Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira is one of the biggest UFC fights of the year.
For the first time since 2022, a new UFC Lightweight Champion will be crowned in the main event of UFC 317 this Saturday. The champion Islam Makhachev relinquished his title after four title defenses, opting to move to the welterweight division against new champ Jack Della Maddalena.
The undefeated Ilia Topuria is coming off back-to-back knockouts of Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, vowing to finish Oliveira, the UFC’s most prolific submission artist, any way he wants.
Topuria is massively favored to beat Oliveira, with former champion Aljamain Sterling and former Oliveira foe Beneil Dariush among those to pick the Spaniard.
A former BMF champion is the latest fighter to give their pick for the UFC 317 headliner.
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Jorge Masvidal backs Ilia Topuria to beat Charles Oliveira at UFC 317
Jorge Masvidal has long been a believer in Topuria’s championship potential.
The inaugural BMF titleholder said he’s known Topuria for 5-6 years and has always had a feeling he would be world champion someday.
Now, Topuria has the rare chance to become a two-division champion.
“Ilia is one out of 10,000,” Masvidal told Red Corner MMA.
“Say their name. I’ve trained with everybody, brother. This guy’s special.
“I think he’s gonna be a world champion at 155,” Masvidal said of Topuria.
“He’s gonna beat Charles, man. He’s gonna find a way to beat him.
“Charles is bigger. Charles has kicks, knees, elbows, great jiu-jitsu, good wrestling. Everywhere, Charles is good.
“But Ilia is just different, brother,” Masvidal said.
Ilia Topuria expects to be heavier than Charles Oliveira on fight night
Oliveira is three inches taller than the 5’7″ Topuria, and top-10 contender Mateusz Gamrot picking the former lightweight champion to regain his title because of the size advantage.
Topuria doesn’t understand criticism regarding his size for the lightweight division, claiming he will be heavier than Oliveira in their fight.
On The Ariel Helwani Show on Monday, Topuria says he’ll weigh anywhere from 174 to 179 lbs, come fight night.
For his featherweight fights, Topuria weighed between 167 and 172 lbs.