Ilia Topuria is getting his shot at the lightweight title.
UFC CEO Dana White announced via Instagram Live that Ilia Topuria will face Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight championship in the main event of UFC 317. The event is scheduled for June 28 in Las Vegas, concluding International Fight Week. The lightweight title became vacant after Islam Makhachev decided to move up to the welterweight division to challenge new champion Jack Della Maddalena.
According to White, the date and location for the Della Maddalena vs. Makhachev fight are still being determined. He also announced the co-main event for UFC 317: flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja will defend his belt against Kai Kara-France.
Rumors about Topuria`s lightweight title aspirations have circulated for months. “El Matador” vacated his featherweight title in February, anticipating a shot at the lightweight belt, potentially against Islam Makhachev. Speculation leading up to UFC 315 centered on whether Belal Muhammad`s potential welterweight title defense would impact Makhachev`s move up (as they are friends and training partners). However, with Della Maddalena defeating Muhammad, Makhachev is now clear to pursue the welterweight championship, leaving the lightweight title open for Topuria.
Topuria (16-0) aims to become a two-division champion. Since joining the UFC in 2020, “El Matador” rapidly climbed the ranks, defeating notable fighters like Youssef Zalal, Ryan Hall, Bryce Mitchell, and Josh Emmett to earn his featherweight title shot. He made history at UFC 298 by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski, becoming the first person to defeat him at 145 pounds, and then defended his title against Max Holloway, notably becoming the first fighter to knock out “Blessed”.
Following the official announcement, Topuria took to social media, including a comment aimed at Makhachev:
Topuria on social media:
“On June 28, another dream will come true. I’ll be the champion of the lightweight division. Charles, my apologies in advance… I’m just fighting for my dreams. It’s unfortunate that Makhachev ran away. 17-0”
Oliveira (35-10, 1 NC) has prior experience competing for a vacant lightweight title. He first claimed the belt at UFC 262 by defeating Michael Chandler after Khabib Nurmagomedov`s retirement. “Do Bronx” defended it successfully against Dustin Poirier but was stripped of the title after missing weight for his next defense, a fight he went on to win against Justin Gaethje via submission. He had another opportunity for a vacant belt at UFC 280 but lost to Islam Makhachev.
The co-main event features a rematch between flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja (29-5) and Kai Kara-France (25-11, 1 NC). Pantoja previously defeated “Don`t Blink” when both appeared on The Ultimate Fighter 24. Since that time, Pantoja captured the flyweight title and has defended it three times. Kara-France, a consistent top contender in the 125-pound division, earned this title shot with a first-round knockout victory over recent title challenger Steve Erceg.
The UFC also released an updated lineup for the June 28 event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (bout order is subject to change):
- Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira
- Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France
- Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov
- Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano
- Jhonata Diniz vs. Justin Tafa
- Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape
- Jack Hermansson vs. Gregory Rodrigues
- Viviane Araujo vs. Tracy Cortez
