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Max Holloway and Ilia Topuria will headline a featherweight title bout at UFC 308 on October 26, Dana White announced Saturday.
UFC 308 will also feature the fights Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev and Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic:
Islam Makhachev previously confirmed that he has a partial ligament tear in his hand, which jeopardizes his availability for a possible duel with Topuria:
Championship rounds @ChampRDS
Islam Makhachev announces that he has sustained a hand injury that could potentially keep him out of action for the rest of the year:
“I recently had an MRI confirm that I have a partial ligament tear. Let’s see if I get better. If not, I may even have to undergo an operation…
It is questionable (that I fight in …). pic.twitter.com/h1LckjReRP
Holloway knocked out Justin Gaethje in the fifth round at UFC 300 in April, earning himself the symbolic BMF belt. After his victory challenged both Topuria and Makhachev, and the former was there live as he had a seat in Fighter Row for the show.
In the July 15 issue of The MMA lesson (via Ryan Harkness of MMA Mania) Ariel Helwani laid out the potential big fights to come, saying a tentative plan calls for Holloway and Topuria to meet at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City.
Chatting with fans on the live streaming platform Kick (via Championship Rounds), Holloway said he expects to compete again in 2024, but downplayed the likelihood of that happening in Utah.
Losing Makhachev for the foreseeable future is a huge blow to the UFC. He is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the promotion’s official rankings, and when October rolls around, there is no other natural place for him on the calendar.
Still, Holloway vs. Topuria is a fight that will excite fans.
Holloway has won three fights in a row and moved up to the No. 2 featherweight contender. Topuria has a perfect 15-0 record as a pro and won the featherweight title from Alexander Volkanovski by second-round knockout at UFC 298 in February.
Aside from their individual abilities, there also seems to be some tension between the two.
Max Holloway @BlessedMMA
Bro, you’re the one making this so hard. Ennnnnooouuggghhhh, it is lol. I will “bring your belt” you fucking motherfucker 😂 You’re just putting words together now. You’re going crazy. 🤙🏻 https://t.co/u21kB8YELv
This is without a doubt a clash that has the potential to be a major event.
