The UFC returns to Abu Dhabi this weekend with one of the most intriguing fight cards of the year starting at 2:00 PM ET. UFC 308 is packed with huge matchups – none bigger than the main event between Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway.

Now is the perfect time to break down this huge map. Here are my expert UFC 308 predictions and best bets for Topuria vs. Holloway, along with some tips on the best bets you can make heading into fight night.

UFC 308 predictions and best bets for Topuria vs. Holloway

• Max Holloway by TKO: +590 at Fanatics
• Max Holloway by TKO in the 5th round: +3100 op FanDuel
• Robert Whittaker: +200 at bet365
• Myktybek Orolbai: -298 at DesignKings
• Sharabutdin Magomedov: -166 at BetMGM

It’s been over a year since the UFC’s last trip to Abu Dhabi. It’s clear that the promotion wants to put on a show for the UAE fans, by loading the upcoming card from top to bottom.

In the co-main event, Robert Whittaker looks to move one step closer to the middleweight belt against one of the top players in the sport, Khamzat Chimaev. This is a five-round fight and could determine the next title contender at 185 pounds.

Whittaker looks ready for an upset here. He has faced more elite wrestlers in his career (like Yoel Romero) and has some of the best hitters in the division.

He will likely face some adversity early, but as this fight progresses he will take over with his punches and kicks to earn a clear unanimous decision victory.

One fighter that seems to fly under the radar is Myktybek Orolbai. At 13-1 and a perfect 2-0 UFC record, he is one of the top players in the UFC.

Orolbai has improved under the tutelage of Urijah Faber and could move into the top 15 in the lightweight division with a win this weekend.

I expect him to get that win. His opponent, Mateusz Rebecki, is by no means a wimp. Orolbai is just on another level with his wrestling and should do enough to win a decision.

Sharabutdin Magomedov is a fighter who is not flying under the radar. “The Pirate” has now gone 3-0 in his UFC run and possesses perhaps the most impressive kicking arsenal yet seen in the UFC.

Look for him to stay on the outside all night with those kicks to earn another decisive victory over Armen Petrosyan on Saturday.

lia Breakdown and prediction of Topuria vs. Max Holloway

Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook

• Max Holloway by TKO: +550
• Max Holloway by TKO in the 5th round: +3100

The entire UFC 308 card is packed with fan-friendly matchups. Of course, no fight is bigger than the middleweight showdown between Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway.

These two men have been on a collision course for years and the winner will undoubtedly establish himself as the true king at 145 pounds.

This is a striker’s delight in every respect. Both fighters have made a name for themselves in the UFC by overwhelming their opponents with their punches and kicks.

How exactly they did that, however, is very different. Ilia Topuria is a wrecking ball in the cage. He pushes forward with impeccable technique, looking for huge punches to the head and body. He is a knockout artist: four of his seven UFC victories have come by devastating KO.

Holloway is more of a volume striker. He kills his opponents with punches and kicks and has shown that he can maintain an incredible pace in five rounds.

Topuria is the favorite here at -300, but I have a feeling we’re getting upset. Max Holloway is the much more experienced fighter.

He is also much bigger than Topuria and has shown on several occasions that he can fight for five rounds. I believe Max will use his elite striking to wear Topuria down and get a TKO victory sometime in the fourth or fifth round.

How Ilia Topuria can win as favorite

Best odds: -230 at DraftKings

Choosing against Ilia Topuria seems unusual at this point. He has gone through his UFC run almost flawlessly, going 7-0 and dominating all of his opponents.

If Ilia wants to win on Saturday, he will want to rely on his entire MMA arsenal.

Before joining the UFC, Topuria was known as a submission artist. He started his MMA career with seven straight wins and showed an incredible ability to clamber onto the mat.

Expect “The Matador” to turn things around this weekend against Holloway. If he can keep Max guessing with both takedowns and punches, he can avoid being overwhelmed by his feet.

Once Topuria manages to get Max to the ground, see if he clings to one of his patented anaconda chokes.

How Max Holloway can win as an underdog

Best odds: +240 at bet365

Max Holloway is only 32 years old. It’s easy to forget because he’s been in the UFC since 2012 and has an overall MMA record of 26-7. He has continued to improve throughout his career and appears to be in his real fighting phase ahead of Saturday’s title fight.

Many seemed to write Max off after his 0-3 series against Alexander Volkanovski. He has done nothing but improve since those losses.

Holloway looks more elite than ever; he’s added some incredible kicks to his arsenal in recent years. Kicking will be key against Ilia Topuria, who has been injured several times by head kicks during his MMA career.

Look for Holloway, the much taller fighter, to stay on the outside with straight punches and kicks. He will increase the pressure as the fight progresses to test the current champion’s cardio.

Almost no one has shown the ability to match Holloway strike for strike. This is a fight that Holloway can certainly win if he can avoid Topuria’s takedowns and maintain his volume and pressure.