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Max Holloway vs. Ilia Topuria title fight headlines UFC 308 card announcement | News, results, highlights, stats and rumors

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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[thatIfightin…[dassichin…kämpfe[thatIfightin…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 there is no other natural place for him on the calendar when October rolls around.

Ariel Helwani @Subscribe

Islam's injury will be interesting. Abu Dhabi is out of the question, no MSG and they wouldn't put him with Conor in December. So Arman won't get his chance until January at the earliest? I guess he doesn't have to do the PSA after all.

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.

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