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FIGHT CLUB | May 14

The Wait Is Over: Ilia Topuria Will Fight Charles Oliveira

Spanish Star Ilia Topuria Will Make His Official Lightweight Debut Against the Experienced Charles Oliveira

The Wait Is Over: Ilia Topuria Will Fight Charles Oliveira
Charles Oliveira of Brazil | Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/AFP

Huge Fight! 🥊

He [Topuria] is among the most electric fighters in the game today.

UFC rumors have been swirling regarding the organization’s International Fight Week card at the end of June, and now we have all the UFC news you need to know.

 


More Ilia Topuria UFC News

 


Makhachev Vacates Title

Islam Makhachev’s move to welterweight created a vacuum that needed to be filled in the lightweight division, and former featherweight king Ilia Topuria was only too happy to oblige. The dominoes fell precisely right for UFC head honcho Dana White, who was scrambling to shore up his card for UFC 317 with just six weeks to go.

Ilia Topuria’s record is 16-0, with only two of those victories occurring by decision, and he is among the most electric fighters in the game today. El Matador claimed the featherweight crown in February 2024 when he starched Alexander Volkanovski in the second round before handing Max Holloway, a veteran of 34 UFC fights, the first knockout loss of his career.

In what would have been a bona fide superfight, Topuria wanted to challenge Makhachev for the 155-pound title, but he will have to settle for the former lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira. At age 35, Oliveira is getting a bit long in the tooth, but he looked solid in a unanimous decision victory over Michael Chandler in November.

This bout is shaping up to be more of a coronation than a competition, as Topuria is a massive favorite over the former champion. BetUS is currently hanging El Matador at a chalky -400, yet some believe this will be more competitive than most people think.

The Fans Are Happy

International Fight Week will be headlined by a captivating UFC 317 card held on June 28, 2025, at the T-Mobile Arena in Sin City. The stars will be shining brightly that night as the Topuria vs. Oliveira match is just one of two championship fights that evening, with the flyweight strap on the line as Alexandre Pantoja defends his title against Kai Kara-France.

Event: UFC 317: ‘Topuria vs.Oliveira’

  • Date: Sat., June 28, 2025.
  • Location: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
  • Start times: ESPN+ PPV, ESPN, ESPN+ (7 p.m. ET Prelims | 10 p.m. ET Main Card).
  • UFC 317 Main Event on ESPN+ PPV: (155 lbs) Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira for vacant lightweight championship.
  • UFC 317 Main Card on ESPN+ PPV: 125 lbs.: UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja vs Kai Kara-France.
  • 185 lbs: Paulo Costa vs Roman Kopylov.
  • 155 lbs: Beneil Dariush vs Renato Moicano.
  • 185 lbs: Jack Hermansson vs Gregory Rodrigues.
  • UFC 317 Preliminary Card on ESPN/ESPN+:
  • 155 lbs: Michael Johnson vs Daniel Zellhuber.
  • 125 lbs: Brandon Royval vs Manel Kape.
  • 265 lbs: Jhonata Diniz vs Justin Tafa.
  • 125 lbs: Viviane Araujo vs Tracy Cortez.

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