Arman Tsarukyan, not Paddy Pimblett, deserves the next shot at Ilia Topuria — or so says one MMA legend urging the UFC to honor the rankings.
Following Islam Makhachev’s decision to vacate the lightweight title and move up to welterweight, Topuria claimed the vacant throne with a brutal knockout of former champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 317.
Following his emphatic victory, “El Matador” shared a fiery face-off with Pimblett inside the Octagon. Since then, “The Baddy” has seemingly jumped ahead of leading contenders like Tsarukyan and Justin Gaethje in the race to challenge Topuria for his first title defense, largely because it’s the matchup many fans want to see next, even though the UFC has yet to make anything official.
However, former UFC and ONE champion Demetrious Johnson isn’t sold on that matchup. Instead, the MMA legend throws his weight behind “Ahalkalakets” and believes Tsarukyan should be the one fighting for the 155-pound title next.
Demetrious Johnson Says Arman Tsarukyan More Worthy Of Title Shot Over Paddy Pimblett
During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Demetrious Johnson weighed in on the evolving UFC lightweight title picture following Ilia Topuria’s championship win. While he acknowledged that a showdown between Topuria and Paddy Pimblett might generate more revenue and fan interest, “Mighty Mouse” emphasized that the UFC should stick to merit-based matchmaking.
Johnson argued that Arman Tsarukyan, who holds a significantly higher ranking than “The Baddy”, is the deserving challenger for the next title shot.
“It needs to be him, Arman Tsarukyan,” Johnson said. “This is why I say [UFC] it’s a reality TV show. It’s like, obviously Arman Tsarukyan is the number one contender. He’s ranked number one… Whatever you guys wanna go by the rankings, but they’re force in this fight with Paddy Pimblett versus Ilia Topuria just because it’s probably gonna sell more. But I think the rightful person who should be getting the next title shot at lightweight is Arman Tsarukyan.”
“Ahalkalakets” last competed at UFC 300 in April 2024, where he earned a hard-fought split decision victory over Charles Oliveira. The win secured Tsarukyan a title shot against then-lightweight king Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 in January. However, the 28-year-old Armenian was forced to withdraw just hours before the weigh-ins due to an undisclosed health scare.
Tsarukyan served as the backup fighter for UFC 317, successfully making weight in case he was needed. Since then, he’s publicly called out Topuria for a title opportunity. However, despite his readiness, UFC CEO Dana White has yet to confirm him as the next challenger.
Paddy Pimblett respects Ilia Topuria as a fighter, but that’s where the buck stops.
‘The Baddy’ created another viral moment at UFC 317, stepping inside the Octagon immediately following Topuria’s spectacular first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira, and going face-to-face with the newly minted lightweight world champion. After sharing a few unsavory words, Topuria shoved Pimblett, eliciting a laugh from the Liverpudlian.
The incident immediately got the world talking about a potential clash between the two, with oddsmakers already favoring ‘El Matador’ to come out on top by a margin of 5-to-1.
Considering how impressive Topuria has looked in his last three outings, KO’ing Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway and ‘Do Bronx’ in back-to-back bouts, the -500 odds are by no means surprising, but Pimblett believes that the lack of respect Topuria has for his skill set could end up being the Georgian’s downfall.
“He’s a very good all-round fighter—I respect him as a fighter, and he doesn’t respect me,” Pimblett said during an appearance on Verse Us with Eric Nicksick. “I genuinely think if he fought me, he wouldn’t train as hard. He just thinks he’d beat me. But I’d kick him everywhere”
Will Paddy Pimblett Have to Make a Highlight Out of ‘The Highlight’ Before Getting to Ilia Topuria?
Shortly after their faceoff inside the Octagon, UFC CEO Dana White expressed frustration over the incident, suggesting that Pimblett has some more work to do before earning a shot at the 155-pound crown.
Interestingly, reigning middleweight titleholder Dricus du Plessis was caught on camera claiming that Pimblett would co-headline UFC 319 in August, facing Justin Gaethje in what would likely be a lightweight title eliminator. Pimblett recently shot down the rumor on X, but it’s possible that the Scouser could be trying to deflect after ‘DDP’ let the cat out of the bag a little to early.
Yous are mad if you think I’m fighting in August 🤣🤣
For Jon Anik’s money, there’s no better trash-talker in the fight game today than Paddy Pimblett.
Since making his promotional debut in 2021, ‘The Baddy’ has become a bona fide star inside the Octagon. Aside from a solic 7-0 record under the UFC banner, Pimblett has grown a massive fan following courtesy of his brash attitude and unwavering confidence.
Many, including Anik, have even likened the Liverpudlian’s skills on the mic to former champ-champ Conor McGregor, noting how, like ‘The Notorious,’ Pimblett always shoots from the hip.
“Paddy Pimblett’s a master orator, right? And not unlike Conor McGregor, nothing that Paddy says is scripted,” Anik told MMA Junkie. “And I think that’s a big part of it for me. I love Chael Sonnen—he’s one of the best orators I’ve ever been around, but some of his material was scripted. Paddy Pimblett, they just shoot straight from the hip.
“But right now, if you’re asking me, the best trash talker in mixed martial arts today is Paddy Pimblett. And I think the Scouser accent is part of the equation. I gotta go. Love you. Thanks. Thanks.”
Is Paddy Pimblett Ready for the Big Show?
Pimblett’s star power reached another all-time high last month when he famously stepped into the Octagon immediately following Ilia Topuria’s stunning first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in Las Vegas.
With years of animosity brewing, Pimblett and Topuria exchanged some NSFW words before a shoving match erupted between the two top stars.
The incident immediately had fight fans salivating, calling for the UFC to immediately book their long-awaited clash. Unfortunately, Dana White wasn’t exactly thrilled with the encounter, suggesting that the promotion may already have other plans for Pimblett.
Ilia Topuria appears to view a potential clash with Paddy Pimblett as an effortless task.
“El Matador” delivered a stunning first-round knockout of former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira to capture the vacant 155-pound belt in the main event of UFC 317 last weekend, firmly establishing himself as a two-division titleholder.
Shortly after his dominant win, Topuria came face-to-face with Pimblett inside the Octagon, setting off a fiery exchange. Now, “The Baddy” appears to have surged ahead of contenders like Arman Tsarukyan and Justin Gaethje as the leading candidate to challenge the new champion in his first title defense.
The potential title matchup carries added intrigue, as Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett share a long-standing history of bad blood dating back to March 2022. The tension between the two first boiled over in a heated altercation at the fighter hotel ahead of UFC London, where they nearly came to blows.
What began as a verbal spat soon escalated into a heated rivalry, with both fighters consistently trading barbs in interviews and across social media platforms.
Image: @theufcbaddy/Instagram
Ilia Topuria Claims He Can Finish Paddy Pimblett Any Way He Wants
In his last three outings, Ilia Topuria backed up his words with action, confidently predicting knockouts and following through with clinical precision inside the Octagon. Now, riding high on that streak of precision, “El Matador” has turned his attention to a potential clash with Paddy Pimblett. Speaking to TMZSports in a recent interview, the newly minted UFC lightweight champion made it clear that if the fight happens, the outcome will once again be on his terms.
All the fans around the world, I think that they want to see that [Pimblett] fight,” Ilia Topuria said. “And at the same time, I have to be honest—I think it’s one of the easiest fights that I could have in the lightweight division, because I can do with him whatever I want to do, in reality. It’s a very exciting fight for the fans, where I’m going to enjoy the whole process a lot. And at the same time, it’s a fight where I’m going to be able to shine once again.”
A former UFC champion believes no matchup today carries more weight than a potential showdown between Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett.
Last weekend in the main event of UFC 317, Topuria made his dream a reality, stopping former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira with a brutal first-round knockout to capture the vacant 155-pound title and cement his status as a two-division UFC champion.
Immediately after his emphatic victory, “El Matador” came face-to-face with Pimblett in a tense staredown inside the Octagon that quickly escalated into a heated exchange. The newly crowned champion punctuated the moment by shoving the Brit, adding fuel to what now seems like an unavoidable showdown in the making.
Topuria and Pimblett’s rivalry traces back to March 2022, when the two nearly came to blows in a heated altercation at the fighter hotel ahead of UFC London. What began as bad blood quickly escalated into full-blown animosity, with tensions flaring again during a near brawl at the UFC 282 pre-fight press conference.
Since then, both men have repeatedly taken shots at each other in interviews and on social media, keeping the feud very much alive. Now, with Ilia Topuria reigning as the new lightweight king, a long-awaited clash with “The Baddy” could be next on the horizon.
Image: @ufc/X
Michael Bisping Sees Ilia Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett As UFC’s Hottest Potential Matchup
During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Michael Bisping shared his thoughts on who should be Ilia Topuria’s first title challenger. While the UFC Hall of Famer acknowledged that elite contenders like Arman Tsarukyan and Justin Gaethje are waiting in the wings, he argued that the promotion would be wise to cash in on the long-standing rivalry between Topuria and Paddy Pimblett.
“The biggest fight they can put on right now, outside of Islam, is Ilia Topuria versus Paddy Pimblett,” Bisping said. “Saturday night, when they showed all the celebrities, when they showed the fighters in the crowd, Paddy Pimblett got the biggest pop by far… He resonates with the younger crowd and with everyone, because when they showed him on camera, the place went mental! He just beat Michael Chandler, he’s undefeated in the UFC, he’s got the history with Ilia—and that’s the fight they’ve got to make.”
“We saw Ilia lose his cool for just a second—he pushed Paddy, allowed Paddy to get into his head. He had the two belts on his shoulder, gave him the push, the belts almost fell off his shoulders… It just shows Paddy’s ability to get under people’s skin. That fight sells itself—two people who genuinely dislike each other. You don’t really get that. We haven’t seen that since Khabib [Nurmagomedov] and [Conor] McGregor—two people who actually hate each other.”
Sean O’Malley wants no part of Ilia Topuria’s firepower.
On Saturday night, Topuria turned his dream into reality, finishing Charles Oliveira with a vicious first-round knockout in the UFC 317 headliner to claim the lightweight title and cement his status as a two-division champion.
“El Matador” handled Oliveira’s early grappling exchanges with composure before steering the fight back into his striking domain. He then uncorked a thunderous right hook that stunned Oliveira, followed by a pinpoint left hand that sealed the deal. The former lightweight champion collapsed to the canvas unconscious, prompting the referee to wave it off at 2:27 of the opening round.
Before his lightweight triumph, Ilia Topuria had already left a trail of destruction in the featherweight division, first dethroning Alexander Volkanovski to claim the 145-pound title, then cementing his reign with a brutal knockout of Max Holloway in his first defense last year.
Back when Topuria held the featherweight belt, former bantamweight titleholder O’Malley had campaigned for a champion vs. champion showdown. The bout never materialized, and after witnessing Topuria’s savage finish at UFC 317, “Suga” is more than thankful it stayed that way.
Image: @ufc/X
Sean O’Malley Feels Lucky UFC Passed On Ilia Topuria Matchup
During a live reaction on his YouTube channel, Sean O’Malley had nothing but praise for Ilia Topuria following his stunning finish of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. Speaking candidly, “Suga” admitted that after witnessing Topuria notch three consecutive knockouts against elite competition, he now feels fortunate the UFC never followed through on his dream matchup with the newly crowned lightweight king.
“Holy f**k,” O’Malley said. “Islam [Makhachev] vs. Topuria needs to happen. He’s up there with Jon Jones, man. Thank God he didn’t accept my callout. … After I beat ‘Chito’ [Marlon Vera], I called out Ilia and he got scared and ran to 155. No, I’m just kidding, thank God the UFC didn’t make that fight. Knocked out [Alexander Volkanovski], knocked out Max [Holloway], knocked out Charles. Islam next at 170 [pounds]? Holy f**k. Who would even fight Ilia at 155 next? Holy f**k”
Sean O’Malley was shook after seeing Ilia Topuria KO Charles Oliveira 😭
“Thank God he didn’t accept my call-out… Thank God the UFC didn’t make that fight.” 💀 pic.twitter.com/oIc8RyaWX5
UFC International Fight Week usually brings alongside it a card with a highly-anticipated championship showdown, and that’s what we got with this year’s edition, UFC 317.
The main event saw the vacant UFC lightweight championship on the line as Ilia Topuria took on Charles Oliveira. Topuria won the featherweight title at UFC 298 last year and defended it at UFC 308 against Max Holloway, but he chose to vacate the title in order to move up to 155. Oliveira, meanwhile, initially won the lightweight title at UFC 262 and made one successful defense against Dustin Poirier at UFC 269.
Gold was also on the line in the co-main event, as UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja put the belt on the line against Kai Kara-France. Pantoja won the strap originally at UFC 290, defeating Brandon Moreno, and he retained the belt against Brandon Royval at UFC 296, Steve Erceg at UFC 301 and Kai Asakura at UFC 310. Kara-France came into this title shot off a highlight knockout of Erceg at UFC 305.
Who delivered in Las Vegas? Who fell flat? Let’s look back at the night of action together with the hits and misses of UFC 317!
Hit – Entertaining Prelims With Plenty Of Finishes
The preliminary card set the tone for the evening early, as there were several fighters who put up strong performances to start the card off with a bang.
Terrance McKinney did such to kick off the televised portion of the prelims, quickly locking Viacheslav Borshchev in a guillotine choke and submitting him in just 55 seconds. Not to be outdone, Jose Miguel Delgado landed a one-two on Hyder Amil, followed by a devastating knee that dropped and finished him.
Jacobe Smith, the heaviest odds favorite for a fight in UFC history, put away Niko Price, while Jhonata Diniz scored a decision win over Alvin Hines in the evening’s lone heavyweight bout.
Tracy Cortez got a key victory over Viviane Araujo that should elevate her into the top-10 of the women’s flyweight rankings.
And then came the final prelim fight of the evening…
Hit – Gregory ‘Robocop’ Rodrigues Goes Viral With KO Of The Year Candidate
In one of the most devastating knockouts the UFC has ever seen, Gregory Rodrigues landed a left hook that dropped Jack Hermansson to the mat, out cold. Hermansson was out for several minutes, bringing back memories in this writer to when Alistair Overeem was knocked out by Francis Ngannou at UFC 217.
It ended up being one of the top moments of the evening, and social media immediately blew up the moment the finish happened.
“Robocop” has been known for his finishes, scoring knockouts now in 11 of his 17 victories in professional MMA. He’s been a consistent presence in the middleweight division and has now won four of his last five fights. This win allows him to rebound from a loss he suffered against former title challenger Jared Cannonier in February.
This was the kind of finish that says we shouldn’t be looking away from “Robocop” out of receiving notable opportunities, and a fight against a top-15 contender at 185 should be next for him.
Having said all that…
Miss – The Debated Follow-Up Shot, Herb Dean’s Slow Response
The left hand was not the last shot of the fight. A couple of seconds after landing the left, Rodrigues followed up with a hammerfist to the face before referee Herb Dean could step in to officially stop the fight.
It was a punch that was not necessary, as Hermansson was out the minute the back of his head landed on the mat. And while one media member felt it brought back memories to when Dan Henderson landed such a follow-up shot on Michael Bisping at UFC 100, the follow-up shot became a huge contention point on social media.
In fact, plenty of people on social media said they lost respect for the moment — and Rodrigues — because of the “unnecessary” shot.
Where does the blame lay? Some say it falls on Rodrigues, as the fighter should have been able to tell Hermansson was out cold — especially given that the follow-up came seconds after the shot, not necessarily right away.
When asked about the moment in a post-fight press conference, Rodrigues implied that he was only fighting until the referee told him to stop. And in his defense, that is something fighters are told to do.
And in his defense, unfortunately, this is not the first time we’ve seen a controversial finish involving compromised fighter safety and Herb Dean. Joe Rogan pointed out on commentary that Dean was out of position; however, there is a thing called using your voice. Imagine Dean has projected his voice and yelled “Stop!” At the very least, it would have cleared him from potential fault in this mess.
