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UFC News: Dana White Announces 4 Massive UFC 308 Fights

The UFC's pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi is beginning to come together.

Zain Bando

(Zuffa LLC)

Just hours before UFC Abu Dhabi began Saturday afternoon, UFC CEO Dana White announced four major fights to take center stage at UFC 308 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 26.

The main event sees the return of UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), who will make his first defense of his newly-minted title when he faces former featherweight champion Max Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC). Holloway is fresh off a buzzer-beater KO at UFC 300 in April, stunning Justin Gaethje (25-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) to win the "BMF" title.

Topuria won the featherweight strap by upsetting the consensus GOAT at 145 pounds, Alexander Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC), in February with a second-round KO, which was the Australian's third UFC loss dating back to Feb. 2023.

UFC Stream: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov Free Fight Night Watch Along

The co-main event is a re-booking of a cancelled UFC Saudi Arabia main event from June, as former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (26-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC) will attempt to face Khamzat Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), as he was "violently ill" ahead of the June 22 date, forcing him to withdraw on short notice.

Other announced bouts on the card include an all-too-important light heavyweight bout between Magomed Ankalaev (19-1-1 MMA, 10-1-1, 1 NC UFC) and Aleksandar Rakić (14-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC), with the winner remaining in the mix for a shot at Alex Pereira for (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) and light heavyweight gold.

UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov TV Channel, Full Card & Betting Odds

Finally, at heavyweight, former interim champion Ciryl Gane (12-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) rematches Alexander Volkov (38-10 MMA, 12-4 UFC) to remain a potential title contender and a backup to the backup for the potential Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic UFC 309 main event in November.

MMAKO will keep you up-to-date with all the latest developments leading up to UFC 308.

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• 'No Secret About it,' UFC CEO Dana White Reveals Plans for Jon Jones' Return Fight

• UFC News: Tom Aspinall says Jon Jones 'Not an Idiot’ for Wanting ‘Way Easier’ Fight

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Zain Bando
ZAIN BANDO

Zain Bando is a writer for MMA Knockout, part of the Sports Illustrated/Minute Media umbrella. He has covered combat sports since 2019 for notable outlets BJPenn.com and FanSided MMA. He also co-hosts a podcast called "The MMA Outsiders," part of the Empty The Bench Podcast Network, which airs Tuesday nights at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT. A Chicago suburban native, Bando has been enthralled with MMA since 2006 and has been fortunate to attend some of the most high-profile events in the sport's history, both as a fan and media member, including UFC 264, Bellator 297 and Kayla Harrison's PFL MMA debut. He is excited to take the next step in his combat sports writing journey and looks forward to continuing his following of the fight game for years to come. Bando can be reached via email at zainbando99@gmail.com or by social media @zainbando99

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