UFC 308 is primed to ignite the Etihad Arena in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, Oct. 26, with a thrilling lineup of matchups. This highly anticipated pay-per-view event marks the promotion’s 20th trip to Abu Dhabi and the first since August’s Fight Night, headlined by Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov.
The fight card will feature a title clash at its forefront, with reigning UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria defending his title against Max Holloway. Meanwhile, the co-main event will showcase a five-round middleweight showdown between former champion Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev.
UFC 308: Which songs have Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway walked out to?
The walkouts are the driving force of any major fight card, turning the arena into a frenzy of excitement. These entrances not only spark the fighters’ adrenaline but also send waves of energy through the crowd, building anticipation for the battles ahead.
Although the walkout songs for the UFC 308 lineup are yet to be revealed, we can revisit the iconic tracks these fighters have selected in previous bouts.
With an undefeated 7-0 record in the UFC, with four of those victories coming by knockout, Ilia Topuria is gearing up for his first title defense. He secured the featherweight belt with a second-round knockout of former champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February.
‘El Matador’ is known for his habit of switching up his walkout music, opting for different tracks with each fight. For his most recent octagon appearance, Topuria made his entrance to the iconic riffs of AC/DC’s ‘Hells Bells’, while infusing a touch of Spanish flavor with ‘Cancion Del Mariachi’ by Antonio Banderas and Los Lobos.
Meanwhile, Max Holloway, boasting an octagon record of 22-7 and 11 of those victories coming by way of knockout, will be vying for the 145-pound title for the third time at UFC 308. ‘Blessed’ enters this matchup on the heels of a dramatic last-second knockout victory over Justin Gaethje, which secured him the BMF belt at UFC 300 in April.
Holloway has crafted a distinctive ritual of stepping into the arena to the rhythmic sounds of ‘Hawaiian Kickboxer’ by Moke Boy, a choice he often complements with various other tracks. At UFC 300, he infused his entrance with the soulful melodies of ‘Maui Hawaiian Sup’pa Man’ by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole.
UFC 308: Which songs have Robert Whittaker, Khamzat Chimaev, and others walked out to?
With a UFC record of 17-5, featuring six victories by knockout, Robert Whittaker is riding high following a first-round knockout of Ikram Aliskerov at UFC Saudi Arabia in June. ‘The Reaper’ has bounced back with consecutive wins since his setback against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 290 last year. As he gears up for UFC 308, Whittaker is determined to secure a victory that will catapult him back into title contention.
‘The Reaper’ embraces his trademark flair by making his entrance to the iconic beats of ‘Can’t Be Touched’ by boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. This anthem has become a staple of his walkout routine for a very long time.
Khamzat Chimaev, sporting an undefeated octagon record of 7-0, is making his return after a year-long hiatus plagued by health issues and injuries. Chimaev was slated to face Whittaker in June but had to withdraw due to an undisclosed health concern. ‘Borz’ last stepped into the octagon in October 2023, securing a majority decision victory against Kamaru Usman at UFC 294.
Many fans mistakenly believe that Chimaev’s walkout song is ‘Thé à la Menthe – The Laser Dance Song’ by La Caution; however, the undefeated Chechen has never actually used this track for his entrances. Instead, ‘Borz’ has consistently graced the Octagon to the stirring melodies of ‘Гимн’ (‘Hymn’) by Тимур Муцураев (Timur Mutsuraev).
Another highly significant bout on the UFC 308 lineup features a light heavyweight clash between former title challenger Magomed Ankalaev and Aleksandar Rakic.
Ankalaev, who holds a UFC record of 10-1-1 with one no contest, is coming off a knockout victory against Johnny Walker at UFC Vegas 84 in January. He aims for another win to position himself for a future title challenge against reigning champion Alex Pereira.
Since his UFC debut in 2018, Ankalaev has consistently made his entrance to the sounds of ‘Мой Нанак’ (‘My Nanak’) by Tamila Sagaipova.
Meanwhile, Rakic, holding an octagon record of 6-3, finds himself in the midst of a two-fight losing streak and is eager to return to the win column. For his most recent appearance at UFC 300, ‘Rocket’ made his entrance to the rhythmic beats of ‘Music The Best 3’ by Justin Seven.