Fortunately, Hermansson was okay. Fortunately, “Robocop” still has his career-defining moment that will get him another big opportunity down the line. But this controversy isn’t going to go away for a while as the MMA world debates who is more at fault and we have another concern about the responsibilities of fighters and referees when it comes to protecting the athletes.
Hit – Payton Talbott Rebounds In Big Way
At UFC 311 in January, plenty expected Payton Talbott to make easy work of Raoni Barcelos and continue the strong start to his Octagon career. But everyone was shocked when Talbott was completely worked over in that fight en route to a dominating decision loss.
At UFC 317, Talbott righted his personal ship by scoring a statement decision win over Felipe Lima to kick off the main card action.
Talbott looked completely improved in all aspects of his game. Talbott stuffed multiple takedown attempts from Lima and was able to show great strides in his wrestling, adding in some pretty strong ground-and-pound while he had top control at points. Lima had success with his hands but continued to push, and fail, with his takedown efforts.
The loss in January must have done something for Talbott, as he looked better than he did before in this outing. Hopefully he continues to look better in his next matchup.
Miss – “Money” Moicano Tastes Defeat, Beneil Dariush Unimpressive
For a bout between two notable names at lightweight, things could have gone better for both men, as Beneil Dariush defeated Renato Moicano.
Moicano seemed to control things early on, going from getting his leg damaged by Dariush’s low kicks, to marking him up with his hands and dropping Dariush with a clean right.
But Dariush came out aggressive in the second, taking control of strong wrestling and working him over with ground pressure and strikes from the top position. Dariush employed this focused over the course of the second and third round, draining Moicano as Dariush cruised to a decision victory.
For Moicano, this is pretty unfortunate. After taking a title fight opportunity on just one day’s notice, he now has back-to-back losses after losing to Dariush. His next fight will probably come against a lower-ranked or unranked lightweight name, and a loss there could drop him out of the rankings completely.
For Dariush, there’s no question he should feel good about this win. It rebounds him from a pair of losses to Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan and shows he’s still a name in a crowded lightweight contender scene. Considering the trouble he was in, however, Dariush didn’t demonstrate enough to be considered a serious threat to the new champion, however. Against someone like a Max Holloway, Mateusz Gamrot, or Dan Hooker, for instance, Dariush could find himself in some deep trouble.
Hit – Joshua Van’s Meteoric Rise As He And Brandon Royval Throw Down In One Of The Best Flyweight Fights
Though he wasn’t competing in one of the evening’s title fights, Joshua Van should be considered the Fighter of the Month for June 2025. After putting on a beating of Bruno Silva at UFC 316, Van, days later, agreed to step in on short notice in just a few weeks’ time to take on No. 1 ranked flyweight contender and former title challenger Brandon Royval.
The result was one of the greatest performances displayed in one of the most entertaining, exciting wars the UFC Octagon has ever witnessed — let alone within the flyweight division.
Royval looked to put the pressure on Van early, throwing a lot in volume to try and keep Van at bay. But while Royval had the quantity, Van had the quality, landing effectively whenever he did throw. Then, Van picked up his intensity in the second round, and things turned into a true bloody slugfest, with both fighters having their moments throughout the second and third rounds.
With the fight potentially falling either way in its closing seconds, and both fighters putting on personal bests for striking, Van dropped Royval, though he was unable to score the finish before the horn. Van earned the decision, and the two eared the Fight of the Night bonus (even Royval got his win bonus).
Just weeks ago, Joshua Van was on the lower end of the flyweight ranks as he continued to work his way up. Now, not only did he put on a superhero effort to take a fight on short notice and get involved in a war, he won that war and will now be next in line to challenge for the flyweight title.
Hit – Alexandre Pantoja: Greatness In Real Time
Alexandre Pantoja already looked like an all-star fighter at International Fight Week a couple of years ago when he dethroned Brandon Moreno to win the UFC flyweight championship. But the man continues to get better with each fight, and that continued as he defeated Kai Kara-France in the co-main event of UFC 317 to retain the championship.
It wasn’t even a close fight, as Pantoja scored a takedown in the opening minute and didn’t let up, controlling KKF for over four of the round’s five minutes, at one point threatening a choke. Pantoja continued to control the fight’s pace, scoring another pair of takedowns before locking up a rear-naked choke in the third round to score the submission.
Pantoja has now defended the flyweight title on four occasions. And he has continued to make strides while making defenses, and that has been notably on display in consecutive title defenses now (see his defense against Kai Asakura from UFC 310 in December as well).
Pantoja will now be taking on Joshua Van next. This should be an exciting showdown, and a win should further the argument that Pantoja is one of the UFC’s best champions — and perhaps should have a much higher spot in the men’s pound-for-pound rankings (if he shouldn’t already).
Hit – Ilia Topuria Already Building His Legacy
A 9-0 record in the UFC now, with seven of those victories coming via a finish. An undefeated fighter. Jaw-dropping wins over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway to win and retain, respectively, the UFC featherweight championship.
And now, more history for Ilia Topuria, as he becomes the first undefeated fighter, and 10th UFC fighter overall, to win a UFC title in a second weight division. And he did so in more highlight fashion.
Topuria and Charles Oliveira both land strong strikes early before Oliveira attempted to take control with his expert-level grappling. Topuria, however, countered a takedown attempt and ended up on top. Oliveira tried to threaten a leg lock, but Topuria got out of it. Then, on the feet, Topuria landed a devastating one-two that dropped Oliveira out cold — becoming the first fighter since Cub Swanson all the way back in 2012 to score a first-round knockout of “Do Bronx.”
Former UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has become the 10th fighter in UFC history — and the first undefeated fighter in UFC history — to win a championship in a second weight class, scoring a first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira to win the UFC lightweight championship.
The title was vacated after Islam Makhachev announced plans to move up to welterweight to challenge new champion Jack Della Maddalena.
The two came out swinging early, with Topuria opening a cut around one of Oliveira’s eyes and Oliveira landing a strong right hand. Oliveira then pressed Topuria against the fence and went for a takedown — but Topuria countered and ended up on top. Topuria got into side control, but Oliveira threatened a leg lock temporarily before the fight retuned to the feet.
And it was there where Topuria landed a one-two that dropped Oliveira and knocked him out cold to become the new champion.
Following the fight, Topuria had a confrontation in the Octagon with Paddy Pimblett, who shoved Topuria before security separated the two.
Ilia Topuria Becomes New Lightweight Champion With First-Round KO Of Charles Oliveira At UFC 317
This path to greatness is bigger than Connor McGregor. #UFC317
Topuria won the UFC featherweight championship at UFC 298 last year with a knockout of Alexander Volkanovski. He then became the first man to knock out Max Holloway at UFC 308 before jumping up in weight.
Oliveira is now 3-3 in the six fights he’s had since losing the UFC lightweight title on the scales in 2022. He won the belt originally by defeating Michael Chandler at UFC 262 and retained against Dustin Poirier at UFC 269.
Charles Oliveira is heading into UFC 317 radiating self-assurance.
Oliveira is set to clash with former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria for the vacant lightweight title in the highly anticipated main event of UFC 317, taking place Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
"I'm beyond ready." 🦁@CharlesDoBronxs looks to reclaim the lightweight belt!
The former UFC lightweight champion holds records for the most finishes (20), submissions (16), and performance bonuses (20) in promotional history. Yet despite his accolades, he enters UFC 317 as a significant betting underdog. Still, the stats and the doubt seem to have no impact on Charles Oliveira’s unwavering confidence or championship mindset.
Image: @charlesdobronxs/Instagram
Charles Oliveira Expresses Faith In His Skills Ahead Of UFC 317
During a media scrum ahead of his UFC 317 title clash with Ilia Topuria, Charles Oliveira opened up about his mental resilience heading into the high-stakes showdown. “Do Bronx” made it clear that, even in the face of adversity and lingering doubt from critics, he’s on a mission to prove his hunger burns as strong as ever and that he’s still fully capable of reclaiming UFC gold.
