Thu Oct 24 05:00:00 UTC 2024: **Summary of UFC 308 News Article:**
1. **Event Date and Location**: UFC 308 will take place on October 26, 2024, at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
2. **Main Fight**: Former UFC Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker will face Khamzat Chimaev in the co-main event. This fight comes after an earlier planned matchup was canceled when Chimaev withdrew just a week before the original date in Saudi Arabia.
3. **Whittaker’s Mindset**: Whittaker is in a “hunter mode,” indicating his intention to pursue Chimaev aggressively during the fight. He acknowledges Chimaev’s skills but expresses his confidence in preparing for the best version of his opponent.
4. **Expectations from Chimaev**: Whittaker expects Chimaev to perform strongly and has trained accordingly, preparing for a full 25-minute fight.
5. **Career Focus**: Whittaker emphasizes that his focus is on the fight itself rather than potential title shots that could follow a victory.
6. **Upcoming Event – UFC 307**: UFC 307 will occur on October 5, 2024, in Salt Lake City, featuring championship bouts including Alex Pereira defending his Light Heavyweight title against Khalil Rountree Jr. and Raquel Pennington defending her Bantamweight title against Julianna Pena.
7. **Coverage**: MMAmania.com plans to provide live round-by-round coverage of UFC 308, starting with early prelims at 10 a.m. ET.
This article highlights the significance of the Whittaker-Chimaev fight and the anticipation for UFC events in the coming weeks.