GDT: UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway

MMC

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May 11, 2014
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Date: October 26, 2024
Venue: Etihad Arena
City: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Time: 2 pm ET/11 am PT
Viewing: PPV

MAIN CARD (PPV)

Featherweight Championship bout: Ilia Topuria (c) vs. Max Holloway
Middleweight bout: Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Featherweight bout: Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige
Light Heavyweight bout: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic
Middleweight bout: Shara Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+)

Welterweight bout: Geoff Neal vs. Rafael dos Anjos
Lightweight bout: Mateusz Rebecki vs. Myktybek Orolbai
Bantamweight bout: Said Nurmagomedov vs. TBA
Middleweight bout: Abus Magomedov vs. Brunno Ferreira

EARLY PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+)

Heavyweight bout: Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Chris Barnett
Bantamweight bout: Farid Basharat vs. Victor Hugo
Middleweight bout: Ismail Naurdiev vs. Bruno Silva
Welterweight bout: Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Carlos Leal
Light Heavyweight bout: Ibo Aslan vs. Rafael Cerqueira​
 

I am not exposed

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Mar 16, 2014
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Great looking card.

Well I predicted Topuria would knockout Volk. But Max would retain the featherweight title because his style might be match up well against Topuria.

But the closer we get to the fight, the less confident I am in that beginning of year prediction of Max beating Topuria.

I'm really hoping Max wins! Topuria is definitely one of the most annoying fighters on the roster currently. Although I do agree with him that the Max vs. Justin fight was really only exciting for the last 10 seconds. edit. 1st round was good as well. It will probably win fight of the year, even though it should not have won fight of the night! 10 seconds out of 25 minutes should not qualify it as fight of the year!
 
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pistolpete11

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Apr 27, 2013
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Great looking card.

Well I predicted Topuria would knockout Volk. But Max would retain the featherweight title because his style might be match up well against Topuria.

But the closer we get to the fight, the less confident I am in that beginning of year prediction of Max beating Topuria.

I'm really hoping Max wins! Topuria is definitely one of the most annoying fighters on the roster currently. Although I do agree with him that the Max vs. Justin fight was really only exciting for the last 10 seconds. edit. 1st round was good as well. It will probably win fight of the year, even though it should not have won fight of the night! 10 seconds out of 25 minutes should not qualify it as fight of the year!
Max-Gaethje wasn't that exciting outside the last 10 seconds, but that's because Max put on a clinic. Before that fight, I was worried for Max given how much damage he's taken and how willing he is to take damage. But he proved in that fight he can be defensive if he needs to be and he will need to be against Topuria IMO.

I'm like 50/50 on it. If Max is defensive again and uses his length, I could see Topuria getting frustrated and Max slowly picking him apart more and more as the fight goes on. I don't want to take anything away from Topuria, but I do get a sense that people think he kicked Volk's ass or something. He didn't, though. He lost the first round and R2 was even-ish until he found the KO. Again, not trying to take anything away from him. Beating Volk is an incredible achievement. I just wonder what happens if he can't find that that KO shot and we all know Max's durability.

On the other hand, it's hard to say what Topuria's weakness is.

Definitely pulling for Max. But I just don't know.
 

pistolpete11

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Apr 27, 2013
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Whittaker's situation is kind of similar to where Max was.

Former long reigning champ. Lost to the same guy a couple of times. Beats (pretty much) everybody else in the division, but wasn't going to be given another title shot until that guy lost. Now that that guy's lost, he just needs that big win to secure his title shot. That big win is kind of scary, though. Max did it against Gaethje when everybody doubted him and now Whittaker is a decent underdog against Chimaev.

Whittaker, like Max, is one of my all time favorite fighters. I hope he can pull it off, too.
 

CDJ

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Nov 20, 2006
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Hell baby
Topuria has had some issues with strikers who are rangier than him- people forget Jai Herbert was kind of f***ing him up

Topuria ended up biting down on his mouthpiece, walking into the fire, backing him up against the cage, and slumping him…but he was losing the fight up until that moment

Ilia is a MF. Everything says he should win this matchup. He’s the fresher guy, dangerous everywhere. But it’s hard to count out Max.
 
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I am not exposed

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Topuria has had some issues with strikers who are rangier than him- people forget Jai Herbert was kind of f***ing him up

Topuria ended up biting down on his mouthpiece, walking into the fire, backing him up against the cage, and slumping him…but he was losing the fight up until that moment

Ilia is a MF. Everything says he should win this matchup. He’s the fresher guy, dangerous everywhere. But it’s hard to count out Max.

I did forget that. Thanks for giving me hope! Just don't bet on Max okay!
 
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pistolpete11

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Apr 27, 2013
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Topuria has had some issues with strikers who are rangier than him- people forget Jai Herbert was kind of f***ing him up

Topuria ended up biting down on his mouthpiece, walking into the fire, backing him up against the cage, and slumping him…but he was losing the fight up until that moment

Ilia is a MF. Everything says he should win this matchup. He’s the fresher guy, dangerous everywhere. But it’s hard to count out Max.
That's true and Herbert is no Max Holloway, but he is 6'1" and his reach is 77in compared to Max who is 5'11" and a 69in reach. A bit of a difference there. Volk's reach is actually 71.5in, but he's only 5'6".

That fight was also up a weight class and, if I'm not mistaken, on short notice.
 

bov

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Nov 13, 2010
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Max took some decisive losses to guys who outboxed him, like Volk pt 3 and Poirier pt 2. Plus, Topuria knows how to mix in leg kicks effectively which has given Max some trouble in the past.

