The two fighters brought differing approaches to this bout. Prograis, perhaps with the knowledge that his big fight days are numbered, provided most of the headlines in the build-up – from claiming Catterall was “nothing special” to broadcasting voice notes from the Briton’s manager at a news conference.

While the New Orleans man was the one bringing the needle, Catterall – never a natural showman – cut an altogether more focused figure.

That continued into the ringwalks, where Prograis entered to Central Cee’s Band4Band which includes the lyrics “it’s got to the point that I don’t even care, I got jewels in the safe that I don’t even wear”.

And it could be seen in the opening couple of rounds, where Catterall looked nervous and unable to assert himself in the early stages.

But after a serious talking-to from his corner, Catterall aimed to take the front foot and it paid off as he rocked Prograis with a hammering left.

The only serious worry for Catterall came in the fifth round, but after the fight he insisted it was a slip rather than a knockdown and he showed no ill-effects for the remainder of the bout. Then in round nine, he showed his class.

Prograis, clearly with nothing to lose, almost turned into a cartoon character such were his wheeling arms and attempts to land killer blows, much to the delight of the partisan crowd.

Catterall kept his cool, his distance, and earned the win. While Prograis has two world titles from a stellar career, Catterall – although only four years younger than the American – has yet to truly catapult himself into conversations about elite fighters despite undoubted talent.

That could now all change after a terrific 12 months, and another assured victory.

ABU DHABI – Max Holloway lost by knockout for the first time in his career Saturday at UFC 308, but in no way did it change his typical way of handling defeats with grace.

Shortly after his third-round defeat to Ilia Topuria, Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) took the podium backstage at Etihad Arena to field questions from reporters. As Holloway spoke, it seemed he’d already separated the emotion of the moment from his analysis.

“I felt great. I was finding my groove,” Holloway told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “You saw on the scoreboards after, I was kind of surprised. I thought I had at least one of them. In the first round, I know he took me down. Then at the ending he had that takedown. It is what it is. It felt good showing off my hands. I was landing. I was moving fast. I think I had him surprised in there. Like I said, I was doing well until I wasn’t. … Game of inches, man. Game of inches. He landed something that I found myself looking at him, up from the ground. It is what it is.”

Holloway said his weight cut was one of his best at featherweight, but a shift to lightweight might still be in order. The failed title bid Saturday was his fourth featherweight title fight loss in a row. Holloway is allured by the clearer paths to gold, fresher matchups, and lesser weight cut at 155 pounds.

“We’re all going to sit down with the team, relax. There’s nothing needed to be rushing back to right now. But I can try coming back in the summer, the big July card, right, in Vegas? Do something. We’ll see what happens. I mean, 155 looks really good right now. … Like I said, I had the best 145 cut here. But what else is there to do? I had a couple times to reclaim it. New guys coming up. Yeah, that’d be fun. But I think 155 looks more fun, fighting more, the caliber, everyone there, and the names there, it looks really exciting to put my name in the mix.”

After all the questions had been asked, Holloway thanked media members in the room – and also took it upon himself to leave them with one last parting message.

“You guys are going to see me back,” Holloway said. “It’s not a funeral. I promise.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

SIR Chris Hoy has revealed his cancer “feels like drowning” as his wife was left “in a daze of shock” by the double blow of her MS diagnosis.

Britain’s most successful Olympian, 48, revealed his terminal prognosis at the weekend after announcing in February that he had been diagnosed with cancer.

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His wife Sarra, 40, was also diagnosed with a “very reactive and aggressive” type of MS.

In excerpts published by The Sunday Times of Hoy’s autobiography All That Matters he spoke about the moment he learned he had cancer.

Hoy said: “The doctor turns the screen to me to reveal the scan in all its grainy detail and the tumour that is currently in my shoulder.

“Hearing the word ‘cancer’ has had an immediate and profound effect on me, and not just me.

“In one short moment, life has changed irrevocably.”

He described the “dark moments” in the early days of his treatment as a “drowning sensation”, but added that he’s since become better able to cope.

The six-time Olympic gold medallist also opened up about learning Sarra had MS.

She’d been told her diagnosis over the phone a month before she broke the news to Hoy.

Hoy said: “I immediately broke down, distraught both by the news and the fact she’d received it without me there.”

He explained that Sarra went to her own appointment just seven days after his cancer diagnosis in a “daze of shock”.

Hoy had said in a previous interview with the Sunday Times: “You know, we were all born and we all die, and this is just part of the process.

“You remind yourself, aren’t I lucky that there is medicine I can take that will fend this off for as long as possible?”

His diagnosis came after his father and grandfather were both diagnosed with prostate cancer.

In September 2023, a doctor delivered the awful news to Hoy that he had Stage 4 cancer.

What was first diagnosed as a tumour in his shoulder, the primary cancer was located in his prostate.

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

Symptoms of prostate cancer can include:

• Needing to pee more frequently, often during the night
• Needing to rush to the toilet
• Difficulty in starting to pee (hesitancy)
• Straining or taking a long time while peeing
• Weak flow
• Feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully
• Blood in urine or blood in semen

Source: NHS

It had then unfortunately spread to his bones, pelvis, hip, spine, shoulder and rib.

Medics have given Hoy two to four years to live.

Sarra’s condition was spotted when she went for a scan after experiencing a tingling sensation in her face and tongue.

The Scottish cycling hero shared a touching video on social media just days ago.

He thanked fans for their support following his devastating diagnosis.

The cyclist said in the video: “Hi everyone, I just wanted to share an update about my health, after telling you that I was receiving treatment for cancer.

“I’m so grateful to everyone for their incredible kindness and support.

“You have heard by now that I’m ready to share that my cancer is stage 4: I will be living with it for the rest of my life.

“Now it’s not the news anyone imagines hearing, and it obviously came as a huge shock.

“We’ve taken time to process it as a family and I now have a deep resolve to turn this incredibly difficult diagnosis into something more positive that can help not just me, but anyone anywhere living with stage 4.”

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The UFC 308 post-fight press conference is the last piece of business to take care of after the action is over in the Octagon, and we have the live video above at MMAFighting.com.

UFC officials will announce the winners of the “Fight of the Night” and the “Performance of the Night” bonuses, and winning fighters will meet the media after their fights.

The UFC 308 post-fight press conference takes place about 30 minutes after the main event ends, meaning it will start around 5 p.m. ET.

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FORMER England rugby star James Haskell steps shaven-headed from a Harley Street clinic after a “preventative” hair transplant.

Haskell, who split from wife Chloe Madeley last year, was still in a blue hospital gown.

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The 39-year-old DJ told a Newcastle event the previous day he had been offered the procedure for free.

And he shared the results of his treatment at London’s Restore Hair Clinic on Instagram, saying: “New hair. Day 1 recovery is going well!”

Haskell has spoken about his thinning thatch in the past and suggested he might get it “sorted out”.

Nice try, James.

Recently Chloe Madeley revealed the moment she decided to end her marriage to James during a day out.

Personal trainer Chloe, 36, shocked fans in October when she announced her split from the rugby ace after five years of marriage.

While they’re no longer an item, the pair remain on good terms and are even still living together as they co-parent their daughter Bodhi, one.

Chloe told the So Wrong It’s Right podcast: “He’s [James] is still technically my husband,” as Olivia asked: “How long have you been separated for?”

The fitness guru replied: “I’ll be honest, exactly a year.”