Ilia Topuria (image via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

The UFC has announced that, as expected, featherweight champion Ilia Topuria will battle former champ Max Holloway next.

Recently, UFC President Dana White announced via social media that the fight will headline UFC 308, which is taking place on October 26th in Abu Dhabi.

In addition, White announced that former middleweight champ Robert Whittaker will take on the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev in the co-headliner. That bout will also be a five-round, affair.

Topuria (15-0) hasn’t competed since he won the featherweight crown in February, by knocking out, Alexander Volkanovski.

Holloway (26-7), meanwhile, is coming off an electrifying KO of Justin Gaethje for the symbolic, BMF title in April. The legend has won three straight.

Whittaker (26-7) and Chimaev (13-0) were scheduled to fight in June. But, the latter had to withdraw due to illness. Whittaker agreed to fight Ikram Aliskerov on short notice and recorded a first-round, knockout.

Chimaev has not fought since October, 2023, when he defeated former welterweight champ Kamaru Usman via majority decision.