It’s official: Charles Oliveira will fight Ilia Topuria for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317 on June 28 in Las Vegas. With Islam Makhachev moving up to welterweight, the 155-pound belt is back on the table — and UFC didn’t wait long to pick its contenders.
Fast rise, faster title shot
Ilia Topuria is undefeated and riding high. Wins over Volkanovski and Holloway have turned him from prospect to headliner — fast. Some love it. Some say it’s too soon. Aljamain Sterling, a former champion himself, threw his weight behind Topuria, warning that Oliveira’s tendency to get knocked down could cost him badly here.
Topuria’s power isn’t theoretical. It’s what’s been winning him fights. And with Oliveira’s chin being, let’s say, occasionally questionable, it makes for a dangerous matchup.
Oliveira’s not done yet
But count Oliveira out? That’s never gone well. The Brazilian holds the record for most submission wins in UFC history. He’s been dropped, bloodied, counted out — and somehow still keeps coming. His loss to Makhachev didn’t end him. It just slowed him down.
And that’s the thing: Oliveira knows how to recover, adapt, and finish fights on the mat. If it hits the canvas, the story changes. Quickly.
The matchup? Controversial, but undeniably interesting
Some fans weren’t thrilled. Social media lit up with comments about Arman Tsarukyan or Mateusz Gamrot being more “deserving.” Others called it a hype move — a paper title, even.
But as usual, UFC plays the long game. Topuria brings heat. Oliveira brings chaos. And the belt? Well, it needs a new owner either way.
UFC 317: what we know
- Main Event: Charles Oliveira vs. Ilia Topuria
- Title: Vacant lightweight championship
- Date: June 28, 2025
- Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
The lightweight division is shifting again. And if this fight delivers even half of what it promises on paper — the crowd in Vegas won’t care how we got here.
