Ilia Topuria has began so many beefs, you possibly can be forgiven for forgetting what truly lies forward of him.

In current weeks, the UFC featherweight champion has traded public photographs with Conor McGregor, Islam Makhachev, and Belal Muhammad, seemingly tired of focusing his consideration on the person he defends his title towards at UFC 308 this Saturday: Max Holloway.

“Blessed” brings his just lately received “BMF” belt into the principle occasion matchup, however famously held the 145-pound title from 2017-2019 earlier than a sequence of losses to Alexander Volkanovski seemingly put his championship days behind him. Nonetheless, Holloway continued to fend off featherweight contenders, and with a surprising last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje this previous April, he was in a position to name his shot and what he needed was a crack at Topuria and an opportunity to reign over his division once more.

MMA Preventing’s Alexander Ok. Lee, Damon Martin, and Jed Meshew dig deeper into the headlining narrative, plus the opposite drama that might unfold at Saturday’s occasion Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi.

1. The place would Max Holloway regaining the featherweight title rank amongst MMA’s finest feel-good tales?

Lee: Holloway stepping proper again into the title dialog with that virtuoso efficiency towards Gaethje was already inspirational and the optimistic vibes have solely intensified with the way in which Topuria has portrayed himself.

I get that we stay in an period the place each fighter appears like they should be Conor McGregor—like, I don’t truly get it, however I get it—however seeing Topuria set his sights each which manner earlier than even authoring a single title protection simply isn’t sitting proper with me. To what finish are a few of these callouts? Is he actually going to combat Belal Muhammad anytime quickly? Simply defend the belt, man!

Placing apart no matter animosity one may need for Topuria, it might be unbelievable to see Holloway declare the featherweight throne once more. Certain, perhaps Alexander Volkanovski has his quantity, however outdoors of that there’s nobody higher at 145 kilos—or at the very least there isn’t if Holloway wins on Saturday. All Holloway does is placed on fan-friendly fights, tackle anybody the UFC sends his manner, and he does all of it whereas exhibiting nothing however respect to his opponents.

Holloway is already a champion for all times in most followers’ eyes, and seeing him with a divisional title round his waist yet another time, would certainly deliver a tear to those self same eyes.

Martin: Each fighter has haters, however Holloway arguably has much less than simply about anyone else on the market. I imply how are you going to not love this man? He doesn’t say silly stuff to get consideration. He actually fights anybody the UFC throws at him. And he produced fairly presumably the best end in UFC historical past along with his beautiful last-second knockout over Gaethje at UFC 300.

That’s why Holloway reclaiming the belt at this stage of his profession over an undefeated wrecking machine like Topuria would completely rank close to the highest of the record.

After dropping three fights to Volkanovski—I nonetheless maintain on to Holloway deserving the win within the rematch—it regarded like “Blessed” was caught in limbo in his chosen division. Certain, he’s taken out nearly each different contender who’s even sniffed a title shot however the losses to Volkanovski banished him to the sidelines when it got here to the championship. Happily for him, the sheer unpredictability of this sport introduced issues round once more with Holloway scoring that dramatic knockout over Gaethje, and Topuria sending Volkanovski to the shadow realm.

Holloway has already cemented himself as one of many best UFC fighters of all-time and he’s a assured Corridor of Famer. However watching him ascend to take the throne once more at UFC 308? That could be the one time in 2024 when nearly each fan finds a method to cheer for the winner.

Meshew: I might argue that Holloway reclaiming the title truly isn’t a large feel-good story as a result of Max already was champion. This isn’t like Miesha Tate unexpectedly profitable the title from Holly Holm, or Glover Teixeira profitable the title late in his profession. Actually, it’s not even Robbie Lawler retiring off an unbelievable KO win.

Which isn’t to say it’s not spectacular. On the contrary, I believe Holloway reclaiming the featherweight title 5 years after he misplaced it is likely one of the most spectacular feats in UFC historical past.

Twenty fighters have received a number of titles in the identical weight class in UFC historical past. Virtually all of these title reclamations got here inside a yr or two of dropping the belt. The obvious exception to that is Carla Esparza, who had nearly eight years between her title reigns. That was an incredible achievement, but additionally the way by which it occurred was a bit curious as Rose Namajunas fought one of many worst fights in fashionable MMA historical past. That received’t be the case with Holloway.

If Max reclaims the belt after twice failing to take action, and does it by beating a fighter everybody agrees is likely one of the finest on the earth, nicely, that’s unbelievable. It’s an almost peerless accomplishment and one which I don’t suppose sufficient individuals will respect on these phrases. However it might be one other unbelievable achievement in an already Corridor of Fame profession.

Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC through Getty Photographs

2. Is the winner of Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev assured a title shot?

Meshew: No. And whereas I believe they’d be the odds-on favourite to get the following one, middleweight is actual wonky proper now.

All indicators level to Sean Strickland getting a rematch with Dricus du Plessis subsequent. We are able to debate the deserves of that (I believe it’s foolish however no matter), however that seems to be what’s occurring. And whereas the winner of this weekend’s co-main occasion makes logical sense to combat the winner and would “deserve” it, deserve’s obtained nothing to do with it.

First, what if Strickland wins? Then he and DDP are 1-1, and a trilogy bout might make sense. Which might imply both Whittaker or Chimaev has to now sit out for practically a yr. Do they wish to do this? Does the UFC? What concerning the rising crop of middleweight contenders behind them? No assure.