“I haven’t been worried about my opponent for a long time.” Oliveira said. “I’m focused on what I can bring to the cage. I want to be free, prepared, thirsty, aggressive, and daring. That’s how I feel. When I go in there, I feel dangerous, I feel daring, I can take the game up and always be aggressive… No one will ever hit me harder than life has hit me. So what these guys say, what they think, it doesn’t matter to me.”
The 35-year-old Brazilian last stepped into the Octagon at UFC 309 this past November, where he delivered a commanding unanimous decision victory in a rematch against Michael Chandler. “Do Bronx” currently holds a UFC record of 23-10 (1 NC) and has suffered just two defeats in his last 15 outings.
UFC 317 took place tonight from the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!
In the main event, Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira faced off for the lightweight title. While in the co-main event, Alexandre Pantolja looked to defend his flyweight belt against Kai Kara-France.
UFC 317 Results: Main Card
Lightweight Championship: Ilia Topuria def. Charles Oliveira via KO: R1, 2.27
Flyweight Championship: Alexandre Pantoja def. Kai Kara-France via submission: R3, 1.55
Flyweight: Joshua Van def. Brandon Royval via unanimous decision (29-28×2, 30-27)
Lightweight: Beneil Dariush def. Renato Moicano via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Bantamweight: Payton Talbott def. Felipe Lima via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Preliminary Card
Middleweight: Gregory Rodrigues def. Jack Hermansson via KO: R1, 4.21
Featherweight: Jose Miguel Delgado def. Hyder Amil via KO: R1, 0.26
UFC 317 is almost here, and we here at MMANews are here to provide you the latest on betting odds for the card.
The card takes place from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday, June 28. The pay-per-view main card portion of the event will start at 10PM ET/7PM PT, with preliminary action starting at 7PM ET/4PM PT (moved back from the original 6:30PM ET start time due to Ewert vs. McVey falling off).
The headline attraction for the event will feature the vacant UFC lightweight championship on the line, as Ilia Topuria faces Charles Oliveira.
In the co-main event, Alexandre Pantoja will defend the UFC flyweight championship against Kai Kara-France.
The pay-per-view card will also feature Brandon Royval facing Joshua Van, a lightweight contenders clash between Beneil Dariush and Renato Moicano, and a bantamweight battle between Payton Talbott and Felipe Lima.
UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira Betting Odds
Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 317 as of June 28 (fight day) at 12pm ET, courtesy of DraftKings.
Main Card:
Lightweight Championship: Ilia Topuria (-425) vs. Charles Oliveira (+330)
Flyweight Championship: Alexandre Pantoja (-230) vs. Kai Kara-France (+190)
Flyweight: Brandon Royval (+110) vs. Joshua Van (-130)
Lightweight: Beneil Dariush (-115) vs. Renato Moicano (-105)
Bantamweight: Payton Talbott (+140) vs. Felipe Lima (-166)
Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: Jack Hermansson (+180) vs. Gregory Rodrigues (-218)
Featherweight: Hyder Amil (+120) vs. Jose Delgado (-142)
Women’s Flyweight: Viviane Araujo (+170) vs. Tracy Cortez (-205)
Lightweight: Terrance McKinney (-155) vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (+130)
Early Preliminary Card:
Welterweight: Niko Price (+1200) vs. Jacobe Smith (-2400)
Heavyweight: Jhonata Diniz (-485) vs. Alvin Hines (+370)
Ilia Topuria faced a brief moment of uncertainty ahead of the biggest fight of his career.
Topuria is set to headline UFC 317 this Saturday at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, where he’ll square off against former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira for the vacant 155-pound title in a high-stakes showdown during International Fight Week.
“El Matador” has exuded confidence leading up to UFC 317, not only in his conditioning but also in his belief that he’s on the brink of becoming a two-division UFC champion. That self-assurance was on full display during the official UFC 317 weigh-ins held Friday morning, where he was the first fighter to step on the scale.
However, when Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Jeff Mullen called out Topuria’s weight, he initially announced it as 155.5 pounds, half a pound over the championship limit for a lightweight title bout.
Initially, no one appeared to notice the discrepancy, and Topuria went ahead with posing for the cameras. Moments later, however, he was asked to remain on the scale. Mullen returned, adjusted it, and then corrected himself, announcing the official weight as 155 pounds.
Ilia Topuria had a minor scare after the commission read off the wrong weight during his weight-in ahead of #UFC317pic.twitter.com/JlKoolRtG9
Fans React To Ilia Topuria’s Weigh-In Confusion At UFC 317
Ilia Topuria’s brief weigh-in glitch during the UFC 317 proceedings sparked a wave of fan reactions online. While some called for the Nevada commission to retire the old-school mechanical scale in favor of digital equipment for more accurate readings, others used the moment as fuel for playful jabs and light-hearted trolling.
We have rockets flying into the moon but not a fucking precise weighing machine yet??? Dana was gonna give jon 20 million, just fucking buy a machine with that bro
“El Matador” captured the featherweight title with a stunning knockout of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February 2024, then cemented his dominance by finishing Max Holloway in emphatic fashion at UFC 308 that October. However, after establishing himself as the division’s top force, he chose to vacate the belt this past February to make a full-time move to lightweight.
Ilia Topuria enters UFC 317 with a flawless 8-0 record inside the Octagon and a perfect 16-0 mark overall. Of those victories, eight have come by knockout and six via submission.
We’re about 24 hours away from UFC 317, and MMANews is here to bring you the video from the ceremonial weigh-ins for the card!
UFC 317 takes place on June 28 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The main event of the evening will feature Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira colliding for the vacant UFC lightweight championship. Topuria won the featherweight title from Alexander Volkanovski last year and retained against Max Holloway but vacated the strap to move up a weight class. Oliveira is a former champion who held the gold for a year, and he enters this fight off a win over Michael Chandler last November.
The co-main event, meanwhile, will see Alexandre Pantoja look to defend the UFC flyweight championship once again, as he takes on Kai Kara-France.
The rest of the main card will also see Brandon Royval face Joshua Van, Beneil Dariush square off with Renato Moicano, and Payton Talbott battle Felipe Lima.
Christopher Ewert vs. Jackson McVey, originally scheduled to open the early prelims, was scrapped after Ewert came in 10 pounds overweight and was cut from the UFC. All of the other fights, however, are still on!
The ceremonial weigh-ins present the last opportunity for opponents to face off before they meet inside the Octagon. Check them out below via the UFC’s official YouTube channel!
We are just one day away from UFC 317, and we’ve got the official weigh-in results for you here at MMANews.
Per tradition during the UFC’s International Fight Week, a highly-anticipated pay-per-view event in Las Vegas will take center stage, and UFC 317 finds itself in that role here. The T-Mobile Arena will see a card filled with some noteworthy matchups, including two title fights to close out the show.
In the main event, a new UFC lightweight champion will be crowned from former featherweight champ Ilia Topuria jumps up in weight to face the challenge of former UFC lightweight king Charles Oliveira. Topuria comes into this bout off his 14-month run as featherweight champion, during which he won the belt by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski and retained by knocking out Max Holloway. Oliveira won the lightweight title against Michael Chandler and retained against Dustin Poirier before losing the belt on the scales.
The co-main event will see Alexandre Pantoja defend the UFC flyweight championship against Kai Kara-France. Pantoja won the belt at International Fight Week just a couple of years ago, defeating Brandon Moreno. Since then, he’s retained the gold against Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg, and Kai Asakura. Kara-France earned the title shot with a knockout of Erceg last August.
The main card will also feature Royval taking on Joshua Van, Beneil Dariush facing off with Renato Moicano and Payton Talbott doing battle with Felipe Lima.
UFC 317 Weigh-In Video, Results
UFC 317 takes place Saturday, June 28 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT.
See above to watch the UFC 317 Weigh-In Show, and check out the full results below.
