Ilia Topuria makes the step up to Lightweight as he takes on Charles Oliveira for the vacant UFC world title at UFC 317.
The bout comes just months after Ilia Topuria vacated the UFC Featherweight championship after a dominant run in the division.
The undefeated Georgian dropped the belt for a promised bout against Islam Makhachev before the former champion vacated the title to jump up himself to Welterweight.
Former champion Charles Oliveira was instead chosen to face Topuria for the vacant belt in a huge main event at UFC 317.
Elsewhere, the co-main event sees the UFC Flyweight championship on the line as Alexandre Pantoja defends against Kai Kara-France in his fourth title defense so far.
Here’s everything you need to know about what promises to be a fantastic night of MMA action at UFC 317.
- READ MORE – Charles Oliveira picked to beat Ilia Topuria by top 10 UFC lightweight due to one key advantage
What time does UFC 317 start?
UFC 317 will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 28, 2025.
The event is expected to start with the early preliminaries at 6:00 PM (ET), 3:00 PM (PT), and 11:00 PM (BST).
Then, the preliminaries at 8:00 PM (ET), 5:00 PM (PT), and 01:00 AM (BST).
Following on from that, the main card gets underway at 10:00 PM (ET), 7:00 PM (PT), and 03:00 AM (BST).
How to watch and live stream UFC 317?
In the US, the UFC 317 early prelims will be available to watch on the UFC Fight Pass from 6:00 PM (ET).
The preliminaries can be watched on ESPN, while both the prelims and the main card will be able to be streamed through ESPN+. The PPV will cost viewers $79.99.
Over in the UK, fans will be able to watch the UFC 317 prelims through the UFC Fight Pass from 11:00 PM (BST) before switching over to TNT Sports for coverage of the main card from 01:00 AM (BST).
UFC 317 – Who’s fighting?
Main card
- Lightweight: Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira
- Flyweight: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France
- Lightweight: Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano
- Flyweight: Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape
Prelims
- Middleweight: Jack Hermansson vs. Gregory Rodrigues
- Women’s Flyweight: Viviane Araújo vs. Tracy Cortez
Early prelims
- Heavyweight: Jhonata Diniz vs. Justin Tafa
- Bantamweight: Payton Talbott vs. Felipe Lima
Roy Jones Jr offered to train Ilia Topuria for his UFC 317 fight
Boxing legend Roy Jones Jr has offered his services to Topuria to help get his striking up to par to beat Oliveira.
“I would make a lot of difference [to Ilia Topuria’s camp for Charles Oliveira] because I teach how to get the most out of the striking, how to stay set while you’re doing it,” Jones Jr. said in a recent interview.
“Because in MMA you gotta always be set because guys can take your legs out, but the way I fight you always stay set, so I think what I teach would be advantageous to anybody who chooses to indulge in it and get what I really teach.”
Despite being an undefeated champion at Featherweight, Topuria will have to work hard if he wants to make the step up to become the UFC Lightweight champion.