In what’s arguably the most important UFC bout of 2025, ex-featherweight champ Ilia Topuria and former-lightweight champ Charles Oliveira of Brazil conflict for the vacant 155-pound (70-kilogramme) title at UFC 317.
Topuria, who’s unbeaten, vacated his featherweight title earlier this yr to maneuver as much as light-weight class with the unique intension of combating fellow celebrity Islam Makhachev, ranked by ESPN as the perfect pound-for-pound UFC fighter on the earth; Topuria is ranked quantity two.
As a substitute, the Georgian-Spaniard will now face one other formidable opponent within the type of Oliveira, who holds a number of UFC information for many submission wins at 16, most finishes at 20 and most bonuses at 20.
Right here is all to know forward of the Topuria-Oliveira bout:
When and the place is UFC 317?
- UFC 317 is scheduled to happen at T-Cell Area in Las Vegas on Saturday.
- The venue has a seating capability of 20,000 for UFC occasions.
- The primary card is scheduled to start at 02:00 GMT on Sunday (7pm PT / 9pm CT / 10pm ET on Saturday, 4am CEST on Sunday).
- The ring stroll for Topuria-Oliveira will happen at about 04:00 GMT (9pm PT / 11pm CT /12am ET on Saturday, 6am CEST on Sunday), and the headline combat will begin shortly thereafter.
Why isn’t Topuria combating Makhachev for the UFC light-weight title?
Makhachev vs Topuria would undoubtedly have been one of many biggest attracts in UFC historical past – and it would nonetheless occur sooner or later.
Makhachev, who sports activities a stupendous 27-1 UFC report and is a four-time light-weight champion, introduced in Could that he would vacate his title and transfer up a weight class to the welterweight division to face newly-crowned title holder, Jack Della Maddalena. The date for that combat has but to be introduced.
Topuria, who relinquished his 145-pound (66kg) featherweight title earlier this yr and had publicly expressed his want to combat Makhachev on the heavier light-weight classification, initially voiced his displeasure on the champion vacating his title belt on Could 13, accusing the Russian of operating away from the problem.
Nevertheless, in a current interview on The Ariel Helwani podcast, Topuria mentioned he understood the explanations behind Makhachev’s determination.
“I don’t suppose he [Makhachev] is ducking me, to be trustworthy,” Topuria mentioned. “I might be mendacity to you if I informed you that he’s ducking me. I believe he’s uninterested in the burden reduce [at lightweight division]. He needs a brand new problem. He moved to the welterweight division. He feels and he thinks that he has an opportunity to turn into a double champion. I believe that that is all he’s attempting to do.”
How can Topuria win?
Topuria’s total technical combating expertise and boxing capabilities are legendary, so Oliveira will must be cautious of buying and selling blows with the highly effective 28-year-old within the Octagon.
In 2024, Topuria sensationally knocked out two former all-time nice UFC champions – Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway – to determine his dominance in a stacked featherweight division.
“Talent for talent, he may be the perfect pound-for-pound fighter on the earth … all of his opponents have stood toe-to-toe, and all have fallen,” mentioned MMA commentator Alan Jouban on ESPN.
“He [Topuria] will end upstairs, and he’s acquired energy that places you to sleep,” added Jouban.
6 days 🌹 pic.twitter.com/g877zuSzMX
— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) June 22, 2025
How can Oliveira win?
If Oliveira can win again the vacant light-weight belt on Saturday, he’ll deny Topuria becoming a member of a brief record of legendary two-division champions.
Oliveira is among the biggest lightweights of all-time and Topuria – a supremely-confident competitor – can not make the error of underestimating the Sao Paulo native’s contrasting skillset.
The 35-year-old’s path to victory lies in his chic capacity to grapple with opponents. Oliveira’s floor sport is spectacular, and his 16 wins by submission – in quite a lot of methods – make him each a tough and harmful opponent for Topuria.
“I believe, for Charles [Oliveira], he’s acquired to be in all the way in which or all the way in which out and attempt to power some grappling … he must get on high, he must make him [Topuria] wrestle. We haven’t seen [Topuria] have to do this a lot within the UFC but,” mentioned Paul Felder, former MMA fighter and present UFC commentator at ESPN.
