At UFC 317, Spain`s Ilia Topuria delivered a stunning first-round knockout victory over Charles Oliveira to capture the UFC lightweight championship. In the co-main event, Alexandre Pantoja retained his flyweight title by securing a third-round submission win against Kai Kara-France.
Topuria ended the fight definitively at 2 minutes and 27 seconds into the opening round. He first landed a sharp right hand to set up a devastating left hook that dropped Oliveira, fulfilling his prediction of a first-round finish and sending the crowd of 19,800 fans into a frenzy.
“I think tonight was his big night,” UFC president Dana White commented. “We have a star on our hands.”
Fellow lightweight fighter Paddy Pimblett was seated in the audience and was called to the ring. A heated exchange ensued, during which Topuria shoved the eighth-ranked contender, reigniting a rivalry that has simmered for years.
Addressing Pimblett before entering the ring, Topuria stated, “Let`s fight! If you`re ready, I`m here.”
Topuria, a former featherweight champion, had announced in February his decision to move up to the 155-pound division to challenge for the vacant belt, left open after former champion Islam Makhachev moved up to the welterweight division.
Standing in his path to the title was Charles Oliveira, the 35-year-old Brazilian former lightweight champion. Oliveira briefly showcased his extensive experience before ultimately succumbing to Topuria`s attack.
Despite a dominant 16-0 professional record built primarily in the featherweight division, Topuria, who was born in Germany to Georgian parents, appeared physically smaller than Oliveira in the octagon. However, he effectively defended against the Brazilian`s grappling prowess before unleashing his striking power.
Oliveira, who had been stripped of the lightweight belt in May 2022 for missing weight prior to a defense against Justin Gaethje, looked strong during a brief grappling exchange on the mat. But Topuria quickly disengaged to bring the fight back to the feet, leading directly to the fight`s conclusion.
The 28-year-old challenger first staggered Oliveira with a right hook and immediately followed with a powerful left that sent the former champion crashing heavily to the canvas, his eyes unfocused as he landed. This knockout validated Topuria`s pre-fight prediction of a first-round victory.
In a post-fight interview, Topuria declared, “I already said it – I represent the new generation of mixed martial arts, this is the next level of the game. This is the next thing, and this is what I represent.” He added about the finish, “I did exactly what we had planned, lot of jabs, right hand, left hook, and boom – his lights were out.”
Earlier in the night, in the co-main event, Brazil`s Pantoja put on a dominant performance against New Zealander Kara-France. Pantoja secured a rear-naked choke submission victory at 1 minute and 55 seconds of the third round to successfully defend his flyweight championship.