Main Card:
Lightweight Championship: Ilia Topuria (155) vs. Charles Oliveira (154.5)
Flyweight Championship: Alexandre Pantoja (125) vs. Kai Kara-France (125)
Flyweight: Brandon Royval (125.5) vs. Joshua Van (125.5)
Lightweight: Beneil Dariush (156) vs. Renato Moicano (156)
Bantamweight: Payton Talbott (135.5) vs. Felipe Lima (136)
Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: Jack Hermansson (185.5) vs. Gregory Rodrigues (186)
Featherweight: Hyder Amil (145.5) vs. Jose Miguel Delgado (145.5)
Women’s Flyweight: Viviane Araujo (125.5) vs. Tracy Cortez (126)
Lightweight: Terrance McKinney (155) vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (156)
Early Preliminary Card:
Welterweight: Niko Price (170.5) vs. Jacobe Smith (170.5)
Heavyweight: Jhonata Diniz (257.5) vs. Alvin Hines (259.5)
Middleweight: Christopher Ewert vs. Jackson McVey — Canceled due to Ewert being 10 pounds overweight and getting cut from the promotion
It’s UFC International Fight Week, and we find ourselves just a couple of days away from this year’s card that coincides with the celebrations — UFC 317. And what better way to help hype things up further with a pre-fight press conference?
The seventh UFC pay-per-view event of the year goes down from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday, June 28. UFC 317 will be headlined by former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria stepping up in weight to face former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira with the vacant 155-pound title on the line.
The co-main event will also see gold on the line, as Alexandre Pantoja looks to defend his UFC flyweight championship for a fourth time, as he goes toe-to-toe with Kai Kara-France.
Watch The UFC 317 Pre-Fight Press Conference
The main card will also see a flyweight contenders’ battle between Brandon Royval and Joshua Van, more lightweight action from Beneil Dariush and Renato Moicano, and a bantamweight scrap between Payton Talbott and Felipe Lima.
As per tradition, the UFC pay-per-view main card participants will be featured in a press conference during fight week. This is the opportunity for fighters to answer questions from media and fans, as well as potentially lay in some smack talk on their opponents.
The 2025 edition of International Fight Week is here, and that means UFC 317 is upon us. Get yourself ready and in the know with another edition of MMA News staff fight predictions.
The event will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view on Saturday, June 28. The main card will begin at its usual 10pm ET start time, with preliminary card action kicking off at 6:30pm ET.
The main event will see a new UFC lightweight champion be crowned, as former featherweight champ Ilia Topuria steps up in weight to take on former lightweight king Charles Oliveira. Topuria won the featherweight title at UFC 298 last year with a knockout of Alexander Volkanovski and defended it at UFC 308 by becoming the first man in years to finish Max Holloway. Oliveira, who comes into this bout off a win over Michael Chandler at UFC 309, defeated Chandler to become champion in another vacant title fight at UFC 262. He then defended it against Dustin Poirier at UFC 269 before losing the belt on the scales prior to UFC 274.
The co-main event, meanwhile, will see the flyweight title at stake as Alexandre Pantoja defends against Kai Kara-France. Since winning the title from Brandon Moreno at UFC 290, Pantoja has defended the belt against Brandon Royval (UFC 296), Steve Erceg (UFC 301) and Kai Asakura (UFC 310). Asakura, meanwhile, comes into this bout off a knockout of Erceg at UFC 305.
The main card will also see Royval in action against short-notice replacement Joshua Van (who just fought at UFC 316), Beneil Dariush take on Renato Moicano and Payton Talbott facing Felipe Lima.
UFC 317: MMA News Staff Predictions
With UFC 317 just a couple of short days away, Ryan Jarrell, Pranav Pandey, and myself (Thomas Albano) have provided our picks for the fights that make up the main card.
Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through six cards in 2025.
Pranav Pandey (17-10) Thomas Albano (16-11)
Ryan Jarrell (15-12)
And now, let’s take a look at everyone’s picks for UFC 317!
Bantamweight: Payton Talbott vs. Felipe Lima
Images: UFC
Pranav Pandey: It’s hard to make a confident pick here, given how little we’ve seen from either fighter at the highest level. Talbott tasted his first professional loss in his last outing against Raoni Barcelos, and I expect him to come in sharper, having learned from that experience. That said, one glaring hole in his game stood out: his takedown defense, which could be a real liability in this matchup.
On the other hand, Lima looks like the real deal. “Jungle Boy” hasn’t lost in nearly a decade and brings a well-rounded, composed skill set to the table. He’s dangerous in all areas, but particularly effective on the mat. That’s where I see him having the clearest path to victory. If he can get Talbott to the ground, I believe he can control the pace and potentially dominate from top position. (Prediction: Lima)
Thomas Albano: Felipe Lima has caught some attention of late with his pair of victories in the Octagon thus far. And it’s enough of an impression that the UFC wanted to book him against Payton Talbott in a battle of young rising prospects. Talbott was shocked by Raoni Barcelos at UFC 311, and he needs this win to keep the momentum that he’s had going. The problem is Lima, a former Oktagon MMA champion, hasn’t lost since dropping his professional MMA debut.
Talbott has the height and reach advantage in this one, but if Lima can get on the inside and push the pace, how will he respond? He struggled against Barcelos, and Lima has shown he can adapt to either a high-paced brawl or a calculated, cerebral attack. My feeling is the more Lima finds holes in Talbott’s game and the more he scores takedowns, the better he’ll nullify Talbott’s offense and work his way toward a decision win. (Prediction: Lima)
Ryan Jarrell: This is a tough one to call for me. Felipe Lima is definitely more technically sound and has impressed me more thus far in his UFC run. Lima’s wins over Naimov and Johns were enough to lead me to believe he could fight for a title down the road. Obviously the UFC sees Star potential in Talbot, but this is a really tough matchup for him. I think Talbot learned some valuable lessons in his recent loss to Raoni Barcelos, but I’m not sure he has evolved enough to get past Lima. Give me Felipe Lima to use his footwork and striking en route to a UD win. (Prediction: Lima)
Consensus: 3-0 Lima
Lightweight: Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: Both Dariush and Moicano are seasoned veterans who bring grit and experience into the cage. Moicano was gaining serious momentum before stepping in on short notice against Islam Makhachev. But prior to that, he had put together some impressive wins, and his dismantling of Benoît Saint Denis was a statement-making performance that showed just how dangerous he can be when he’s dialed in.
As for Dariush, I still rate him as a high-level lightweight. His eight-fight win streak wasn’t a fluke. But ever since it came crashing down in 2023 with back-to-back knockout losses, he hasn’t returned to action. That layoff, in my opinion, could be a real factor. The question is whether he can match the rhythm and urgency Moicano brings with his recent activity. I’m leaning toward Moicano here, but it won’t be easy. He’ll have to dig deep and weather some tough moments, because Dariush isn’t the type to go quietly. (Prediction: Moicano)
Thomas Albano: Two 36-year-old lightweight contenders. Two men who are looking to get back into the win column. Two men who were supposed to face off at UFC 311. And only one of them can come out on top and potentially rise up the ranks toward a crack at the gold.
Renato Moicano may have lost his last fight, but that was a title shot against Islam Makhachev that came on one day’s notice after Arman Tsarukyan withdrew. It was this fight that caused the cancelation of Dariush vs. Moicano the first time around. It may have been a one-sided loss, but that decision and hearty performance proved something fans of “Money” Moicano already knew – the man is game.
Dariush has been a lightweight contender for some time now, but he’s hit a couple of really rough patches of late. Dariush hasn’t fought since 2023, a year that saw an eight-fight win streak of his get snapped at the hands of Charles Oliveira, followed by a knockout loss against Tsarukyan. While these aren’t bad losses per say against the kind of competition he’s facing, a third straight loss is going to seriously hurt his contender status. And given the age of these two men, time is running out.
Unfortunately for Dariush, that might be his reality. Moicano having all of this momentum, combined with him being the better all-around product, leads me to give the nod his way. (Prediction: Moicano)
Ryan Jarrell: This should be a very fun fight and one the hard core fans are really looking forward to. I have become a huge fan of Moicano over his last few fights, and he is always money on the microphone. Dariush hasn’t fought since his ugly performance against Arman Tsarukyan in late 2023. I wonder if the time off and his age will play a factor in this fight against a much more active fighter in Renato. I think skill for skill these two are pretty even, but I do expect Moicano to land more significant strikes and be the aggressor throughout the fight and win it on points. (Prediction: Moicano)
Consensus: 3-0 Moicano
Flyweight: Brandon Royval vs. Joshua Van
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: There’s something really intriguing about this matchup. First off, credit to Joshua Van for stepping up on short notice. That alone speaks volumes about his mentality. “The Fearless” is riding a wave of momentum right now, and while he’s still young, he’s already proven that he belongs among the division’s elite.
