Tag: Robert Whittaker

Video: UFC 308 cold open features Max Holloway’s surge toward Ilia Topuria

The UFC returns to Abu Dhabi on Saturday with a superstar atop the lineup in an attempt to recapture a title that used belong to him.

The UFC returns to Abu Dhabi on Saturday with a superstar atop the lineup in an attempt to recapture a title that used belong to him.

The UFC has released the UFC 308 cold open video. The card features a featherweight title fight between champion [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) and former champ [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC).

The video is narrated by actor and regular UFC voice-over narrator Ron Perlman and has a backdrop soundtrack of “Unleash The Power” by Hidden Citizens, featuring Rayelle and Sam Tinnesz. That song recently was featured in Netflix’s series “Blue Eye Samurai.”

The cold open also looks at the co-main event middleweight title eliminator between the unbeaten [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) and former champ [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] (27-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC).

Check out the UFC 308 cold open video above.

UFC 308 (pay-per-view, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 2 p.m. ET)

  • Champ Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway – for featherweight title
  • Khamzat Chimaev vs. Robert Whittaker
  • Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic
  • Dan Ige vs. Lerone Murphy
  • Shara Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 10 a.m. ET)

  • Rafael dos Anjos vs. Geoff Neal
  • Myktybek Orolbai vs. Mateusz Rebecki
  • Brunno Ferreira vs. Abus Magomedov
  • Chris Barnett vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu
  • Farid Basharat vs. Victor Hugo
  • Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Carlos Leal
  • Ibo Aslan vs. Rafael Cerqueira
  • Ismail Naurdiev vs. Bruno Silva

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

UFC 308 ‘Embedded,’ No. 5: Max Holloway examines history of Ilia Topuria rivalry with broadcast team

Max Holloway sits down with the UFC 308 broadcast team to talk Ilia Topuria – and brings receipts to his case for himself.

The UFC is back in Abu Dhabi for UFC 308, and the popular “Embedded” fight week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 308 (pay-per-view, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Etihad Arena on Yas Island.

In the headliner, featherweight champion [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) puts his title on the line for the first time when he takes on former champ [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC). In the co-feature, [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) meets former champ [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] (27-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC) to determine the next top contender at middleweight.

The fifth episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

Max Holloway and Robert Whittaker sit down with the UFC 308 commentating team; Champion Ilia Topuria starts his weight cut; Fans gather to see the stars of UFC 308 at the official press conference.

Previous UFC 308 ‘Embedded’ episodes:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

Robert Whittaker credits keeping family priorities in line for spillover into UFC career

Robert Whittaker has been to the top of the UFC’s middleweight mountain, and he could be on the cusp of going back.

ABU DHABI – [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] has been to the top of the mountain, and he could be on the cusp of going back.

And because of that, in part, it’s likely the former UFC middleweight titleholder has found a way to stay grounded in pursuit of another title shot. But he also thinks a dramatic change in his life outside the sport was instrumental.

Figuring out how to balance MMA with kids and family life is what helps set him apart, he thinks.

“The big part of it is all about redefining drives and goals,” Whittaker said at Wednesday’s media day for UFC 308. “I’ve been in the UFC for a long time. You don’t see a lot of fighters stay in the UFC for as long as I have at the caliber and the level that I’ve been at. I think I owe a lot of that to just being able to redefine my goals, redefine my drive.”

Whittaker (27-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC) on Saturday has just the latest big test in his career when he takes on unbeaten fellow title contender Khamzat Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in the UFC 308 (pay-per-view, ESPN+) co-main event at Etihad Arena.

Chimaev is more than a 2-1 favorite at the betting window, and that part is slightly new to Whittaker. He’s only been an underdog once in the past seven years, and that was his rematch with Israel Adesanya in an attempt to win back the middleweight title he lost to him in 2019.

But the life circumstances Whittker cares most about, he thinks help him in the cage, too.

