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- What: UFC 308
- Who: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic
- Date: Saturday, October 26, 2024
- Location: Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Time: Prelims (10:00 a.m. ET), Pay-Per-View Card (2:00 p.m. ET)
- How to Watch: Prelims (ESPN+), Main Card (ESPN+ PPV)
The next UFC pay-per-view fight card, UFC 308, takes place on Saturday, October 26, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE. In the main event of the ESPN+ PPV card, UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria defends his title against former champion Max Holloway. Before that, former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker faces Khamzat Chimaev in a 185-pound contest. Prior to those matchups, UFC 308 features a potential UFC light heavyweight title eliminator between Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic. Here is some background on Ankalaev vs. Rakic before we look at the betting breakdown for UFC 308.
Magomed Ankalaev (18-1-1-1) is the No. 2 ranked fighter in the UFC light heavyweight division. He is 1-0-1-1 in his past three outings and coming off a January TKO win over Johnny Walker. Ankalaev fought for the vacant UFC light heavyweight title in December 2022, but he and former champ Jan Blachowicz took that bout to a draw.
Aleksandar Rakic (14-4) is the No. 5 ranked UFC 205-pounder. Rakic is on a two-fight losing skid. He lost to Blachowicz via injury TKO in May 2022 and then was knocked out by another ex-UFC champ. Jiri Prochazka, when he returned from that injury in April 2024.
Before we look at the best bets for Ankalaev vs. Rakic on the UFC 308 PPV card, check out the best UFC betting sites and where you can find our betting pick for the UFC 308 main event.
UFC 308: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic betting picks
| Fighters |  |  |  |  |
| Magomed Ankalaev | -360 | -380 | -360 | -400 |
| Aleksandar Rakić | +285 | +290 | +260 | +285 |
Magomed Ankalaev betting breakdown
Magomed Ankalev is not the most exciting fighter on the UFC light heavyweight roster. Ankalaev takes a measured approach in everything he does. He has a wide stance on the feet and uses that stance well as a kickboxer. He uses range well, and he has power in his kicks and punches, but where he excels and where he wants to get the fight is on the mat. In his five-round matchup against Blachowicz, he had more than nine minutes of control time in the final two rounds. However, he only generated 28 significant strikes in those two rounds and picked up zero submission attempts. He can mix up his striking attacks on the feet, and his defense is good, but he is best at slowing things down and controlling the action on the mat.
Ankalaev averages 3.64 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy of 52 percent. His striking defense is 59 percent, and he absorbs 2.25 significant strikes per minute. As for his takedowns, Ankalaev earns 1.02 per 15 minutes with an accuracy of 31 percent. His takedown defense is 86 percent.
Aleksandar Rakic betting breakdown
Aleksandar Rakic is a good striker. He uses his length and reach well and he is very good at mixing up his targets and techniques, especially when it comes to his kicks. Those kicks could be how he picks up an upset win at UFC 308. If Rakic can keep the fight standing and eat up his opponent’s legs with kicks, something that Ankalaev has struggled with, Rakic could get the shocking victory. He doesn’t put out a lot of volume, and he prefers technical striking to brawling, while also keeping the fight at distance. Rakic is also good at utilizing his footwork, which helps him keep the fight from going into the clinch.
Rakic lands 4.26 significant strikes per minute with a 50 percent striking accuracy. Rakic absorbs 2.80 strikes per minute, with a defense of 50 percent. Rakic averages 0.76 takedowns per 15 minutes with an accuracy of 25 percent. His takedown defense stands at 85 percent.
Best Bets: UFC 308 – Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic
If Rakic can keep the fight at distance, and use his leg kicks to slow down Ankalaev, he has a chance to pull off the upset, but that is a slim chance. However, if he grows to a bigger betting underdog as fight night approaches, there could be some value in betting Rakic to win.
However, the betting pick is for Magomed Ankalaev to beat Aleksandar Rakic via decision at UFC 308.
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