I really want Max to win, and it wouldn't surprise me, but this is a terrible stylistic matchup for him. Topuria is exceptionally confident and has shown very few flaws. His boxing and "ring generalship" (as Cruz would say) is high level. Outside of 1 round against Jai Herbert, his striking defense has been top notch and constantly improving. Plus, a really nice ground game. I think Holloway needs to establish his kicks and mix things up a lot to win this fight. But I'm really rooting for him.

Same goes for Whittaker, another likeable legend of the sport who has the tools to win but faces a really difficult matchup. If Khamzat is at the top of his game, it could be a one-sided beatdown. If the fight goes past round 2, then I have some hope. But Khamzat is one of those guys who, depending on health, could compete in an open weight tournament and do really well imo. I think he is that good at his peak, it's just a question of whether or not his body has been through irreparable damage which could affect his "ceiling".

I want to see Holloway and Whittaker take it home but I just don't see it happening, hopefully I am dead wrong.
 

16Skippy

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Sep 12, 2009
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Everyone loves Max for a good reason but I think this weight cut is going to drain him. That fight with Gaethje was the best he looked in a while, and he didn't look undersized at all to me. I'm taking Topuria.


Same goes for Whittaker, another likeable legend of the sport who has the tools to win but faces a really difficult matchup. If Khamzat is at the top of his game, it could be a one-sided beatdown. If the fight goes past round 2, then I have some hope. But Khamzat is one of those guys who, depending on health, could compete in an open weight tournament and do really well imo. I think he is that good at his peak, it's just a question of whether or not his body has been through irreparable damage which could affect his "ceiling".
I watched a video on YouTube yesterday going over Khamzat's UFC career so far, I forgot how bad his illnesses were and didn't know he made them worse by over training. Totally agree that he's a huge question mark.
 

Moncherry

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Feb 5, 2010
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I think I'm the only person who wants Topuria to win. Do not nearly care about Holloway the way everyone else seems to. Nothing against Whittaker either, but it would also be more much interesting to me if Chimaev got back on track with a dominant performance.
 
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MMC

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So Rebecki/Orolbai gets moved to a 160 pound catchweight (no clue who was having issues), Hugo/Basharat is moved to a featherweight bout (8 pound weight gap with Hugo weighing in at 145, Basharat at 137, surprised Farid took that!), and now rumors that Khamzat is gonna miss weight
 
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CDJ

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Hell baby
So Rebecki/Orolbai gets moved to a 160 pound catchweight (no clue who was having issues), Hugo/Basharat is moved to a featherweight bout (8 pound weight gap with Hugo weighing in at 145, Basharat at 137, surprised Farid took that!), and now rumors that Khamzat is gonna miss weight
If Hugo barely cut weight and he’s that much bigger than Farid he’s live @ +500- he’s a good fighter.
 

hockey20000

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Dec 23, 2018
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lol watched preview show they sayiing topuria refusing the volk rematch in australia because hes the champ and thinks he calls the shots now? kid you not even defended the belt once yet and volk is a fw legend you dont call the shots . cute to think he does though
 

Moncherry

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lol watched preview show they sayiing topuria refusing the volk rematch in australia because hes the champ and thinks he calls the shots now? kid you not even defended the belt once yet and volk is a fw legend you dont call the shots . cute to think he does though
Well he's not fighting Volk in Australia, is he? So it looks like he does call the shots.

Volk has been KO'd his last two fights and Topuria is the champion. If he wants a rematch, it should rightfully be on Topuria's terms.
 

hockey20000

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Dec 23, 2018
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Well he's not fighting Volk in Australia, is he? So it looks like he does call the shots.

Volk has been KO'd his last two fights and Topuria is the champion. If he wants a rematch, it should rightfully be on Topuria's terms.
long term champ calls the shots we will see where they fight. not that it matters i think max shocks the world and leaves topuria face down on the canvas tomorrow anyway.
 

Avs_19

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Jun 28, 2007
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Have been looking forward to this one for a while now. On paper this main event is one of the best fights this year and hopefully it delivers.

I like both guys in the main event and they're both great boxers. I think Topuria's power might end up being the difference because he certainly hits harder than Max and all of the damage Max has taken has to add up at some point. Either way, I think that division will be in good hands. Topuria is crazy talented and has star potential. Then there's Max, whose already a legend, and can take this second wind to another level if he regains his belt. I can't wait.

Co-main is very intriguing as well. I'm for sure going for Whittaker in this one. New blood and fresh match ups in the title mix would be great but Khamzat is just way too unreliable. Guy fights once in a blue moon and can't fight anywhere in North America. I have no idea what to make of him in the lead up either. Not sure if it's an act or new approach but he looks awful and it doesn't seem like he wants to be there. Whittaker is so well-rounded and I think the five rounds definitely work in his favour. I'm going Bobby Knuckles by decision.

I hope Ankalaev does something impressive. I'd be lying if I said he's entertaining and I look forward to his fights but I also think it's BS how they're keeping him away from Pereira. Dana is already talking about how Ankalaev needs to put on a good fight to get a title shot so just a win may not be enough.
 
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BGDDYKWL

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Jul 16, 2007
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I'm surprised both Max and Whittaker are fairly substantial dogs. Chimaev struggled with Burns and Usman, people don't think Whittaker would beat those two?

Then with Max, I realize Topuria is a killer, but Max may have the greatest chin of all-time. This fight goes 5, I like Max's chances to outpace and outlast the champ.
 

Taytro

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Oct 22, 2014
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Pretty fun first fight. Commentators were glazing Leal but I think it was pretty close, all rounds could have gone either way and Rinat closed the fight out really well. Great start to the card.

Do not agree with 30-27 for Rinat though. That's a bad card.
 

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