This is the UFC 308 live blog for Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic, the light heavyweight fight this Saturday in Abu Dhabi.

Widely believed to be one of the very best light heavyweights on the planet – and currently ranked No. 3 in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings – Ankalaev is seemingly out of the UFC’s good graces. Despite a twelve-fight undefeated streak in the promotion, Ankalaev claimed that UFC CEO Dana White told him he needed an impressive win this weekend to earn a title shot against Alex Pereira. Given that, Ankalaev will be hoping to follow up his January Performance of the Night-winning knockout against Johnny Walker with another bonus-winning effort Saturday.

Rakic ​​has been a staple of the light heavyweight division’s top 10 since joining the UFC in 2017, but has struggled to get the signature win that would put him in title contention. Worse still, Rakic ​​is now on a two-fight losing streak and suffers an unfortunate injury against Jan Blachowicz that sidelined him for almost two years before being knocked out by Jiri Prochazka at UFC 300. Rakic ​​is hoping to snap the skid stop and start again. positioning himself as a legitimate title threat with a big win over the black sheep of the UFC.

Watch the UFC 308 live blog for Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic.