UFC 308 predictions: Are we leaning upset in Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway?
The UFC is back in the Middle East with the featherweight title on the line at the top of the lineup.
UFC 308 (ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Get main card pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.
Shara Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan
Records: Magomedov (14-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC), Petrosyan (9-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC)
Past five: Magomedov 5-0, Petrosyan 3-2
Division: Middleweight
Rankings: Magomedov honorable mention
Odds (as of 10.21.24): Magomedov -175, Petrosyan +145
Junkie pick results: Magomedov 11, Petrosyan 0
Dan Ige vs. Lerone Murphy
Records: Ige (18-8 MMA, 10-7 UFC), Murphy (14-0-1 MMA, 6-0-1 UFC)
Past five: Ige 3-2, Murphy 5-0
Division: Featherweight
Rankings: Murphy No. 14, Ige honorable mention
Odds (as of 10.21.24): Ige +165, Murphy -195
Junkie pick results: Murphy 9, Ige 2
Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic
Records: Ankalaev (19-1-1 MMA, 10-1-1 UFC), Rakic (14-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC)
Past five: Ankalaev 4-0-1, Rakic 2-3
Division: Light heavyweight
Rankings: Ankalaev No. 4, Rakic No. 11
Odds (as of 10.21.24): Ankalaev -390, Rakic +290
Junkie pick results: Ankalaev 11, Rakic 0
Khamzat Chimaev vs. Robert Whittaker
Records: Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), Whittaker (27-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC)
Past five: Chimaev 5-0, Whittaker 3-2
Division: Middleweight
Rankings: Whittaker No. 4, Chimaev No. 10
Odds (as of 10.21.24): Chimaev -220, Whittaker +180
Junkie pick results: Chimaev 6, Whittaker 5
Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway
Records: Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC)
Past five: Topuria 5-0, Holloway 4-1
Division: Featherweight
Rankings: Topuria No. 1, No. 4 pound-for-pound; Holloway No. 3, honorable mention pound-for-pound
Odds (as of 10.21.24): Topuria -245, Holloway +200
Junkie pick results: Holloway 6, Topuria 5
Preliminary card picks
Although they don’t count toward the standings, MMA Junkie staff members still pick the fights on the prelims. Here are the results:
- Ibo Aslan vs. Rafael Cerqueira: Aslan 7, Cerqueira 4
- Rafael dos Anjos vs. Geoff Neal: Neal 9, dos Anjos 2
- Myktybek Orolbai vs. Mateusz Rebecki: Orolbai 9, Rebecki 2
- Brunno Ferreira vs. Abus Magomedov: Ferreira 6, Magomedov 5
- Chris Barnett vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu: Nzechukwu 9, Barnett 2
- Farid Basharat vs. Victor Hugo: Basharat 11, Hugo 0
- Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Carlos Leal: Fakhretdinov 11, Leal 0
- Ismail Naurdiev vs. Bruno Silva: Naurdiev 8, Silva 3
Check out all the main card picks below.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
| Topuria vs. Holloway |
Chimaev vs. Whittaker |
Ankalaev vs. Rakic |
Ige vs. Murphy |
Magomedov vs. Petrosyan |
|
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 177-95 |
Topuria |
Chimaev |
Ankalaev |
Murphy |
Magomedov |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 172-100 2014 Champion |
Holloway |
Chimaev |
Ankalaev |
Ige |
Magomedov |
| Matt Erickson @MattE 165-107 |
Holloway |
Chimaev |
Ankalaev |
Murphy |
Magomedov |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 163-109 |
Holloway |
Chimaev |
Ankalaev |
Murphy |
Magomedov |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 161-111 |
Holloway |
Whittaker |
Ankalaev |
Murphy |
Magomedov |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 149-123 |
Holloway |
Whittaker |
Ankalaev |
Ige |
Magomedov |
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.