UFC 317 plays host to a massive main event for the vacant UFC Lightweight championship.
Ilia Topuria has moved up a weight class to fight for the title, which was originally held by Islam Makhachev.
However, while Topuria vacated the UFC Featherweight belt to jump up to Lightweight, Makhachev did the same with the UFC Lightweight title to try his hand at Welterweight.
Instead of facing Makhachev, Topuria takes on Charles Oliveira at UFC 317, as the Brazilian aims to end Topuria’s undefeated streak to become a two-time world champion.
If he wins the fight on June 28, Oliveira will once again be on top of the UFC Lightweight division.
However, Topuria can become a two-weight champion if he makes the step up to Lightweight to add another win to his record with another electrifying knockout punch.
What will happen at UFC 317? The Bloody Elbow experts have made their predictions about what will happen in the fight between Topuria and Oliveira in the huge main event.
Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira predicted by Bloody Elbow staff
Harvey Leonard: Charles Oliveira is renowned for getting dropped and mounting comebacks. He did it against Michael Chandler. He did it against Dustin Poirier. He did it against Justin Gaethje. He won’t do it against Ilia Topuria.
Topuria’s punches don’t seem like something a fighter known for being hit can get up from, so I expect ‘El Matador’ to become the new lightweight king before the championship rounds.
- Prediction – Ilia Topuria via knockout
Jamie Theodosi: I don’t see a world where Charles Oliveira picks up a win here. He was extremely fortunate to be given a title shot off the back of a win against Michael Chandler.
Ilia Topuria’s boxing will be way too much for Oliveira to deal with and despite having a big size advantage, Oliveira will crumble in the first 2 rounds. Ilia Topuria by KO.
Prediction – Ilia Topuria via second-round knockout
Kyle Dimond: Charles Oliveira tends to take some big shots and when Ilia Topuria hits people, they stay hit.
It’s the consensus opinion, but when you look at how many opponents have come close to stopping Oliveira, and how effective Topuria has been as a finisher, it’s hard to look past this. Topuria by KO inside 2 rounds.
Prediction – Ilia Topuria via second-round knockout
Ilia Topuria ruled out defending the title against Arman Tsarukyan if he wins the belt at UFC 317
Topuria is confident of winning the UFC 317 main event too, agreeing with the Bloody Elbow staff that he is the favorite.
The Georgian is already discussing who his first title defense should be against, days before he challenges for the vacant belt.
However, he has ruled out fighting Arman Tsarukyan, warning that he needs more wins under his belt to earn a shot at the undefeated fighter.
“I wouldn’t give him the chance immediately,” Topuria said of Tsarukyan in an interview with New York Post Sports.
“He needs to win one more fight. He had the opportunity to fight for the title. He pulled out. I don’t know for what reasons, but he pulled out.
“So he needs to win his shot again against, I don’t know—there’s Justin Gaethje, Paddy Pimblett, many guys in the division that also deserve the shot. So, they need to fight between each other.”
However, Topuria also ruled out giving Paddy Pimblett a title shot, so his first challenger, should he beat Oliveira at UFC 317, is still unknown.