Despite his victory at UFC 309, Bo Nickal did not impress in his bout against Paul Craig, according to Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier. The former NCAA wrestling star showed caution and did not utilize his takedown skills, leading the crowd to chant "overrated." While Nickal has the potential to reach the top in MMA, he needs more time to develop before facing a fighter like Khamzat Chimaev.
Rising stars Khamzat Chimaev and Ilia Topuria have been making headlines not just for their wins at UFC 308, but also for the impressive amounts of money they are set to earn. Market estimations suggest that Topuria could be making $750,000 and Chimaev could be pocketing a base salary of $500,000, not including bonuses and PPV sales. Despite their victories, both fighters remain humble and focused on their futures in the UFC.
The Octagon returned to Abu Dhabi for UFC 308, where five fighters received performance bonuses. In the main event, Ilia Topuria secured a thrilling third-round knockout over Max Holloway, becoming the first to do so inside the Octagon. Khamzat Chimaev dominated former champion Robert Whittaker with a first-round submission, earning himself a bonus. Lightweight fighters Myktybek Orolbai and Mateusz Rębecki also received a $50k bonus for their Fight of the Night war. And Shara Magomedov earned a bonus for his second-round knockout victory over Armen Petrosyan in the preliminary card.
In a highly anticipated bout, undefeated fighter Khamzat Chimaev outwrestles and dominates former champion Robert Whittaker in the co-main event of UFC 308. Chimaev secures a tight choke in the first round, forcing Whittaker to tap out in the opening minutes. This win gives Chimaev a strong case for a title shot in the middleweight division.
Rising MMA star Ilia Topuria lived up to his promise by delivering a blistering knockout victory over UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway. With this win, Topuria remained undefeated and cemented his place as one of the most dominant fighters in the sport. In the co-main event, Khamzat Chimaev also made a statement by submitting former UFC champion Robert Whittaker with a brutal face crank in the first round. Both Topuria and Chimaev are now calling for their shot at the UFC title, making for an exciting future in the world of MMA.
Despite Robert Whittaker's stunning first-round KO, Khamzat Chimaev remains undeterred and respectful, congratulating the former champ on his victory while reminding him of their unfinished business. The undefeated fighter also compliments replacement opponent Ikram Aliskerov and acknowledges Whittaker's impressive performance, which was similar to his own when he defeated the Dagestani. Fans can look forward to a potential reschedule of the Chimaev-Whittaker matchup in the near future.