The much anticipated Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway matchup will be taking place at UFC 308 later this month on Saturday, October 26. Which fighter has the best chance to emerge victorious? It just so happens that is what we are here to break down.
- What: UFC 308
- When: Saturday, October 26, 2024
- Start Time: 2 p.m. EST (main card)
- Where: Yas Island, United Arab Emirates
- Venue: Etihad Arena
- Where to Watch: ESPN+ (preliminary rounds; subscription required), Pay Per View (main event)
- Main Event: Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway
The lead-up to this fight continues to feature plenty of back-and-forth through the media. Max Holloway recently said that we are all “in for a treat.” Illia Topuria, meanwhile, issued a challenge to Holloway to “throw down” within 10 seconds of the opening bell at UFC 308.
UFC 308 Main Event: Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway Betting Picks
On top of all that, the latest UFC 308 online betting odds only add intrigue to the equation. As you can see below, the range of outcomes is fairly wide:
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Like usual, please remember to double-check these UFC 308 betting lines right up until you actually submit your wager. Our Max Holloway vs. Ilia Topuria betting odds are accurate entering Thursday, October 10. This gives the best online sportsbooks in the United States plenty of time to make adjustments prior to the opening bell. And given how much the best UFC online sportsbooks seem to differ, we definitely expect movement in the coming weeks.
The Case for Ilia Topuria to Beat Max Holloway
Most are not surprised that Ilia Topuria enters as the favorite at UFC 308 over Max Holloway. He is working off one of the biggest knockout victories in UFC history. Back in February, at UFC 298, Topuria upended the great Alexander Volkanovski roughly three-and-a-half minutes into the match.
This says nothing of Topuria’s overall UFC record. He brings a perfect 15-0-0 resume to his bout with Holloway. The current UFC featherweight champion has quickly made a name for himself with his ability to seamlessly transition between striking and grappling. This versatile approach can, at times, come at the expense of accuracy, but El Matador sacrifices nothing when it comes to defense.
Topuria is blocking 65 percent of opponent striking attempts. If he is able to slow down Holloway’s frenetic combinations even a little, it will open the door for him to pepper in more grappling maneuvers—which are seen by many as Holloway’s Kryptonite.
The Key to Max Holloway Taking Down the UFC Featherweight Champion
Max Holloway will arrive at UFC 308 with a track record that speaks for itself. He is a former UFC featherweight champion himself, sporting a 26-7 career record and lands over seven significant strikes, on average, per minute.
Even so, he continues to face a fair share of doubters. The skepticism is twofold. First and foremost, he has lost to Alexander Volkanovski three times since UFC 245. The most recent letdown came during a title fight at UFC 276. Since then, though, Holloway has rattled off three straight victories, including a big-time knockout win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.
And yet, Topuria is almost universally considered a potential legend in the making. At only 27, he straddles that line between an up-and-comer and established quantity. Holloway, for his part, is being painted as the “old guard” during this fight.
This holds some weight relative to total experience. At the same time, Holloway isn’t ancient. He will still be 32 years old at UFC 308, and though he’s lost some of his quickness, the quick-twitch combos remain absolutely lethal.
Official UFC 308 Betting Picks
It is now time to drop our best UFC 308 bets for Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway. And our decision gravitates toward the consensus.
While Holloway is far from finished, the power behind the way Topuria fights has us smitten. Granted, we do not anticipate either fighter to win by knockout. But if one does, it will probably be the 27-year-old.
Some will argue longer fights that go to a decision may favor Holloway. This is potentially true. But Topuria’s wrestling maneuvers make all of the difference for us. He lands an average of 1.92 takedowns per 15 minutes in the octagon. That is a far cry from the 0.25 averaged by Holloway. Don’t be surprised if this is a factor that compels online UFC betting sites to shift the odds even further in Topuria’s favor.
To Holloway’s credit, his defense on those maneuvers is top notch. He knows how to use angles and space to evade takedown attempts, even when his feet are on tilt. Opponents land just 16 percent of their takedown attempts on the former featherweight champion.
Topuria is nevertheless the more adaptable artist in this matchup. Grappling is just a tool in his belt, an arsenal that also includes vertical quickness and power and elite footwork from both offensive and defensive positions.
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