Illia Topuria and Khazmat Chimaev finish legends at UFC 308

Saturday inside the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi UFC featured two of their young stars against two sure fire hall of famers at UFC 308. UFC featherweight champion Illa Topuria (16-0) took on former featherweight champion and current BMF champion Max Holloway (26-8). And Khazmat Chimaev (14-0) faced former middleweight champion Robert Whitaker (26-8). 

Topuria (16-0) dropped Holloway (26-8) with a left hook before finishing him off with hammerfists at 1:34 of the third round. It was a classic performance by Topuria who is UFC’s youngest champion at 27 years of age. The fight was a classic boxing match as the two stood at the center of the ring landing vicious strikes. At times, it appeared Holloway was on his way to winning the fight assuming control, but Topuria's pressure and power were relentless. He hurt Holloway badly with a right hand, moments before dropping him with the left hook

"I caught him with many punches, but exactly with that right hand, I felt it," Topuria said. "I saw it in his face, he started to make step backs. You don't see that often in Max Holloway." After the bout former champion Alexander Volkanovski walked inside the cage and officially made his rematch challenge to the champion. Which seems like the next fight for Topuria.

In the co-main event Khazmat Chimaev, another young UFC superstar made short work of Robert Whitaker. The native of Chechnya, Russia, produced a tap out at 3:34 of Round 1 after Whittaker claimed the face crank applied by Chimaev might have dislocated his jaw. "I'm going for the belt!" Chimaev said. "Thanks [Whittaker], I love you my brother. You have always been a picture for me, you're a legend. Respect that you took the fight with me. No one wants to fight with me. All the champions are running from me."

Whittaker, 33, was never able to land a strike of any significance before being taken down. Chimaev offers relentless pressure that’s a problem to any fighter. Chimaev has put on dominant performance after dominant performance. After his victory he said he either wants the belt at 185 or lightweight champion Alex Periea.