UFC 308 main card preview & free betting picks | October 26, 2024

Former middleweight champ Robert Whittaker clashes with emerging contender Khamzat Chimaev to co-headline the UFC 308 main card in Abu Dhabi this Saturday night. Other highlights from this stacked card include a bout between top-five light heavyweights Magomed Ankalaev and Aleksandar Rakic, and an all-Russian battle between Shara Magomedov and Armen Petrosyan. Read on for fight previews and free betting picks.

Ilia Topuria vs Max Holloway

Ilia Topuria vs Max Holloway

Ilia Topuria is set to have his first featherweight defence against the No.2-ranked Max Holloway. Read our complete Topuria vs Holloway fight preview here.

Robert Whittaker vs Khamzat Chimaev

Robert Whittaker vs Khamzat Chimaev

Robert Whittaker (27-7-0) enters this bout off one of his most impressive career victories. The Aussie was an underdog with online bookmakers for his recent bout with Ikram Aliskerov in June, but he turned back the clock with a clinical first-round knockout that stunned the ringside audience. The 33-year-old has only lost to two opponents since 2014 — Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya, the current and former middleweight champions.

Khamzat Chimaev (13-0-0) returns from illness to press his case for a title shot. The unbeaten 30-year-old has not competed for more than a year, but he appears fully recovered from a series of ailments that had him in and out of hospital. The Russian is an elite offensive wrestler who will make short work of this opponent if the action goes to the ground, but he may struggle on the feet if the takedowns elude him.

Magomed Ankalaev vs Aleksandar Rakic

Magomed Ankalaev vs Aleksandar Rakic

Magomed Ankalaev (19-1-1) fought for the vacant light heavyweight belt in 2022, registering a draw against Jan Blachowicz in a dull and uneventful affair. The 32-year-old has competed twice since, resulting in a no-contest and a knockout win over Johnny Walker. The Russian must produce a more impressive and entertaining display if he hopes to earn another title shot against reigning champ Alex Pereira.

Aleksandar Rakic (14-4-0) has hovered around the top of the 205-pound division since 2019 without making a bold attempt to snatch the silverware. The 32-year-old is coming off disappointing losses to Blachowicz and Jiri Prochazka and must improve sharply if he hopes to remain a force in the competitive weight class. Rakic is a skilled kickboxer and a strong athlete, but may need to overcome the psychological damage of recent injuries and losses.

Lerone Murphy vs Dan Ige

Lerone Murphy vs Dan Ige

Lerone Murphy (14-0-1) has been quietly working toward a top-10 ranking in the featherweight division with recent wins over Edson Barboza, Joshua Culibao, and Gabriel Santos. Boasting a solid all-around MMA skill set that is hard to counter, the 33-year-old is yet to taste defeat. Murphy is a short-priced favourite with top sports betting sites to continue his winning ways and earn some long-overdue respect from UFC fans.

Dan Ige (18-8-0) is an enigmatic but talented fighter with inconsistent recent form. The 30-year-old has only won three of his last eight fights, with the five losses all coming via the scorecards. Ige throws with knockout power, but a lack of volume is his obvious weakness, and this appears a challenging matchup for the American.

Shara Magomedov vs Armen Petrosyan

Shara Magomedov vs Armen Petrosyan

Shara Magomedov (14-0-0) has quickly earned a cult following due to his aggressive fighting style and eccentric behaviour outside of the ring. The 30-year-old holds a perfect 3-0 record in the UFC and competes with a relentless attacking approach that includes a full array of spinning punches and kicks. This style has yielded 11 knockout wins as a professional, and the Russian wild man is a warm favourite to emerge victorious from a compelling matchup.

Armen Petrosyan (9-3-0) has struggled lately, recording two wins and two losses since 2022. The 33-year-old former kickboxer will be pleased to face another stand-up fighter after being submitted on the mat by Rodolfo Viera in February. The Russian-Armenian has excellent cardio and will be confident that he can maintain a high pace against a more explosive type of athlete.

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