Holloway and Ige attend UFC 308 media day

Anticipation is building as UFC 308 takes center stage at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, headlined by Hawaii’s Max Holloway versus Ilia Topuria for the UFC featherweight championship.

Waianae’s Max Holloway (26-7) is looking to recapture the featherweight belt and secure the BMF title after a spectacular knockout win over Justin Gaethje in April. The former featherweight world champion holds numerous UFC records, including most significant punches landed (3,378) and most in a single fight (445 vs. Calvin Kattar). Holloway is also the UFC featherweight leader in wins (20), knockouts (9) and finishes (11).

“This is a fight for the world title. We have to fight. That’s it,” Holloway said at UFC 308 media day on Wednesday. Despite his illustrious 12-year UFC career, Holloway finds motivation beyond the octagon. “The next one is always the best. I want to be that little hope, that little piece of light, especially for Waianae and Hawaii.”

Fighting in Alicante, Spain, Ilia Topuria (15-0) brings his undefeated record into his first title defense. The confident Spaniard, known for his aggressive style, said: “I will point to the ground from the first second of the fight. If he wants to stand by my side, that’s fine, but if not, I will find a way to finish him off and cut his head off.”

Also on the main card is another Hawaii native, Dan Ige (18-8) of Haleiwa, who will face No. 12 seed Lerone Murphy (14-0-1) of Manchester, England, in a 145-pound bout.

Murphy is eager to make a statement and promises to be the first to stop Ige in the octagon. However, Ige is undeterred: “I competed against the best of the best. When that cage door closes, it’s a different story.”

Both Hawaiian fighters enter the event as underdogs against their undefeated opponents.

UFC 308 kicks off at 8 a.m. HST on ESPN+ Pay-Per-View, live from Yas Island/Yas West in Abu Dhabi.

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