Anticipation is high for the UFC 308 event happening this weekend, where Ilia Topuria will strive to maintain his undefeated record and featherweight title, as he faces ex-champion Max Holloway. The entire fixture has stirred up excitement among fans with its array of thrilling matchups, including the preliminaries, which could possibly be potential candidates for the fight-of-the-year. As the event draws closer, it’s worth examining what each one of the fighters may bring to the fray.
The exhilarating contest between Abus Magomedov and Brunno Ferreira is unquestionably a highlight of the event’s undercard. Both the middleweights are keen to end the year on a high note, fueling the intensity of the match. Magomedov is showing positive signs of regaining his form after attaining victory over Warlley Alves, following a streak of losses against Sean Strickland and Caio Borralho that initially unsettled him. By contrast, Ferreira boasts a record of three wins and one loss in his last four UFC matches, all ending in the first round, since bagging a contract from Season 6 of Dana White’s Contender Series. Unsurprisingly, a lot of chatter is surrounding this fight’s outcome, and right now, Ferreira does seem to have the upper hand due to his demonstrable knockout prowess.
Kennedy Nzechukwu, with a record of 12-5-0, is gearing up for his UFC heavyweight debut against popular fighter Chris Barnett, boasting a career record of 23-8-0. This match sees Barnett stepping back into the Octagon after a hiatus of more than two years. Nzechukwu, who entered UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series, has experienced a mixed fortune with a 6-5 record. In an interesting development, Barnett filled in the gap for Justin Tafa and is up against Nzechukwu, despite the fight’s short notice. Many expect Barnett to come out on top given his seasoned experience and proven battle abilities.
The fight between Farid Basharat and Victor Hugo is expected to magnify the fiery competition of the lawless bantamweight division. It’s a matchup to watch carefully as both fighters bring ferocity to the ring. Granted, Basharat’s 12-0 record marks an uninterrupted winning streak, including three consecutive victories since he joined UFC – his latest win against Taylor Lapilus serves as testament to his prowess. On the other side, Hugo, a remarkable talent from DWCS 2023, had a splendid beginning to his UFC career with a unanimous decision victory, accounting for 17 of his 25 career victories. The speculations are currently tipping the scales towards Basharat, despite having lesser experience, as a worthy contender to shock Hugo and score a significant victory.
Ismail Naurdiev is poised to make quite a comeback to the UFC stage this weekend, squaring off against Bruno Silva in what looks to be a thrilling fight. Naurdiev, previously hailed as a promising welterweight prospect, had an average first run in the UFC with a 2-2 record. Now, he’s set to return following his impressive first-round submission victory at Brave CF 79. But Silva, aged 35, desperately seeks to recover from a trio of losses. His most recent defeat was a technical decision fall against Chris Weidman, leaving much to work upon. Given the current scenario, Silva might be facing another potential loss as Naurdiev seems to be in top gear, making Naurdiev the likely favored contender in this fight.
Fakhretdinov, bidding for a place in the Top 15, carries an untarnished 4-0-1 UFC track record since making his debut in 2022, with a cumulative record of 21-1-1. In his most recent fight against Nicolas Dalby in June, he managed a tight win through a split-decision. Instead of squaring off against Nursulton Ruziboev, he is now being matched against the Brazilian Carlos Leal, who boasts a respectable 21-5 record. This competition is likely to be about the spectacular knockout, as both fighters are reputed for their knockout streak and aggressive stand-up fights. With this backdrop, people can expect electrifying action and could predict Fakhretdinov securing the win with a powerful knockout.
This Saturday will see Ibo Aslan lock horns with the UFC newbie Rafael Cerqueira. Aslan, currently riding a five-bout victory streak, won each of these matches through knockouts or submissions. Earlier, he avenged his defeat against Anton Turkalj. On the other hand, Cerqueira, training under the established heavyweight fighter Jailton Almeida, boasts an untouched 11-0 record, with ten finishes, including two spectacular first-round victories this year. Based on current trends, Aslan’s momentum and experience make him a tough adversary, and it doesn’t seem implausible for him to continue his winning streak, handing Cerqueira his first career loss.