And if DDP wins, and so does Whittaker, are we in a rush to run that one again? Possibly it occurs, however there’s additionally the potential of DDP vs. Alex Pereira on the market so I wouldn’t go counting my chickens.

And naturally there’s the difficulty of Chimaev himself. Knock on wooden, it seems like Chimaev goes to make it to the combat this week, however the man is solely not dependable. On prime of that, it positive looks as if he’s solely preventing in Saudi Arabia or Abu Dhabi, which isn’t prohibitive, but it surely does restrict choices.

All issues thought-about, I’d say it’s seemingly however none of this screams “assure” to me.

Lee: The phrase “assure,” and Chimaev ought to most likely by no means be close to one another.

I’m hesitant to even write about this given Chimaev’s monitor file of lacking out on large fights, and whereas I don’t consider in jinxes, it feels unsuitable to poke this bear. However right here we’re. Assuming (gulp) Chimaev truly makes it to the cage, and scores a win over Whittaker, he’s subsequent in line.

The timing appears to be good, too, as he can take his candy time getting ready for his title shot whereas du Plessis presumably rematches Strickland in some unspecified time in the future within the first quarter of 2025. Then the UFC can nudge Chimaev out of hibernation for a chance that when appeared like a assure (whoops, did it once more) and is now the shakiest of propositions.

So no, I can’t think about Chimaev beating Whittaker and never being despatched a contract to combat for a UFC championship. What occurs after he indicators that contract is anyone’s guess.

Martin: Within the lexicon of MMA, the phrase “assured” falls simply behind “deserves” as a time period you need to completely strike out of your vocabulary if you wish to keep sane watching this sport. This specific state of affairs will get much more tenuous while you have a look at the 2 fighters concerned on this matchup.

There’s no denying Whittaker is a legend at middleweight, however with a pair of losses to former champion Israel Adesanya and a one-sided drubbing from du Plessis barely 15 months in the past, it’s powerful to see him bounce proper again into title competition.

Honestly, Chimaev truly has a greater likelihood at a title shot with a win, however even that appears a bit unclear. His lengthy historical past of accidents and sickness have prevented him from constructing any form of momentum over the previous couple of years. Add to that, Chimaev has reportedly struggled to get a visa to journey to the US and that’s nearly like a nail in his coffin with regards to a title combat. As a lot because the UFC travels internationally, Chimaev not having the ability to combat within the U.S. dramatically modifications the power to advertise him as champion.

So principally meaning nothing is assured for the winner on this combat besides listening to Dana White say, “we don’t make fights on the evening of an occasion.”

3. What’s the combat to look at outdoors of the top-2 matchups?

Martin: The one right reply right here is the sunshine heavyweight showdown between Magomed Ankalaev and Aleksandar Rakic.

By all accounts, Ankalaev ought to have confronted Alex Pereira for the sunshine heavyweight title at UFC 307, however Khalil Rountree Jr. was granted that chance as an alternative. Did it make sense? Probably not, however we’ve all moved on largely because of Rountree’s gutsy efficiency earlier than falling to the Brazilian hammer just some weeks in the past.

So now it’s as much as Ankalaev to cement himself because the No. 1 contender. He will need to have shattered a mirror or crossed paths with a black cat as a result of he positive appears to have the worst luck doable. He fought to a break up draw with Jan Blachowicz in a title combat again in 2022 after which had a no-contest with Johnny Walker because of an unlawful knee strike delivered in that combat that additional delayed his championship aspirations.

Ankalaev can’t go away something to likelihood this time. He must demolish or in any other case dismantle Rakic to state his case for a title shot and hope that Pereira sticks round at gentle heavyweight to face him.

Meshew: Low key, this card is trash however for the highest fights. However when you’ve gotten large fights like this occasion, you will get away with an undercard that underwhelms. And on condition that, Damon is right: there’s just one reply and it’s Magomed Ankalaev.

I don’t know why the UFC hates Ankalaev, however they clearly do. Even Alex Pereira is speaking about rejecting him. This man could be the perfect gentle heavyweight on the earth, has a rock stable case to combat for the title subsequent, SHOULD be the consensus decide to take action, and everyone seems to be collectively working to screw him out of it. It have to be maddening for him.

So given all that, I anticipate Ankalaev goes to return out trying to make a press release, as a result of he must. The UFC hates you? Grow to be plain. Followers incorrectly suppose you’re boring? Grow to be plain. Pereira desires to large league you? Grow to be plain.

Ankalaev goes to exit on Saturday and placed on the perfect efficiency he’s bodily able to as a result of he has to. And so for that, I’m tuning in.

Lee: Possibly I simply have middleweight fever, however I really feel like Shara Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan will likely be one to look at if solely as a result of it appears ripe for weirdness.

We nonetheless don’t know what’s up with “Shara Bullet” by no means preventing within the U.S. That’s bizarre. We nonetheless don’t know if he’s truly that good, however he has that shiny undefeated file nonetheless. That’s bizarre. After which there’s Petrosyan, a putting specialist who appears incapable of truly knocking anybody out on the UFC stage? Bizarre, bizarre, bizarre.

That’s been a current development for UFC occasions, the weird and inexplicable weighing in alongside the good and spectacular. I’m not saying Magomedov vs. Petrosyan would be the finest combat of the evening; actually, there’s a robust likelihood it seems to be the worst combat of the evening, objectively talking.

However I’m prepared to wager on the finish of the evening, for higher or worse, we’ll be speaking about it.