UFC 308: Awesome Sadness

*Note: Eddie out this week, so Zane winged it solo

UFC 308 is in the books and with it, the hopes and dreams of many. What hopes and dreams, you ask? The ones that would’ve seen Max Holloway and Robert Whittaker leave the octagon victorious. Instead, they were finished, and they were violent finishes, to boot.

Topuria never opened his mouth the entire fight. Cardio through the roof and I’d imagine his pulse rate hovered in the triathlete range. Holloway’s lauded cardio never failed him, but he was definitely breathing out of his mouth by round 2. Many foretold Topuria’s win, but to actually watch Max get finished was still sad to behold.

Whittaker endured an onslaught of heavy pressure from Chimaev right from Jump Street and even made some narrow escapes but Khamzat was not to be denied. He took Rob’s back and locked in a face-crank, forcing an immediate tap. Why so fast, Rob? That answer came soon after when Rob pointed to his jaw. Later photos would reveal the crushing devastation Chimaev wreaked upon Whittaker’s jaw. Broken in at least two places. It’s a gruesome photo, be warned.

Let’s look at the results and bonuses:

UFC 308 Results

• Ilia Topuria def. Max Holloway via KO (R3, 1:34)

• Khamzat Chimaev def. Whittaker via sub (R1, 3:34)

• Magomed Ankalaev def. Aleksandar Rakic via unanimous decision

• Lerone Murphy def. Dan Ige via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

• Shara Magomedov def. Armen Petrosyan via TKO (R2, 4:52)

• Ibo Aslan def. Raffael Cerqueira via first-round TKO (0:51)

• Geoff Neal def. Rafael dos Anjos via first-round TKO (injury) (1:30)

• Mateusz Rebecki def. Myktybek Orolbai via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)

• Abus Magomedov def. Brunno Ferreira via sub (arm triangle) (R3, 3:14)

• Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Chris Barnett via first-round TKO (4:27)

• Farid Basharat def. Victor Hugo via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

• Ismail Naurdiev def. Bruno Silva via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

• Rinat Fakhretdinov def. Carlos Leal via unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)

UFC 308 Bonuses

• FOTN: Mateusz Rębecki vs Myktybek Orolbai

• POTN: Ilia Topuria, Shara Magomedov, Chimaev (yep, there were 3)

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