UFC 308 predictions: Are we leaning upset in Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway?

The UFC is back in the Middle East with the featherweight title on the line at the top of the lineup.

UFC 308 (ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Get main card pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.

Shara Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan

Records: Magomedov (14-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC), Petrosyan (9-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC)
Past five: Magomedov 5-0, Petrosyan 3-2
Division: Middleweight
Rankings: Magomedov honorable mention
Odds (as of 10.21.24): Magomedov -175, Petrosyan +145
Junkie pick results: Magomedov 11, Petrosyan 0

Dan Ige vs. Lerone Murphy

Records: Ige (18-8 MMA, 10-7 UFC), Murphy (14-0-1 MMA, 6-0-1 UFC)
Past five: Ige 3-2, Murphy 5-0
Division: Featherweight
Rankings: Murphy No. 14, Ige honorable mention
Odds (as of 10.21.24): Ige +165, Murphy -195
Junkie pick results: Murphy 9, Ige 2

Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic

Records: Ankalaev (19-1-1 MMA, 10-1-1 UFC), Rakic (14-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC)
Past five: Ankalaev 4-0-1, Rakic 2-3
Division: Light heavyweight
Rankings: Ankalaev No. 4, Rakic No. 11
Odds (as of 10.21.24): Ankalaev -390, Rakic +290
Junkie pick results: Ankalaev 11, Rakic 0

Khamzat Chimaev vs. Robert Whittaker

Records: Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), Whittaker (27-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC)
Past five: Chimaev 5-0, Whittaker 3-2
Division: Middleweight
Rankings: Whittaker No. 4, Chimaev No. 10
Odds (as of 10.21.24): Chimaev -220, Whittaker +180
Junkie pick results: Chimaev 6, Whittaker 5

Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway

Records: Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC)
Past five: Topuria 5-0, Holloway 4-1
Division: Featherweight
Rankings: Topuria No. 1, No. 4 pound-for-pound; Holloway No. 3, honorable mention pound-for-pound
Odds (as of 10.21.24): Topuria -245, Holloway +200
Junkie pick results: Holloway 6, Topuria 5

Preliminary card picks

Although they don’t count toward the standings, MMA Junkie staff members still pick the fights on the prelims. Here are the results:

• Ibo Aslan vs. Rafael Cerqueira: Aslan 7, Cerqueira 4
• Rafael dos Anjos vs. Geoff Neal: Neal 9, dos Anjos 2
• Myktybek Orolbai vs. Mateusz Rebecki: Orolbai 9, Rebecki 2
• Brunno Ferreira vs. Abus Magomedov: Ferreira 6, Magomedov 5
• Chris Barnett vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu: Nzechukwu 9, Barnett 2
• Farid Basharat vs. Victor Hugo: Basharat 11, Hugo 0
• Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Carlos Leal: Fakhretdinov 11, Leal 0
• Ismail Naurdiev vs. Bruno Silva: Naurdiev 8, Silva 3

Check out all the main card picks below.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

	Topuria vs. Holloway	Chimaev vs. Whittaker	Ankalaev vs. Rakic	Ige vs. Murphy	Magomedov vs. Petrosyan
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 170-97	Holloway (67%)	Whittaker (65%)	Ankalaev (72%)	Murphy (60%)	Magomedov (84%)
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 177-95	Topuria	Chimaev	Ankalaev	Murphy	Magomedov
Ken Hathaway @1khathaway 176-96 2017, 2022 Champion	Topuria	Chimaev	Ankalaev	Murphy	Magomedov
Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 172-100 2014 Champion	Holloway	Chimaev	Ankalaev	Ige	Magomedov
Nolan King @mma_kings 168-104 2023 Champion	Topuria	Whittaker	Ankalaev	Murphy	Magomedov
Matt Erickson @MattE 165-107	Holloway	Chimaev	Ankalaev	Murphy	Magomedov
Matthew Wells @MrMWells 164-108	Topuria	Chimaev	Ankalaev	Murphy	Magomedov
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 163-109	Holloway	Chimaev	Ankalaev	Murphy	Magomedov
Brian Garcia @thegoze 162-110 2017 Champion	Holloway	Whittaker	Ankalaev	Murphy	Magomedov
Simon Samano @SJSamano 161-111	Holloway	Whittaker	Ankalaev	Murphy	Magomedov
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 154-118	Topuria	Whittaker	Ankalaev	Murphy	Magomedov
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 149-123	Holloway	Whittaker	Ankalaev	Ige	Magomedov

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