This weekend at UFC 308, fans are excited to see Ilia Topuria defend his undefeated record and featherweight title against former champion Max Holloway. But it’s not just this main event that has everyone buzzing—the entire card is packed with exciting matchups, including the prelims, which have the potential to be fight-of-the-year contenders. Ahead of the event, let’s dive into the preview to see what each fighter brings to the table.
Abus Magomedov vs Brunno Ferreira
Abus Magomedov vs. Brunno Ferreira is one of the most exciting fights of this undercard. Both middleweights want to keep their momentum strong as the year wraps up. Talking about Magomedov, he has made a solid comeback after winning against Warlley Alves. However, prior to his losses against Sean Strickland and Caio Borralho, he was quite concerned.
Meanwhile, Ferreira has gone 3-1 in his four UFC appearances since earning a contract on Season 6 of Dana White’s Contender Series, with all his fights ending in the first round. With all the buzz around this fight, it’ll be interesting to see how it turns out. Right now, Ferreira seems to win, thanks to his strong knockout power.
Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Chris Barnett
Kennedy Nzechukwu (12-5-0) is making his heavyweight debut in the UFC against fan favorite Chris Barnett (23-8-0), who is returning to the Octagon after more than two years away. Nzechukwu, Dana White’s Contender Series fighter, has faced ups and downs in the UFC with a 6-5 record. Meanwhile, Barnett hasn’t fought since September 2022 and is stepping in to replace Justin Tafa for this matchup. Indeed, despite the short notice fight Barnett is expected to win given he has been a veteran to this game with solid experience and fighting skills.
Farid Basharat vs. Victor Hugo
The bantamweight division is already one of the most stacked in the UFC, and the clash between Farid Basharat and Victor Hugo is only adding more fire to the mix. Both fighters are bringing serious heat, making this matchup one to watch closely. Basharat (12-0) continues his unbeaten streak with three wins in a row since joining the UFC, most recently taking down French veteran Taylor Lapilus in January.
On the other side, Hugo (25-4-0), a standout from DWCS 2023, made a solid promotional debut in April with a unanimous decision victory and has racked up 17 finishes in his 25 career wins. Right now, it looks like Basharat, despite having less experience, has a solid shot at upsetting Hugo and pulling off a major win.
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Ismail Naurdiev vs. Bruno Silva
Ismail Naurdiev is set for his UFC return in Abu Dhabi this weekend, facing Bruno Silva. Naurdiev, once seen as a top welterweight prospect, went 2-2 in his first UFC run but returns after an impressive first-round submission victory at Brave CF 79. Meanwhile, Silva, 35, is hoping to bounce back after three straight losses, with his most recent setback being a technical decision loss to Chris Weidman last March in Atlantic City.
When it comes to predictions, it looks like Silva might face another loss, as Naurdiev has been performing at a high level lately. Naurdiev’s recent success suggests he will have the advantage in this matchup.
Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Carlos Leal
It’s not just the newcomers stepping into the prelims—two seasoned welterweights are about to fight. Rinat Fakhretdinov, pushing for a Top 15 spot, holds an undefeated 4-0-1 UFC record since his 2022 debut with a solid 21-1-1 overall record. In June, he barely edged out Nicolas Dalby with a split decision win.
Now, instead of facing Nursulton Ruziboev, he will go up against Brazilian Carlos Leal, who brings a 21-5 record into the Octagon. No doubt, this fight will be all about the finish, as both fighters are known for their knockout power and aggressive striking. So fans can expect a showdown where they’ll be hunting for that decisive finish and might see the Russian fighter winning with a knockout.
UFC 308: Ibo Aslan vs. Rafael Cerqueira
On Saturday, as the premier fight at the preliminary card the two light heavyweights Ibo Aslan, making his second appearance in the Octagon, will face newcomer Rafael Cerqueira. Talking about their fight, Aslan is riding a five-fight win streak, with all his wins by knockout or submission. Earlier this year, he got revenge on Anton Turkalj, the guy who had beaten him before.
On the flip side, Cerqueira, who trains with heavyweight standout Jailton Almeida, is undefeated at 11-0, with 10 finishes. Two of those wins came in the first round this year. It looks like Aslan, with his experience in the company and his current momentum, could be Cerqueira’s toughest challenge yet. He might just use his power to pull off a win and hand Cerqueira his first loss.
Also Read: UFC 308: Date, Venue, Start Time, Channel And Live Streaming Details