“When I started my career, I didn’t have kids,” Whittaker said. “So the introduction of kids during that period, it’s mind-blowing. And anyone that has kids will understand – it changes you. I think a lot of fighters struggle with change … But I’ve made those changes to my family.

“I understand what is important in life. I have my priorities straight, and I guess to sum it up, I understand what I’m fighting for. I fight for my family. It wouldn’t make sense not to spend time with them at the cost of fighting.”

Check out Whittaker’s full media day interview above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

UFC 308 weigh-ins: Khamzat Chimaev beats buzzer to make weight for co-main event

Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev is one step closer to reality after both made weight on Friday ahead of UFC 308.

ABU DHABI – [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] is one step closer to finally coming to fruition after both made weight on Friday ahead of the UFC 308 co-main event.

After unbeaten sensation Chimaev (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) pulled out of the original date in June, all signs point to him returning to the octagon after he hit the middleweight mark for his matchup against former champion Whittaker (26-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC) during official weigh-ins at the UFC host hotel ahead of Saturday’s event, which goes down at Etihad Arena on Yas Island (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN+).

Whittaker stepped on the scale at 185.5 pounds, while Chimaev registered at 186 pounds for the five-round showdown, which could serve as a title eliminator the for expected Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland championship rematch.

Check out the video above to see Whittaker and Chimaev make weight for the UFC 308 co-headliner.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

UFC 308 ‘Embedded,’ No. 4: ‘You all know what el matador does with the bull’

Ilia Topuria’s confidence is sky high ahead of UFC 308, but will it come crashing down when he faces Max Holloway?

The UFC is back in Abu Dhabi for UFC 308, and the popular “Embedded” fight week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 308 (pay-per-view, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Etihad Arena on Yas Island.

In the headliner, featherweight champion [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) puts his title on the line for the first time when he takes on former champ [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC). In the co-feature, [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) meets former champ [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] (27-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC) to determine the next top contender at middleweight.

The fourth episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

Dan Ige gets a call from his son; Max Holloway has a training session in the hotel; UFC 308 athletes make their Media Day rounds; Robert Whittaker, Khamzat Chimaev; Max Holloway, and champion Ilia Topuria attend open workouts for UFC 308.

Previous UFC 308 ‘Embedded’ episodes

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

UFC 308 full press conference faceoffs video: Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev, more

The entire UFC 308 main card, including Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev, faced off at the pre-fight press conference in Abu Dhabi.

ABU DHABI – The stars of UFC 308 main card athletes came face to face for the first time during fight week following Thursday’s pre-fight press conference.

With fight week festivities rolling on, the athletes for the card took the stage to answers questions from the media, then engaged in staredowns ahead of Saturday’s event, which takes place at Etihad Arena on Yas Island (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN+).

In addition to the [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] featherweight championship main event, the anticipated five-round middleweight co-headliner of [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag], as well as main card bouts of [autotag]Lerone Murphy[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag], [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Aleksandar Rakic[/autotag] and [autotag]Shara Magomedov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Armen Petrosyan[/autotag] also were in attendance and participated in faceoffs.

Watch the video above to see the full pre-fight press conference faceoffs ahead of UFC 308.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

Watch full ‘UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway’ pre-fight press conference video

The entire UFC 308 main card, including Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway, will attend Thursday’s pre-fight press conference in Abu Dhabi.

ABU DHABI – The UFC 308 pre-fight press conference took place Thursday, and you can watch it all in the video above.

The press conference took place at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, which also hosts Saturday’s fight card on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN+.

UFC 308 is built around a highly anticipated featherweight championship fight. [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] puts gold on the line for the first time vs. former titleholder [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] in the main event. And in the co-headliner, former middleweight champion [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] clashes with undefeated [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] (11-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC).

Here’s what you need to know about the UFC 308 press conference.

What time does the UFC 308 press conference start?

The UFC 307 press conference starts at 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT, which is 4:30 p.m. local time in Abu Dhabi.