That said, Brandon Royval is no stranger to high-pressure situations. He’s been in deep waters with the best of the best and knows exactly how to navigate chaos. With his experience and ability to thrive in scrambles, I think “Raw Dawg” will be sharp enough not to leave any openings. If he stays composed and sticks to his rhythm, I see him getting the job done. (Prediction: Royval)
Thomas Albano: This is probably the fight I am seriously looking forward to on this card outside of the title fights. It’s also the one I’m having the most difficulty in picking, and apparently, I’m not alone given that these two men have near-even odds as of this point.
What we saw at UFC 316 earlier this month is exactly what makes Van so entertaining; he pushes the pace, is aggressive with his striking, and he’s not afraid to get in a brawl. And Bruno Silva was a battered victim of that in route to a third-round TKO, marking Van’s fourth straight win and 12th win in his last 13 fights. Royval has earned a following for a similar fight style, though he’s been a lot more strategic in his most recent outings against the likes of Brandon Moreno and Tatsuro Taira.
This is a no-risk matchup for Van; he’s already coming off one strong performance, and anything that comes out of this fight should just be a bonus. That said, even if this becomes a memorable slugfest, the all-around abilities of Royval and his experience should give him the edge here. (Prediction: Royval)
Ryan Jarrell: Josh Van has looked incredibly impressive as of late and definitely has the skills to be a top contender for years to come. But this seems like a bad idea to step up on very short notice against a legit top 5 fighter in the division, especially after just competing against Bruno Silva a couple of short weeks ago. I understand that if a great opportunity presents itself a lot of fighter’s want to jump all over it and hopefully capitalize. But Brandon Royval is a dangerous puzzle that you need a full camp to prepare for and I don’t see Van having much for him in this contest. Give me Royval to make a statement in this fight and put a halt to Van’s winning streak. (Prediction: Royval)
Consensus: 3-0 Royval
UFC Flyweight Title: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: Kai Kara-France is a legitimate threat in the flyweight division. His striking is sharp, explosive, and he’s proven time and again why he belongs among the elite. I’ll admit I picked against him in his last outing, and he made me eat my words with that knockout over Steve Erceg. But as impressive as “Don’t Blink” can be, I truly believe that everything he does well, the champ Alexandre Pantoja can do better.
“The Cannibal” seems to level up with every title defense. Whether he’s trading bombs on the feet or dragging the fight into deep grappling waters, Pantoja thrives in chaos. He can absorb pressure and return fire with even more intensity. Stylistically, this feels like a tough puzzle that Kara-France just isn’t equipped to solve. I think Pantoja overwhelms him and runs right through. (Prediction: Pantoja)
Thomas Albano: I’m going to get tomatoes thrown at me for what I’m about to say, but I hope I am heard out. I completely buy Kai Kara-France as a legitimate contender in the flyweight division and challenger for the flyweight title. When it comes to being a champion, however, I just don’t see it compared to some of the other names at 125.
I love KKF’s strike-heavy fighting style, but I don’t know how it helps him against Alexandre Pantoja, who, in my opinion, continues to get better and evolve even as the defending champion of his division. KKF has struggled against the top names of this division, and keep in mind, Erceg received the title shot and fought KKF last year even when he was, and still is, toward the bottom portion of the top 10.
Pantoja has been an absolute dog. Bring the fight to the ground? He’ll go toe-for-toe with you there. Keep the fight standing? He’ll show you power and accuracy. Pantoja is a very underrated champion, who should be considered one of the best champs that the UFC has, in a division filled with solid talent that includes KKF, Erceg, Brandon Royval, and Brandon Moreno. And I see the Pantoja train continuing to roll on. (Prediction: Pantoja)
Ryan Jarrell: The flyweight Champion seems to look better and better every time he climbs into the octagon. Pantoja is on a seven fight win streak and is cementing himself as an all time great at 125 pounds. I must admit I was surprised to see Kara France put out Steve Erceg the way that he did. Kai definitely is very savvy and skilled on the feet, but even if he gets the champ in any trouble, the diversity of Pantoja’s game will be enough to win any scrambles and dictate where this fight takes place. Give me the champ to win this one rather handily and retain his title for the 4th time in a row. (Prediction: Pantoja)
Consensus: 3-0 Pantoja
UFC Lightweight Title: Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: Now this is a fight that has me counting down the days. We’ve got two certified finishers stepping into the Octagon, and I’d be shocked if this one even sniffs the judges’ scorecards. Topuria made a daring move by jumping up to lightweight. Some might even call it audacious, especially considering his more compact build compared to the division’s powerhouses. Still, I see him as someone who can rise to the occasion. “El Matador” possesses some of the cleanest and most precise boxing in the UFC today. He doesn’t just throw punches. He detonates them. His power is fight-ending, plain and simple. And while his wrestling hasn’t been tested much inside the Octagon, the glimpses we’ve seen suggest he’s more than capable if the fight hits the mat.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Standing across from him is Oliveira, a savage finisher with a résumé full of elite-level fighters. While it’s no secret that “Do Bronx” owns arguably the most lethal submission game in UFC history, his striking is criminally underrated. He carries real knockout power in his hands and his body kicks slam into the midsection like sledgehammers that adds up quickly. That said, if Topuria can control the range, stay disciplined, and avoid getting tangled in Oliveira’s chaos, I can absolutely see him finding an opening and putting the Brazilian away inside three rounds. (Prediction: Topuria)
Thomas Albano: Yes, it’s not Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev. Yes, it’s disappointing. But Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira is still a matchup worth drooling over – and it’s going to become reality in just a couple of nights’ time.
I’m still not a fan of Topuria moving up in weight so quickly. Yes, he beat two of the featherweight GOATs last year. But this was something out of the Conor McGregor playbook; there was still a division full of solid contenders that includes Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev. That said, I understand the appeal of this matchup for sure, and Topuria is a legitimate threat to become a world champion in a second weight class.
I know it sounds cliché, but this really sounds like the typical striker vs. grappler battle. We know how deep a threat Oliveira is in the ground game. That said, Topuria will look to keep distance and bring the power he’s brought in the lead up to becoming a world champion the first time around. And I think he has more to afford with being in Oliveira’s world on the ground than Oliveira has on the feet against Topuria and his striking. Maybe with others’ striking, but not with Topuria’s.
History will be made one way or another at the end of International Fight Week. I think it’ll be Topuria who is the one to do it. (Prediction: Topuria)
Ryan Jarrell: There is something special going on with the former featherweight champ. The parallels between Ilia and Conor at this stage of their careers are too similar to ignore. Topuria’s striking is a beautiful thing to watch and he always seems to dictate where the fight takes place. It would be a beautiful story to see Charles recapture the title again, but MMA is a brutal sport where the young typically eat the old. I believe Topuria puts on an impressive performance and beats the former champ via TKO at some point in round 2 or 3. (Prediction: Topuria)
Consensus: 3-0 Topuria
That’ll do it for our UFC 317 staff picks! What do you think? Do your predictions look similar? Let us know in the comments section!
Also, you can check out the full UFC 317 card below.
Main Card:
Lightweight Championship: Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira
Flyweight Championship: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France
Flyweight: Brandon Royval vs. Joshua Van
Lightweight: Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano
Bantamweight: Payton Talbott vs. Felipe Lima
Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: Jack Hermansson vs. Gregory Rodrigues
Featherweight: Hyder Amil vs. Jose Miguel Delgado
Women’s Flyweight: Viviane Araujo vs. Tracy Cortez
Lightweight: Terrance McKinney vs. Viacheslav Borshchev
UFC star Ilia Topuria has revealed how much his weight cut to featherweight was impacting him as he prepares to make the move up to 155 pounds.
