The anticipation is building as UFC 308 takes center stage on Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, headlined by Hawai‘i’s Max Holloway against Ilia Topuria for the UFC featherweight championship.
Waianae's Max Holloway (26-7) aims to reclaim the featherweight belt after a spectacular knockout victory over Justin Gaethje in April to secure the BMF title. The former featherweight champion holds numerous UFC records, including most significant strikes landed (3,378) and most in a single fight (445 vs. Calvin Kattar). Holloway is also the UFC featherweight leader in wins (20), knockouts (9), and finishes (11).
“This is a world title fight. We’ve got to fight. That’s all there is,” Holloway said at Wednesday’s UFC 308 media day. Despite his illustrious 12-year UFC career, Holloway finds motivation beyond the octagon. “The next one is always the best one. I want to be that little hope, that little share of light, especially for Waianae and Hawai‘i.”
Ilia Topuria (15-0), fighting out of Alicante, Spain, brings his undefeated record into his first title defense. The confident Spaniard, known for his aggressive style, said, “I’ll be pointing to the ground from the first second of the fight. If he wants to stand with me, that’s fine, but if not, I’ll find a way to finish him and take his head off.”
Also on the main card is another Hawai‘i native, Dan Ige (18-8) of Haleiwa, who faces No. 12-ranked Lerone Murphy (14-0-1) from Manchester, England, in a 145-pound clash.
Murphy is eager to make a statement, promising to be the first to stop Ige inside the octagon. Ige, however, is undeterred: “I’ve faced the best of the best. When that cage door closes, it’s a different story.”
Both Hawai‘i fighters enter the event as betting underdogs against their undefeated opponents.
UFC 308 kicks off at 8 a.m. HST on ESPN+ Pay-Per-View, live from Yas Island/Yas West in Abu Dhabi.