The highly anticipated fight at UFC 317 did not unfold as Charles Oliveira had envisioned.
Contending for the vacant lightweight championship, Oliveira suffered a shocking first-round knockout loss at the hands of Ilia Topuria. Topuria delivered a devastating right hook, followed by a left, sending the Brazilian fighter violently crashing to the canvas.
This marked the first time Oliveira had been finished by knockout in nearly eight years, since his bout against Paul Felder in 2017.
Following the event, Oliveira took to social media to release a brief statement addressing his defeat to Topuria.
On Instagram, Oliveira shared: “It wasn`t how we wanted it but I’m fine. I just want to thank everyone for the affection and the wonderful energy. God bless you all.”
Although the fight concluded in less than three minutes, Oliveira began aggressively, immediately testing Topuria.
He managed to secure a brief takedown, attempting to lock in a submission, but Topuria demonstrated slick defense and avoided getting caught.
Once the contest returned to the standing position, Topuria`s striking precision and power proved overwhelming for the former champion.
Topuria`s lead jab was effective, but his strategy seemed to involve understanding Oliveira`s timing and range as the taller fighter, patiently setting up the fight-ending sequence.
The decisive moment arrived during another intense exchange when Topuria landed a brutal right hook that twisted Oliveira’s head, causing him to lose consciousness almost instantly.
Before Oliveira even hit the canvas, Topuria added a final left hand for good measure.
Oliveira was unconscious before his body reached the floor, prompting referee Marc Goddard to swiftly intervene and stop the fight at 2:27 of the opening round.
Despite this significant setback, Oliveira remains a prominent figure near the top of the lightweight rankings and is expected to face another major opponent once he has recovered and is ready to compete again.
