ABU DHABI – Dan Ige shuts down the notion that he should have been awarded a bigger fight at UFC 308.

Ige (18-8 MMA, 10-7 UFC) faces Lerone Murphy (14-0-1 MMA, 6-0-1 UFC) on Saturday’s main card at Etihad Arena (pay-per-view, ESPN+).

Ige is coming off a short-notice loss to Diego Lopes at UFC 303 in June, where he stepped in on just four hours’ notice. Ige was promised a spot on UFC 306, but that didn’t pan out. Instead, he draws undefeated Murphy, but Ige sees many perks in that fight.

“I understand the perspective, but I see this as a reward,” Ige told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 308 media day. “I get to fight a guy above me in the rankings. Yes, he’s undefeated, he’s been tested against worthy contenders, but it comes down to self-belief.

“Belief in myself and my team. I believe we have the game plan to beat him, and that’s the beauty of this sport. Anything can happen in MMA so, I’m going to look to go out there and be the first person to beat Lerone Murphy, and I truly believe I could do so.”

Ige rates Murphy’s skills highly, but thinks one major thing separates them.

“I believe we’re pretty similar in a lot of ways as far as our abilities to fight out of both stances,” Ige said. “He’s a little longer, a little more methodical with his movements, and his feints. I definitely believe there’s a pretty big power differential.

“I’m not going to go out there and look to only land big power shots, but I think you’ll see that difference in the fight. When I hit him vs. when he hits me. It’s going to be a great fight, I can’t wait to go out there and test myself against a guy like Lerone.”

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

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Dustin Poirier is one of the most prolific knockout artists in UFC history. And if he couldn’t shut Max Holloway’s light off, he struggles to see Ilia Topuria doing so at UFC 308.

Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) has been nothing short of adamant he will be the first to stop Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) with strikes in MMA competition when they meet in Saturday’s featherweight title headliner at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN+). He has promise to turn the lights of on “Blessed” at every turn, which is a bold statement given Holloway has the most fights in octagon history without being put down.

Poirier, who was one of the few fighters to stagger Holloway in the octagon in their epic Fight of the Year candidate at UFC 236 in April 2019, struggles to see Topuria doing what so many others before him couldn’t.

“To go out there and one-punch Max is going to be almost impossible, I think,” Poirier said on “The Bohnfire” podcast with MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn. “It can happen, for sure. But I don’t think it will.”

Poirier will be working as a desk analyst for UFC 308 alongside Brendan Fitzgerald, Chael Sonnen and Din Thomas. He is leaning toward Holloway leaving with the belt in the highly anticipated encounter, but said it would be a tremendous statement from Topuria if he can get the job done.

“This is a big test,” Poirier said. “If he goes in there and beats Max or lasts with Max in the volume game and outpoints him, outfights him technically on the feet – that’s going to say so much about Ilia and where he’s going to go.

“I can’t pick against Max. I could see Topuria winning, but just Max, the experience and the championship fights he’s been in.”

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

ABU DHABI – UFC featherweigth champion Ilia Topuria is challenging Max Holloway to meet in the middle of the octagon, point to the ground, and throw down in his signature style. However, he doubts that will happen.

Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) makes his first title defense this Saturday in the main event of UFC 308. He takes on former champion Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) in a heated and highly anticipated matchup. Both Topuria and Holloway teased of a brawl in the middle of the octagon, but Holloway said at Wednesday’s media day that he’s not deserving of a vintage, Holloway shootout.

“To me, I don’t think he deserves,” Holloway said. “You have to earn that, and I don’t think he’s deserved that right.”

Topuria responded by saying that Holloway is actually wary of his knockout power, and that the deserving argument is an excuse to avoid a brawl.

“He’s already backing out,” Topuria said at the UFC 308 media day. “If he brawls with me, he’s already knocked out. He’s already knocked out.

“If I were another type of fighter like Yair Rodriguez or Brian Ortega, he’d say, ‘Of course, I’ll throw down for a few seconds. It’s no big deal.’ He says he’s running a big risk, but what risk is he running? The only thing that makes him relevant is the BMF, which he’s not event putting on the line. I’m the one that’s risking everything. I’m the one that’s putting this belt on the line. I’m the one risking it all. And even then, he doesn’t want to do it. Why? Ask him. Go slide a note under his door.”

Holloway also accused Topuria of being a copycat to Conor McGregor, to which Topuria also had a response.

“He doesn’t even know what to say anymore,” Topuria said. “Why doesn’t he talk about what we’re here to do? Which is the fight. That’s because he doesn’t see any flaws i me. He doesn’t know where to grab from. He knows I’m much better than him, and now he has to resort to other things, just like when Conor (McGregor) was saying I wasn’t Spanish. Because I don’t have any flaws as a fighter, and I’m much better than them, they go to that. But we’ll see on Saturday, he shows up, and I’m shutting his mouth.”

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

Slot has also emulated legendary Liverpool boss Bill Shankly by winning his first three European matches as manager.

Liverpool’s impressive start to the season includes wins against Manchester United, AC Milan and Chelsea.

There are some big tests on the horizon. As well as Arsenal, they have matches against German champions Bayer Leverkusen, Aston Villa, Real Madrid and Manchester City between now and 1 December.

“This is a team on a brilliant run with some players playing well, but it’s clear more improvements will come,” said Nevin.

“If you are having this sort of run and nowhere near peaking yet, that’s real good news.

“Arne Slot’s aware of it. There’s more to come from this team, but you wouldn’t think so from the results.”

After the Leipzig game, Slot said his players must be proud after achieving the “almost impossible” feat of setting new club records.

Like Klopp, Slot is aware he will be judged on the number of trophies he brings to Anfield – not records.

“Records are nice, but other things are nicer than records and you know what I mean by that – trophies,” Slot said.

It didn’t take long for the UFC’s matchmaking team and brass to make a decision on Jake Hadley after his third loss in four fights.

Hadley will have to work his way back to the UFC after an upset loss on the main card at UFC Fight Night 245 this past Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Hadley announced the news on social media Wednesday, but made a point to say his contract was up, and he “wasn’t cut.”

Hadley (11-4 MMA, 3-4 UFC) was the biggest favorite on the card at more than 6-1 against Smotherman (12-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who took the fight on just a few days’ notice after Brady Hiestand pulled out. But Smotherman outworked him over 15 minutes for a unanimous decision.

“I wasn’t cut my contract came to an end,” Hadley posted on social media. “took 2 big risks my last 2 fights being a company man and it bit me on the arse. Took block head on a weeks notice but missed the weight which was obviously held against me then took cam on 3 days notice after originally training for a wrestling based opponent I understand cam didn’t do a camp but everyone’s ready always for 3x5s cmon I proven that vs block head took the fight on baby’s due date because fight was offered and didn’t wanna say no to the ufc and be a company man but ohh well if I choose to work my way back to the UFC I know I can do that again no problem.”

https://twitter.com/jakehadleymma/status/1849179246129746417

Hadley won the Cage Warriors flyweight title in late 2020. Ten months later, he took a fight on Dana White’s Contender Series and earned his way into the UFC – even though he missed weight.

After a loss in his promotional debut, he won back-to-back fights against Carlos Candelario and Malcolm Gordon, the latter of which was a 61-second knockout worth an extra $50,000.

But then came consecutive losses to Cody Durden and Charles Johnson at flyweight, and he missed weight when he moved up to bantamweight for a fight with Caolan Loughran earlier this year, which he referenced in his post.

The Smotherman loss was the nail in the coffin of the 28-year-old Brit’s UFC tenure for now.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 245.