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USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Matt Erickson

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
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
170-97

Holloway
(67%)

Whittaker
(65%)

Ankalaev
(72%)

Murphy
(60%)

Magomedov
(84%)
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
177-95

Topuria

Chimaev

Ankalaev

Murphy

Magomedov
Ken Hathaway
@1khathaway
176-96
2017, 2022 Champion

Topuria

Chimaev

Ankalaev

Murphy

Magomedov
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
172-100
2014 Champion

Holloway

Chimaev

Ankalaev

Ige

Magomedov
Nolan King
@mma_kings
168-104
2023 Champion

Topuria

Whittaker

Ankalaev

Murphy

Magomedov
Matt Erickson
@MattE
165-107

Holloway

Chimaev

Ankalaev

Murphy

Magomedov
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
164-108

Topuria

Chimaev

Ankalaev

Murphy

Magomedov
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
163-109

Holloway

Chimaev

Ankalaev

Murphy

Magomedov
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
162-110
2017 Champion

Holloway

Whittaker

Ankalaev

Murphy

Magomedov
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
161-111

Holloway

Whittaker

Ankalaev

Murphy

Magomedov
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
154-118

Topuria

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.

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