On Saturday night, Ilia Topuria will make his way up to the lightweight division in an attempt to become a two-weight world champion. He’ll square off with Charles Oliveira, a man who has already held that title before. While ‘El Matador’ is considered by many to be the favorite, you just never know what you’re going to get when ‘Do Bronx’ is involved.
While Ilia Topuria is clearly chasing greatness, many noted that it was a pretty big ask for him to get down to 145 pounds. He’s spoken about his struggles with it already in the past and in a recent interview, he went into even more detail.
Ilia Topuria discusses his weight cut concerns
“I took that decision because it was very hard for me to keep cutting the weight. My health was in danger, to be honest. I was putting my health at risk every weight cut. I had to cut a lot of weight. So, I took that decision with my family, and I decided to move up to the next weight class, where I have the full confidence that I will become a world champion also.”
The idea of Topuria being even stronger and even more dangerous at lightweight is pretty terrifying, but it also opens up the door for so many fascinating possibilities. Buckle up, fight fans, because this is going to be fun to watch.
UFC star Ilia Topuria has issued a fresh warning to Charles Oliveira if his foe decides to walk forward against him at UFC 317.
On Saturday night, Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira will battle it out over the UFC lightweight championship. The expectation from many fans and pundits is that Ilia will become a two-weight world champion, but as we’ve come to learn, you simply cannot count Charles Oliveira out at the elite level.
As we look ahead to fight night, there are so many different ways this one can go. Oliveira has already said that he plans on walking forward, just like he always does. In a recent interview, however, Ilia Topuria warned ‘Do Bronx’ that he may be making a mistake.
Ilia Topuria is ready for Charles Oliveira
“You can never count him out because he’s a dangerous guy. He has the most finishes in UFC history. But I don’t know. I have faced those kind of situations many times before, with Volkanovski, with Max Holloway. They were like, ‘No one could beat them, no one could knock them out.’ But they never faced me. They never faced someone that skillful like me. This is what’s going to happen with Charles.
“He thinks that he has some opportunities, but the reality is that he has not. The only thing he has to do is show up, and I’m going to do the rest. I’m going to finish him in the first round. I say that to you like I say I’m going to get a coffee. He walks forward, this is all I need.
“The time that takes me to knock out my opponents is the time that takes me to close the distance. With Charles, I’m not going to need to close the distance because he walks forward, and this is all I need to take his lights out.”
UFC star Ilia Topuria has once again reiterated his desire to square off with rival Paddy Pimblett at some point in the future.
On Saturday night, Ilia Topuria will battle Charles Oliveira for the right to become UFC lightweight champion. While there’s a good chance that Oliveira can surprise many and win the gold, a lot of fans and pundits believe that ‘El Matador’ will get the job done. The man himself is so confident, in fact, that he’s already starting to plan for the future.
One man who we know he doesn’t particularly like is Paddy Pimblett. The two have gone back and forth at one another for years now and if the stars align, Ilia Topuria vs ‘The Baddy’ could quickly become one of the biggest fights in UFC history – and no, that’s not an exaggeration.
In a recent interview, Ilia Topuria doubled down on wanting to battle Pimblett, suggesting that he needs to face Justin Gaethje next.
Ilia Topuria wants Paddy Pimblett fight
”He’s one fight away from a title shot. He needs actually that fight because it’s going to be even better for our fight if he gets one more win. Then we’re going to have, I think, the biggest fight in the UFC right now at the moment.
”Yeah, him versus Justin Gaethje. I think he’s going to beat him easily. Because of the style, it’s not like I don’t like Justin, I’m actually a huge fan of all of his fights. I enjoy a lot watching him fight. He’s those guys that takes a lot of punches and throws a lot of punches, I love to watch him fight, but I think that Paddy could get that win easily because of the style.”
Ilia Topuria has said that he doesn’t believe Islam Makhachev is ducking him by moving up to the welterweight division.
This weekend, Ilia Topuria will attempt to become a two-weight world champion when he takes on Charles Oliveira for the UFC lightweight championship. Islam Makhachev, meanwhile, will try and do the same thing later this year when challenging Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight strap.
The hope from many was that Ilia Topuria vs Islam Makhachev would be a fight that happens for the UFC lightweight championship. Unfortunately, for now, that hasn’t quite come to fruition.
In a recent interview, Ilia Topuria responded honestly when discussing whether or not he thinks Islam ducked him.
Ilia Topuria doesn’t think Islam Makhachev is ducking him
“I don’t think he’s ducking me, to be honest. I would be lying to you if I told you that he’s ducking me. I think he’s tired of the weight cut. He wants a new challenge. He moved to the welterweight division, failed, and thinks that he has a chance to become a double champion. I think this is all he’s trying to do.
”I think that not a lot of people understand how hard the weight cut is. When you get tired of the weight cut, there’s no name in the world that motivates you to fight. There’s no money in the world—you just want to take care of your health. This is the reason why I switched weight classes, and I think he’s doing the same thing.”
Ilia Topuria is not opposed to the idea of someday pursuing championship glory in a third weight division. This was expressed by the former featherweight champion during a recent interview with MMA Junkie as Topuria heads in to a vacant lightweight championship bout this weekend. The Georgian-Spanish mixed martial artist will look to enter the rarefied air of two-division champions in UFC history when he aims to take out former 155-pound kingpin Charles Oliveiria in the headliner of UFC 317 on June 28th.
A fight that many thought would happen for Topuria though, is seemingly off the table with former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev vacating his 155 pound strap to pursue a welterweight title fight against sitting champion Jack Della Maddalena. The unbeaten pro MMA fighter does not think the Islam Makhachev fight has totally faded into the ether, though, as Ilia Topuria said,
“We’ll see how he does in the welterweight division. If he wins the title and I win the title in the lightweight division, maybe I move up or he comes down and we have the fight that everyone wants to see.”
Ilia Topuria and the history of fighters pursuing three division title accolades in MMA
If he gets his desired outcome in the coming days, Ilia Topuria would be in a great position to go on and become a titleholder across three weight categories following a Charles Oliveira victory, and there are some notable examples in mixed martial arts history of fighters who have pursued just that.
Martin Nguyen tried to do just this under the ONE Championship banner after previously holding titles at lightweight and featherweight. After contending for the lineal ONE bantamweight belt as well as the interim bantamweight strap, Nguyen would fall short of his lofty goal against Bibiano Fernandes and Kevin Belingon, respectively.
The fighter who many see as the Bellator MMA GOAT, Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire also endeavored to become a three-division titleholder after multiple reigns with that promotion’s featherweight belt and a prior stint as the BMMA lightweight champion. Alas, the Brazilian standout would fall short to Sergio Pettis on points in his bid for Pettis’ bantamweight belt at Bellator 297.
Anatoly Malykhin stands out as a three-division champion having held titles under the ONE Championship banner from middleweight up to heavyweight, while Juan Archuleta can claim to be a four-division champion while plying his trade with King of the Cage.
UFC legend Charles Oliveira has explained why battling at Ilia Topuria at UFC 317 is the right fight for him.
In the main event of UFC 317, Charles Oliveira will face Ilia Topuria for the UFC lightweight championship. It serves as Charles’ opportunity to become a two-time world champion after originally winning it by beating Michael Chandler. He eventually lost the strap at the hands of Islam Makhachev, but now that Islam has opted to move up to welterweight, the path has cleared for him to pursue gold once again.
As for Ilia Topuria, he’s trying to join the very exclusive group of fighters who have been able to win world titles in two weight classes. Whether or not he’ll be able to do it, of course, depends entirely on what kind of performance Charles Oliveira brings to the cage.
In a recent interview, Charles Oliveira opened up on this matchup and his thoughts about Ilia Topuria.
Charles Oliveira is excited for Ilia Topuria challenge
“This is the best fight they could give me right now. Everyone else in the top five would be a rematch. Ilia is a fresh opponent, and he’s coming in with a lot of hype, undefeated. That makes the preparation more exciting and interesting for me.”
