UFC 317, slated for 2025 International Fight Week, has officially announced its highly anticipated main event. UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that former Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria will face former Lightweight champion Charles Oliveira for the vacant 155-pound title at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This matchup comes after current Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev decided to vacate his title to pursue Welterweight ambitions later this year. Topuria, maintaining a perfect record of 16-0, has been absent from the Octagon since UFC 308 in October 2024 and is looking to capitalize on his previous back-to-back knockout victories over notable fighters Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. By vacating his Featherweight title prior to UFC 314, Topuria has aimed for greatness and the opportunity to become a “double champion.”
On the other hand, Oliveira, with a career record of 35-10, is returning to title contention after a significant victory over Michael Chandler, which helped him leap ahead of Arman Tsarukyan, who defeated him at UFC 300. Oliveira aspires to reclaim the Lightweight championship, potentially marking a defining moment for his career should he secure a win against Topuria.
The co-main event at UFC 317 will feature Flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja defending his title against No. 4-ranked Kai Kara-France. Pantoja, boasting a record of 29-5, is on a remarkable seven-fight win streak, while Kara-France, with a record of 25-11, is eager to make an impactful return after halting a two-fight losing streak by defeating Steve Erceg in his last performance.
The card for UFC 317 is shaping up to be an exciting lineup, including:
– Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira
– Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France
– Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano
– Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape
– Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov
– Tracy Cortez vs. Viviane Araujo
– Jack Hermansson vs. Gregory Rodrigues
As UFC 317 approaches, fans are eagerly anticipating these high-stakes matchups, which promise to deliver thrilling action in the Octagon.