Handed over for the latest shot at Pereira’s 205-pound title rather than No. 8–ranked Khalil Rountree Jr., Ankalaev was tasked with not solely defeating No. 5 Aleksandr Rakic on Saturday, however UFC brass added that he wanted to look thrilling as a way to safe a title shot. Practically two years after he fought to a disappointing attract his vacant title battle towards Jan Blachowicz, now could be the time for Ankalaev to get what he already deserved. Anakalev prolonged his unbeaten streak to 13 fights with a hard-fought determination win towards Rakic in a battle that noticed zero takedown makes an attempt from Ankalaev and fixed ahead movement because the putting aggressor. Was Anakalev’s efficiency as much as the expectations of Dana White and firm? In keeping with the UFC CEO on the post-fight press convention, there’s a fantastic probability Ankalaev can be subsequent. He deserves it. Sufficient mentioned. 

5. Sharabutdin Magomedov may not be a completed product however he is positive enjoyable to observe

Because the uncommon UFC fighter from Dagestan, Russia, and not using a dominant wrestling sport, it has been straightforward for a lot of critics to query simply how good “Shara Bullet” truly is. And thru 4 unbeaten journeys to the Octagon, the jury continues to be out as as to if the 30-year-old is actually a future title contender in ready or not. Whether or not or not he will get there, let’s proceed to benefit from the trip because the red-haired and bearded striker makes enjoyable fights occur. On Saturday, he additionally recorded one of many craziest finishes in UFC historical past in his second-round knockout of Armen Petrosyan as Magomedov’s preliminary spinning backfist try was blocked just for him to immediately try the identical transfer off of the opposite shoulder, which caught Petrosyan clear on the chin to finish the battle. 

A DOUBLE BACKFIST!? 🤯@Shara_Bullet77 is INCREDIBLE ‼️ #UFC308

[ #InAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/f7n7S91Qez

— UFC (@ufc) October 26, 2024