UFC 308’s main and co-main events delivered in spectacular fashion. However, the historic night in Abu Dhabi also saw the sun setting on two fan favorites- Max Holloway and Robert Whittaker. The main event saw Ilia Topuria laying waste to Holloway by handing him the first-ever TKO loss in his glittering career. The penultimate encounter saw Khamzat Chimaev destroying Bobby Knuckles and his jaw in under a round.

On the flip side, the beloved veterans received an outpouring of support from their followers despite their losses. Their loyal fanbases stood by them, and even the victors acknowledged their contributions to the sport. Meanwhile, interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall expressed his disappointment, as he had been rooting for both the Aussie and the Hawaiian native.

Tom Aspinall shows his visible sadness since his favorite fighters lost at UFC 308

The interim heavyweight king, Tom Aspinall, took to his YouTube channel to share his thoughts on UFC 308, which he watched live. He was upset about the losses suffered by the veteran duo of Robert Whittaker and Max Holloway, but he made sure to extend his congratulations to the winners as well. 

He stated, “Obviously, we’ve got two absolute fan favorites and two fighter favorites Max Holloway being one in the main event and in the co-main, Robert Whittaker. Unfortunately for me, this has hurt my soul because I love both of these guys as do all the fighters. And so do 99% of the fans out there. So, our guys lost tonight unfortunately but of course, we appreciate the winners. We appreciate Khamzat Chimaev, and we appreciate Ilia Topuria as well.”

Aspinall’s candid reflections showcased his respect for all fighters involved, highlighting the competitive spirit of the sport while expressing his support for his fellow competitors. 

With this dominant outing, Ilia Topuria solidified his status as the UFC featherweight champion as he has now slayed two of the best in that division in consecutive bouts. For the unversed, Topuria previously made quick work of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 to get his hands on the 145lbs gold. Moreover, Dana White also expressed his delight at ‘El Matador’s dominance and said, “When you beat legend after legend, you turn into a legend!”.

Despite the pre-fight banter, Topuria showed great respect for Holloway after the victory, acknowledging the legacy of a fighter who has long been regarded as one of the best in the division. This outing closed a significant chapter in both fighters’ careers, with the Spanish-Georgian proving he could hang with the elite. But what did the champion have to say after the fight?

Ilia Topuria expressed his emotions after beating Max Holloway

Max Holloway’s long-standing legacy in the UFC, spanning over a decade, is well-known and deservedly so. Despite his recent loss to Ilia Topuria, the champion showed immense respect for Holloway, acknowledging the significance of the victory. “To be honest, man, I don’t know. Beating a legend like Max Holloway is something I can’t even believe,” Topuria told Daniel Cormier in the post-fight interview.

“I’ve followed his entire career; he’s inspired me so much. He’s been a great example for this generation.”, Topuria added. In a touching moment, Topuria embraced Holloway after the fight, underscoring the mutual respect between the two fighters. Holloway, while visibly disappointed, vowed to return stronger. “He gave me the name ‘bounce back’, so I will see you again, my friend,” ‘Blessed’ said in the post-fight press conference. Topuria, on the other hand, expressed pride in representing the new generation and hoped to inspire others just as Holloway had inspired him.

To conclude 2024 with knockout victories over both Alexander Volkanovski and Holloway is a time feat for Topuria. Fans are now eagerly anticipating who he will face next. Are you excited about what’s to come? Share your thoughts in the comments below!