As UFC 317 approaches on Saturday, June 28, 2025, the anticipation in Las Vegas is palpable, with the vacant lightweight title hanging in the balance between two formidable fighters: Charles Oliveira and Ilia Topuria. This clash not only concludes Dana White's annual International Fight Week but also promises to be a defining moment in lightweight history.
Charles Oliveira, the seasoned Brazilian veteran known as "Do Bronx," is no stranger to championship glory. He first claimed the lightweight belt in May 2021 by defeating Michael Chandler at UFC 262 and successfully defended it seven months later by submitting Dustin Poirier in the third round at UFC 269. At 35 years old, Oliveira brings a wealth of experience and a dangerous submission game, boasting a significant size advantage over his opponent with a three-inch height and five-inch reach edge.
Ilia Topuria, the undefeated Georgian-born Spanish fighter, enters the main event as the overwhelming favorite, backed by bookmakers and many MMA fans alike. With a perfect 16-0 record, Topuria is moving up from featherweight due to previous struggles making the 145-pound limit. His knockout power and lightning-fast hand speed have been key in his rise, and he aims to become one of the select few two-division champions in UFC history.
Former lightweight champion Dustin Poirier, who is currently preparing for his retirement bout against Max Holloway on July 19, has offered insightful advice to Oliveira ahead of the title fight. Speaking to MMA Junkie, Poirier emphasized that Oliveira should adopt the same strategy he used against him in 2021. "I think Charles needs to fight Ilia the same way he fought me," Poirier said. "He was all the way in, or he was all the way out. He never really fought me at that boxing range. If he was in, it was clinch work, body locks, a lot of energy, but he smothered my boxing. Or he was at kicking range, using those long front kicks. He's a long range guy. He needs to be all the way in or all the way out. He cannot play the boxing pocket game. Most read in MMA. He needs to be clinching. He doesn't need to be exchanging shots in the pocket with a shorter guy who can crack."
Poirier also highlighted Oliveira's vulnerability, noting that he tends to take a lot of shots during fights. "Ilia is a guy who's confident in his jiu-jitsu," Poirier added. "He's going to follow Charles down. When I hurt Charles — and it's rinse and repeat — a lot of guys have hurt Charles, but we didn't follow. We tried to make him get back up and touch him again. I think Ilia — if he does sit Charles down — he's gonna follow him up, get into his guard. And we've seen Charles, when guys go into his guard and play jiu-jitsu with him and aren't afraid of that, he starts breaking a little bit. We'll see what Charles shows up. It's a fun fight, it's a fun matchup." This tactical insight underscores the complexity of the fight and the challenges Oliveira faces against a confident and aggressive Topuria.
Adding to the drama, Oliveira's weight cut has become a topic of concern. A video surfaced on social media showing the Brazilian fighter in a grueling weight-cutting process just days before the fight. Wrapped up and surrounded by his team, including welterweight contender Ian Machado Garry, Oliveira was seen boiling himself down to the lightweight limit. Fans expressed worry, with one commenting, "Is he dying or cutting weight?" Such intense weight management could impact Oliveira's performance and stamina come fight night.
While Topuria is favored to win — with many predicting a knockout within two rounds — the fight remains unpredictable. MMA analyst Nick Baldwin from theScore, previewing the UFC 317 main card, pointed out the matchup's intriguing dynamics. Baldwin noted that Topuria's knockout power and hand speed make him a tough opponent, but Oliveira's size and elite submission skills complicate the picture. His pick favored Topuria for a second-round knockout, expecting the Georgian-born fighter to pressure Oliveira early and capitalize on his tendency to get knocked down.
The undercard also features compelling bouts, including the flyweight championship between Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Kara-France. Pantoja, known for his well-rounded skill set and ground game, is expected to defend his title against the striking prowess of Kara-France. Baldwin predicts a third-round submission victory for Pantoja.
In the lightweight division, Beneil Dariush faces Renato Moicano. Moicano, coming off a loss to Islam Makhachev in a last-minute title fight, looks to rebound against Dariush, who hasn't fought since December 2023 and has struggled to secure wins recently. Baldwin favors Moicano for a unanimous decision victory.
Other exciting matchups include Brandon Royval versus Joshua Van in a flyweight bout, with Royval expected to edge out a split decision, and bantamweights Payton Talbott and Felipe Lima, where Lima is predicted to secure a unanimous decision win.
Behind the scenes, the lightweight title picture is buzzing. Ali Abdelaziz, the manager of Justin Gaethje, has publicly backed "The Highlight" to fight the winner of the Topuria vs. Oliveira bout. Abdelaziz emphasized Gaethje's importance to the sport, stating, "Justin Gaethje fights the winner. He’s won three of his last four, he saved the UFC two times. They needed him, and he’s there. The guy did so much for the sport. If anyone said he doesn’t deserve it — [Gaethje] said, ‘If I’m not going to fight for the title, I’m just going to hang up my gloves.’… And he doesn’t feel the love right now. But listen, at the end of the day, I think, this guy, they love him. I think they will give him what he wanted. But at the end of the day, we have to see what happens first between Charles and Ilia."
Meanwhile, Dana White announced Arman Tsarukyan as the official backup fighter for UFC 317. Tsarukyan, a top lightweight contender who had to withdraw from a title fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 due to a back injury, successfully made weight and stands ready should anything happen to the main event participants. However, Topuria has stated that Tsarukyan needs to win another fight before earning a title shot, noting his previous pullout. When asked by MMA reporter Helen Yee whether Tsarukyan would immediately replace Gaethje in the title run, White was firm, responding with a stern "no," while calling Tsarukyan's backup role "a good step in the right direction."
Dustin Poirier also weighed in on the next title challenger debate, placing Gaethje ahead of rising star Paddy Pimblett, who recently defeated Michael Chandler but hasn't yet earned a title shot. Poirier said, "Obviously with Arman (Tsarukyan), UFC reaching out to him and putting him as the backup, they have still high hopes for him getting in there for the title. But to me personally, I would pick Gaethje."
With so much at stake, UFC 317 is shaping up to be a landmark event. Whether Topuria cements his legacy as a two-division champion or Oliveira reclaims glory as a two-time lightweight champion, the winner will face Justin Gaethje next, setting the stage for another thrilling chapter in UFC lightweight history. Fans worldwide will be watching closely as these warriors step into the Octagon this Saturday night in Las Vegas, ready to etch their names into the annals of mixed martial arts.