Who’s taking part in the UFC 308 press conference?

The 10 fighters scheduled for the main card bouts are slated to participate in the UFC 308 press conference: Topuria, Holloway, Whittaker, Chimaev, Lerone Murphy, Dan Ige, Magomed Ankalaev, Aleksandar Rakic, Shara Magomedov and Armen Petrosyan.

UFC CEO Dana White will oversee the UFC 308 pre-fight press conference.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

UFC 308 preview: Can Ilia Topuria KO Max Holloway? Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev title eliminator?

We preview the UFC 308 card on the latest episode of “Spinning Back Clique.”

Finally! It’s UFC 308 fight week, which features a highly anticipated championship fight between [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] and [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag].

This UFC featherweight title fight has a lot at stake given the two fighters’ trajectories, with Topuria being undefeated and coming off a wild knockout victory over Alexander Volkanovski, and Holloway already having legendary status and coming off a 2024 Knockout of the Year candidate over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300. UFC 308 also hosts several other key bouts outside the main event, including a middleweight clash between [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] and [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag], the return of [autotag]Shara Magomedov[/autotag], and more.

Can Topuria be the first ever to knockout Holloway, or will Holloway reclaim his title? Should the winner of Whittaker vs. Chimaev get the next title shot at 185 pounds?

MMA Junkie’s Brian “Goze” Garcia, Dan Tom, Mike Bohn, Danny Segura, and host “Gorgeous” George preview the upcoming UFC pay-per-view this Saturday in Abu Dhabi.

Watch their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below on YouTube.

https://youtube.com/live/cbzHrkO75mA

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UFC 308 ‘Embedded,’ No. 3: ‘Best Khamzat Chimaev’

Khamzat Chimaev is a man of few quiet but meaningful words in the third episode of UFC 308 “Embedded.”

The UFC is back in Abu Dhabi for UFC 308, and the popular “Embedded” fight week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 308 (pay-per-view, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Etihad Arena on Yas Island.

In the headliner, featherweight champion [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) puts his title on the line for the first time when he takes on former champ [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC). In the co-feature, [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) meets former champ [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] (27-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC) to determine the next top contender at middleweight.

The third episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

Magomed Ankalaev and Shara Magomedov hit pads; Athletes are welcomed to Abu Dhabi with a display of traditional music and arts; UFC 308 athletes begin check-ins for fight week; Khamzat Chimaev has a training session with his teammates.

Previous UFC 308 ‘Embedded’ episodes

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

Robert Whittaker ready to sprint for 25 minutes vs. Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308: ‘I’m the hunter’

Robert Whittaker vows to match Khamzat Chimaev’s pace at UFC 308.

ABU DHABI – [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] vows to match [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag]’s pace at UFC 308.

Whittaker (27-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC) will look to hand Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) his first-career loss in Saturday’s co-main event at Etihad Arena (pay-per-view, ESPN+). This will mark Chimaev’s first five-round fight, whereas former UFC middleweight champion Whittaker has competed in numerous five rounders. Chimaev doesn’t plan on changing his approach, and Whittaker is ready for it.

“I am expecting him to come out hard and aggressive from the first second to the last,” Whittaker told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 308 media day. “And I have prepared accordingly for that. I’ve prepared for the hardest fight of my life, to start extremely hard, like sprinting for the first 5 to 10 minutes, but also drag it out the five (rounds). I’m ready to sprint for 25 minutes if so, and I’m coming for war.”

Chimaev said Whittaker knows how to lose, but he doesn’t. While that statement might be true, Whittaker takes that as motivation.

“Experience,” Whittaker answered on what makes him different from Chimaev’s prior opponents. “I’m good at what I do. I’m a different fighter than he’s fought before, and I guess maybe the fact that I know how to lose, it gives me strength, it gives me a reason why I don’t like being there, why I don’t want that to be my reality. It sucks, so I’m going to go out there and give him a taste of it.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.