Oliveira additionally has benefits in top (1.78m vs 1.7m) and attain (1.88m vs 1.75m), though el Matador, famously identified for his power within the featherweight division, will doubtless have an influence benefit in opposition to the Brazilian, regardless of shifting up a weight class.
Topuria Stats:
Topuria has an ideal 16-0 UFC report.
His final combat was at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on October 26, the place he made good on his daring promise to turn into the primary man to knock out Holloway.
“To beat a legend like Max Holloway, I don’t know what to say,” Topuria mentioned on the time. “He’s been an awesome instance for the era. … I hope I’m gonna be a small instance he has been for me for the brand new era.”
- Age: 28
- Top: 5′ 7″ (1.7m)
- Attain: 69 inches (1.75m)
- Whole fights: 16
- Report: 16-0-0
Oliveria Stats:
Oliveira has an expert report of 35 wins and 10 losses, with one no-contest determination.
He endured a sluggish begin to his profession, successful solely two of his first seven fights whereas fluctuating between totally different weight courses.
From 2018 to 2021, ‘Do Bronx’ reeled off a superlative 11-fight win streak that culminated in him being topped the UFC light-weight champion after defeating Michael Chandler within the title bout.
He misplaced the light-weight title to Makhachev on October 22, 2022, when the Russian pulled off a sensational head-and-arm choke submission within the second spherical at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi.
- Age: 35
- Top: 5′ 10″ (1.78m)
- Attain: 74 inches (1.88m)
- Whole fights: 46
- Report: 35-10-0 (1 NC)
What have Topuria, Oliveira mentioned in regards to the combat?
Topuria: “You’ll be able to by no means rely him out as a result of he’s a harmful man,” Topuria mentioned of Oliveira. “He has probably the most finishes within the UFC’s historical past. However I’ve confronted these type of conditions many, many occasions, with [Alexander] Volkanovski, with Max Holloway”, he mentioned.
“The talent improvement I’m bringing to this sport, they’ve by no means felt it, they by no means noticed it. So that is what’s going to occur with Charles. He thinks that he has some alternatives, however the actuality is that he [does] not. The one factor he has to do is present up, and I’ll do the remaining.”
“I’m going to complete him within the first spherical”, Topuria added.
Oliveira: “In actuality, I’m not very targeted on what [Topuria] has been doing, however [rather] on what we will get and take,” he mentioned.
“We’re greater than ready for this combat. [Topuria] is a troublesome opponent, however I do know the firepower I’ve in my arms.
“I’ll go all in, I’ve a promise to be fulfilled, and I’m going to get this belt.”
Who’s combating within the co-main occasion?
A second UFC title is at stake within the co-main occasion when Brazil’s Alexandre Pantoja takes on Kai Kara-France for the flyweight championship.
Pantoja, the reigning flyweight champion, is defending his title in opposition to the dynamic placing New Zealander 9 years after the pair first clashed in an Final Fighter: Match of Champions bout.
Pantoja received the primary combat again in 2016 however its honest to say each rivals have progressed considerably since then.
Essential combat card
- Light-weight (title) – Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira
- Flyweight (title) – Alexandre Pantoja vs Kai Kara-France
- Light-weight – Beneil Dariush vs Renato Moicano
- Flyweight – Brandon Royval vs Joshua Van
- Middleweight – Paulo Costa vs Roman Kopylov
watch
UFC Struggle Go is a worldwide service, accessible in most nations exterior of Brazil. The app is obtainable on internet, smartphones, tablets and Good TVs. You can even discover it on the Apple Retailer and Google Play.
Within the US, UFC 317: Topuria vs Oliveira will likely be broadcast dwell on ESPN PPV, with streaming accessible through the ESPN+ app.
In India, Sony LIV will broadcast UFC 317.
Within the UK, TNT Sports activities and Discovery+ will livestream the occasion.
Al Jazeera Sport will present live text and photo commentary of UFC 317, starting at 00:30 GMT on Sunday morning.