“The first time I was asked about Ilia, I was very respectful. I said, ‘Someone who talks the talk and walks the walk, he’ll have a lot of challenges at lightweight and he’ll be a tough fight.’ But has he shown me the same respect in the lead-up? Not really. Everyone knows who I am and what I’ve done. On June 28, everyone will see who the real champion is.”
The UFC rumor mill is spinning, and this time, it’s all about Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett. Former UFC champ Michael Bisping has weighed in, and according to him, this fight is less a question of “if” and more a matter of ‘when.’
Ilia Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett – Soon
Ilia Topuria, who’s set to face Charles Oliveira next week for the vacant lightweight UFC title, is already looking past the Brazilian and aiming his verbal jabs at the UK-born Paddy Pimblett. As Bisping put it, “Ilia’s going to fight Charles Oliveira next week for the vacant title, and he’s already got his sights on Paddy Pimblett next, because he is a pain in the ass, he is a prick, he does not like him one little bit.”
The feeling seems mutual. Pimblett has been stirring the pot, calling Topuria “hand sanitizer boy,” tossing water bottles, and generally doing his best to get under Topuria’s skin. And it’s working, Topuria wants to “shut him off” in the Octagon. Bisping, never one to mince words, summed up the UFC’s unique charm: “If people talk, we literally have a forum. You are literally paid life-changing money to go out there and beat the hell out of the guy that is talking crap about you, that is winding you up, that is annoying you to the max.”
Of course, confidence isn’t in short supply on either side. Topuria has made a habit of changing his social media bio to reflect his next conquest, calling out Islam Makhachev, promising to knock out Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski, and then actually doing it. “But if, by one person’s standard, that makes you cocky, arrogant, a pain in the ass, when you’re doing the same thing, sure, granted he’s backed it up every single time. To be fair, so has Paddy Pimblett,” Bisping noted.
Image: @theufcbaddy/Instagram
Looking ahead, Bisping dismissed the idea that fighters can’t look past their next opponent. “Yes you can if you’re confident. Yes you can if you believe in yourself. Yes you can if you firmly believe that you’re going to go out there and just walk through Oliveira, become the champion of the world. Then, of course, you’re going to look forward and think, ‘Who am I going to fight next? Who is the biggest matchup for me?’” With Islam Makhachev likely tied up with Jack Della Maddalena and Justin Gaethje threatening to walk if he doesn’t get a title shot, Pimblett is the hottest ticket in town.
Image: @iliatopuria/Instagram
And why not? Paddy Pimblett remains undefeated in the UFC and just dispatched Michael Chandler in a performance that left little doubt about his credentials. “Paddy Pimblett just beat Michael Chandler, beat him down, made a mockery out of him, beat him to a pulp, and then got the finish,” Bisping recounted. Chandler, after all, was the gatekeeper for title contention, so Pimblett’s case for a title shot is hard to ignore.
With all the trash talk, the backstory, and the UFC’s love for a money fight, Bisping’s advice is clear: “If I’m Paddy Pimblett right now, I ain’t calling out Justin Gaethje, I ain’t calling out anyone, because that fight happens next Saturday, and if he calls him out, it’s going to happen. The UFC is going to make that match-up, especially when Ilia says stuff like this.”
UFC star Paddy Pimblett has explained why he believes he can be the one to defeat Ilia Topuria.
As we know, Paddy Pimblett is one of the biggest names in all of mixed martial arts. He has already achieved some great things in the sport, but in equal measure, it still feels like he’s got a long way to go before he can convince his critics that he’s an elite lightweight. With that being said, it feels like he could be just one win away from a championship opportunity – with some wondering whether or not that chance will stem from a fight against Justin Gaethje.
There are lots of different directions the UFC can go in, but for Paddy Pimblett, an eventual collision with Ilia Topuria seems like the right way to go. In a recent chat with Tom Aspinall, ‘The Baddy’ spoke openly about a showdown with ‘El Matador’.
Paddy Pimblett on possible Ilia Topuria fight
“I know I’d beat him,” Pimblett said during a conversation with Tom Aspinall.
“Funny ‘cause I get laughed at for it. But I know I beat him.
“We’ve already talked about a game plan to beat him. And I know how to beat him.
“No one goes for his weaknesses when they fight. Everyone just decides to have a boxing match with him. I’m not going to come out and have a boxing match with him. I’m going to beat him with my all-around MMA game.”
“As I said, I know I’d beat him up. And I reckon I’d proper hurt him and just shut everyone up even more, like I love to do.”
While the aftermath of the June 7 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the bantamweight title picture to the lightweight and flyweight championship conversations.
At UFC 317, set for the T-Mobile Arena on June 28, a new UFC lightweight champion will be crowned when former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria faces former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira for the vacant title in the main event. The title will be vacated once the two are in the Octagon, as current champion Islam Makhachev is planning to move up to welterweight to challenge Jack Della Maddalena.
Topuria himself vacated the featherweight championship earlier this year. He had won the title at UFC 298 in February 2024 and retained the belt with his finish of Max Holloway at UFC 308 before deciding he wanted to move up and capture a title in a second weight class. Oliveira defeated Michael Chandler for the then-vacant lightweight title at UFC 262 and retained it against Dustin Poirier at UFC 269 before losing his title on the scales prior to facing Justin Gaethje at UFC 274. Oliveira most recently defeated Chandler in a rematch at UFC 309.
Gold will also be on the line in the co-main event, as Alexandre Pantoja defends the UFC flyweight championship against Kai Kara-France. After defeating Brandon Moreno for the title at UFC 291, Pantoja has retained the belt three times, defeating Brandon Royval at UFC 296, Steve Erceg at UFC 301 and Kai Asakura at UFC 310. Kara-France, meanwhile, has won four of his last six, finishing Erceg in about four minutes at UFC 305.
Costa, Dariush, Diniz Set The Stage For Title Headliners At UFC 317
Before Topuria, Oliveira, Pantoja and Kara-France make their way out to the Octagon for the title fights, a number of notable names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major UFC 317 card.
That includes former title challenger Paulo Costa, who looks to gain some positive momentum against the challenge of rising middleweight contender Roman Kopylov. Costa has lost four of his last five and has only fought four times since unsuccessfully challenging Israel Adesanya for the UFC middleweight championship at UFC 253. He most recently fought at UFC 302 last year, losing to Sean Strickland. Kopylov, meanwhile, has won six of his last seven, most recently scoring a literal last-second, head-kick knockout of Chris Curtis in January.
Prior to that, Beneil Dariush looks to finally get back in the win column as he takes on recent lightweight title challenger Renato Moicano in a battle of top-10 ranked lightweights. Dariush was once on an eight-fight win streak but will come into this fight off back-to-back losses against Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan. That loss to Tsarukyan came in December 2023, marking a year-and-a-half away for Dariush. Moicano was on a four-fight win streak entering UFC 311 when he received the opportunity on just one day’s notice to challenge Makhachev for the lightweight title, though ultimately falling short.
The main card is scheduled to open with a heavyweight clash featuring Jhonata Diniz and Justin Tafa. Since coming into the UFC off of Dana White’s Contender Series, Diniz has defeated Austen Lane and Karl Williams but suffered a TKO loss to Marcin Tybura at UFC 309. After a four-fight unbeaten streak, Tafa will enter this fight off back-to-back losses against Williams and Tallison Teixeira, the latter coming four months ago at UFC 312.
Those pairings have currently gotten the nod to feature on the main card over the likes of Jack Hermansson and Vivane Araujo, as well as a flyweight clash between Brandon Royval and Manel Kape all of whom are expected to be featured players on the event’s preliminary card.
See below for the UFC 317 lineup, as it stands.
Main Card:
Lightweight Championship: Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira
Flyweight Championship: Alexandre Pantoja (C) vs. Kai Kara-France
Middleweight: Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov
Lightweight: Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano
Heavyweight: Jhonata Diniz vs. Justin Tafa
Preliminary Card (full card and bout order TBA):
Flyweight: Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape
Middleweight: Jack Hermansson vs. Gregory Rodrigues
Women’s Strawweight: Viviane Araujo vs. Tracy Cortez
