It is time to fill the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship once again, Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira will battle for the title this Saturday at UFC 317. The double belt hopeful, featherweight champion Topuria, will make his lightweight debut against former titleholder Oliveira in a risky endeavor at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Islam Makhachev voluntarily vacated the title for a superlight at welterweight, and a window of opportunity opened up for a new lightweight king. Both Oliveira and Topuria have a claim to the title. For Topuria, it is the chance to become a member of the two-division champ club and extend his undefeated run. For Oliveira, it is the chance to reclaim his throne at the top of the division where he once ruled with barbaric efficiency.
CategoryIlia TopuriaCharles Oliveira
Nickname El Matador Do Bronx
Age 28 30
Height 5 ft 7 in 5 ft 10 in
Reach 69 inches 74 inches
Stance Orthodox Orthodox
Record 16-0 (14 finishes) 35-10 (1 NC, 31 finishes)
Knockouts 6 10
Submissions 8 21 (most in UFC history)
Last Fight TKO vs. Max Holloway (Oct) UD win vs. M. Chandler (Nov)
Takedown Defense 92% 57%
UFC Finishes 6 19
Topuria VS Olveira Breakdown
Topuria is the biggest element of explosiveness this fight brings. The Georgian-Spanish phenomenon won the featherweight title a couple of months ago with his shocking knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski and then proved it by beating up Max Holloway last October. Now, the undefeated “El Matador” goes for history as a two-division champion in his lightweight debut.
Topuria’s style is a speed and aggression one. He combines lightning-fast combinations of strikes with knockout counterstriking and some of the sport’s best takedown defense. Although a striker by name, he is equally deadly on the ground, having eight submission wins and a clinical, cool, and calculated grappling style.
But Oliveira is a different grappler. “Do Bronx” has all-time UFC submission records (21) and has shown an ability to finish anyone anywhere. For all the 10 career losses he suffered, suggesting vulnerability—namely to pressure and power—Oliveira hardened, turned up the aggression, and even-keeled in recent years.
He may no longer have the belt, but he remains the most dangerous man at 155 pounds. Holding a three-inch reach and five-inch height advantage, Oliveira will attempt to keep distance with high-volume kicks and out-strike Topuria from the outside and capitalize on every error to bring the fight to the ground and finish there.
Final Thoughts
This is beyond a title fight. It is a legacy fight. Topuria is a two-time champion in the UFC and solidifies his status as one of the best in the sport with a victory. For Oliveira, it’s a chance for redemption and a statement that nobody has yet taken his place in the lightweight division.
Prediction: Look for fireworks early. If Topuria can keep the fight standing and in control, his power and accuracy may prove too much for Oliveira. But if “Do Bronx: can turn it into a scramble or hooks to the neck or limb, it could be another highlight-reel submission to add to his mythical resume.
Whoever leaves with the strap, the UFC 317 headliner promises a vicious, adrenaline-pumping crowning of the 155 ruler.
