5 fighters who could steal the show at UFC 308
This weekend sees the UFC head to Abu Dhabi for a huge pay-per-view event. If things go well, this could be one of 2024's best shows.
UFC 308: Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway features two huge fights at the top of the card, but the entire event is star-studded throughout.
This means that outside of those top two bouts, there are plenty of other fighters who could shine brightly this weekend.
With that in mind, here are five fighters who could steal the show at UFC 308: Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway.
#5. Magomed Ankalaev - UFC light-heavyweight contender
Outside of the co-headliner between Khamzat Chimaev and Robert Whittaker, the fighter most likely to secure a title shot at UFC 308 this weekend is Magomed Ankalaev.
Riding a 12-fight unbeaten streak dating back to 2018, Ankalaev is desperate for a shot at light-heavyweight titleholder Alex Pereira. His fight against Aleksandar Rakic could be his final hurdle of sorts.
However, Ankalaev will probably need to produce something special to steal the show - and to guarantee his title shot.
The Dagestani isn't exactly renowned as an exciting fighter to watch by casual fans, and Rakic is a very tricky opponent who he isn't likely to blow out of the water.
However, Ankalaev is capable of the spectacular at times, as his knockouts of Johnny Walker and Dalcha Lungiambula showed.
If he can recreate something similar this weekend, there's every chance that his name is the one everyone is talking about coming out of Abu Dhabi.
#4. Myktybek Orolbai - UFC lightweight contender
UFC 308's preliminary card is full of unheralded but seriously dangerous fighters. The likes of Brunno Ferreira, Farid Basharat, and Rinat Fakhretdinov all have the potential to make some real noise soon.
However, it feels like the man most capable of surprisingly stealing the show this weekend is lightweight prospect Myktybek Orolbai.
Nobody had heard of the native of Kyrgyzstan when he made his octagon debut on just a few days' notice last November. They quickly took note, though, when he manhandled the dangerous Uros Medic on the ground, eventually submitting him with a neck crank.
Since then, Orolbai has moved his UFC record to 2-0 by edging out the dangerous Elves Brener in a thriller, a fight that probably could've earned both men a $50k bonus.
This weekend will see Orolbai face off with tough Polish fighter Mateusz Rebecki, but given his clear grappling skills, he will probably be favored to come out on top.
If he can do that, and if he can fight in the same manner that he did his first two octagon bouts, he's got the potential to surprisingly steal the show.
#3. Geoff Neal - UFC welterweight contender
Some fighters have the ability to steal any show that they're involved in, purely because they carry the power to stop a fight at any time.
Geoff Neal, who is set to face off with former lightweight titleholder Rafael dos Anjos this weekend, is classed as one of those fighters.
'Handz of Steel' is ranked at No. 10 in the UFC's welterweight division at the minute, but it's safe to say he hasn't had the best of times recently. He's lost his last two fights, falling to Ian Machado Garry and Shavkat Rakhmonov.
However, it's worth noting that Neal pushed both men to their limits, and he also remains the last fighter to beat current welterweight titleholder Belal Muhammad. Most importantly, though, everything he throws, whether it's a clubbing hook or a head kick, is designed to take out his opponent violently.
Dos Anjos will not be an easy out for him by any means, but Neal will be hopeful of catching the aging Brazilian, and if he can do that, stealing the show is a distinct possibility - as is gaining his mojo back.
#2. Sharabutdin Magomedov - UFC middleweight contender
While there are some questions about how high his ceiling sits overall, middleweight prospect Sharaputdin Magomedov is a fighter to watch.
'Bullet' signed with the UFC in 2023 and came with the reputation of a serious explosive striker, and since then, he's largely lived up to the billing.
The native of Dagestan has won his first three bouts in the octagon, defeating Bruno Silva and Michal Oleksiejczuk via decision and knocking out Antonio Trocoli.
It was that bout with Trocoli where fans were treated to the abilities of 'Bullet', though. After struggling in the first round, he found his range and eventually dispatched his foe with a savage flurry.
Magomedov isn't the finished article, as he appears to have holes in his ground game, but theoretically, that shouldn't matter this weekend.
Opponent Armen Petrosyan is a fellow striker, and while he's technically sound, he doesn't possess the same explosive abilities as 'Bullet'.
Therefore, if this exciting and charismatic fighter can deliver another big win, there's no doubt that he could be the man everyone's talking about after the show.
#1. Lerone Murphy - UFC featherweight contender
Looking outside of the two headline bouts, it feels like the fighter best poised to steal the show at UFC 308 is unbeaten featherweight prospect Lerone Murphy.
'The Miracle' is 14-0-1 in MMA, with six of those wins coming inside the octagon. Most recently, the UK favorite crashed into the top 15 at 145 pounds by beating up veteran contender Edson Barboza over five rounds.
Given that he's got as many decisions to his name as he does knockouts, some fans might suggest that Murphy isn't likely to steal the show this weekend.
However, this weekend will see him fight one of the featherweight division's most exciting brawlers, Hawaii's Dan Ige. '50k' is the kind of fighter who could get a crazy fight out of anyone.
'The Miracle' would perhaps be best to avoid trading against Ige in a firefight, but the Hawaiian's style will almost certainly mean that he'll have to fight a little more recklessly.
If that's the case - and if he can piece up '50k' as he did Barboza, Murphy can steal the show - and maybe climb into the top 10 in the process.