Al-Ittihad Arena in Abu Dhabi witnessed a night full of suspense and excitement, as Ilya Topuria succeeded in defending his featherweight title in the “UFC 308” tournament after winning a knockout over second seed Max Holloway.
With this victory, Topuria was able to strengthen his undefeated record with 16 victories, and became the first to defeat Holloway by knockout throughout his career in the UFC championship.
During the fight, Topuria was able to deliver a strong right punch that confused Holloway, then he took advantage of the opportunity and delivered successive punches, ending the fight at the 1:34 mark of the third round.
Topuria said: “It is difficult to describe my feeling at this moment, after defeating a legend like Max Holloway, who was a great inspiration for this generation of athletes, and I hope to be an inspiring role model as well.”
He continued: “When I was able to hit him with the first punch, I felt that it was effective and it showed on his face. This was the first time he had received a precise punch like this.”
Topuria spoke about the experience of fighting in Abu Dhabi, and said: “It was an amazing experience, the atmosphere was special, and the audience was wonderful. I started my career in the UFC here in Abu Dhabi, and today I succeeded in defending my title for the first time.”
In turn, Gamzat Chimaev succeeded in bringing down Whittaker and subduing him by suffocating him with his tight fist and forcing him to surrender immediately. The match ended at 3:34 of the first round, raising Chimaev’s undefeated record to 14 victories overall, and 8 victories in the UFC, and strengthening his position as one of the most prominent competitors in the middleweight category.
After his victory, Chimaev quickly called for a title fight, and spoke about the fight, saying: “After I dropped him, I was able to control him in this position and force him to surrender.”
Chimaev also praised Abu Dhabi and described it as the best city in the world, and said: “Abu Dhabi is a safe and amazing destination, and it is witnessing many developments for future generations. I have previously visited Abu Dhabi many times, and today I live there. The audience was wonderful, and I was pleased with their encouragement and support for me since I came to Here for the first time.”
The main card bouts recorded another decisive victory, as Sharafuddin Mammadov maintained his unbeaten record with a technical knockout victory over Armen Petrosyan, landing a double uppercut at 4:52 of the second round. In another fight, Mammad Ankalaev gave an amazing performance and won unanimously over Aleksandar Rakic. Leron Murphy also continued his winning streak by defeating Dan Ige.
UFC 308 provided an experience that exceeded the expectations of the public and fans of mixed martial arts, and represented the perfect conclusion to the activities of Abu Dhabi Challenge Week, as it entertained the fans of residents or visitors coming from different parts of the world and provided them with many unforgettable moments. Abu Dhabi Challenge Week succeeded in attracting a remarkable attendance from all over the world, especially with its hosting of the Power Slab 9 Championship, in its first global edition, along with many diverse experiences.
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