UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira for Lightweight Title, Pantoja Defends

UFC 317: Title Fights Headline International Fight Week in Las Vegas

UFC 317 is set to take place this Saturday, June 28, 2025, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, headlining the annual International Fight Week. The event features two championship bouts, including a highly anticipated clash for the vacant lightweight title and a flyweight title defense.

Main Event: Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira

The main event features a compelling matchup for the vacant UFC lightweight championship between former featherweight king Ilia Topuria and former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira.

Fighter Backgrounds and Paths to the Title

Ilia Topuria enters this fight with a perfect professional record of 16 wins and 0 losses. He recently vacated his featherweight title after a dominant run, including stunning knockout victories over long-reigning champions Alexander Volkanovski in February 2024 and Max Holloway in October 2024. Topuria's power is widely recognized, particularly his ability to finish opponents, with only one of his eight UFC fights going the distance. He initially targeted a fight with Islam Makhachev, but with Makhachev moving up to welterweight, Topuria now faces Oliveira for the vacant 155-pound belt.

Ilia Topuria celebrates after his knockout victory against Alexander Volkanovski

favicon — Ilia Topuria celebrates after his knockout victory against Alexander Volkanovski

Charles Oliveira, with a record of 35 wins and 10 losses (1 NC), is a seasoned veteran and holds multiple UFC records, including most finishes (20), most submission wins (16), and most bonuses (20). Known for his elite jiu-jitsu and increasingly dangerous striking, Oliveira is looking to reclaim the lightweight title he previously held. He is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Michael Chandler in November 2024, bouncing back from a split decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan in April 2024.

Keys to Victory and Predictions

Topuria's path to victory likely involves utilizing his devastating striking power and strong defensive metrics (avoiding 64% of opponent significant strikes). Experts like Alexander Volkanovski predict an early knockout for Topuria, citing his aggressive style and finishing ability.

Oliveira's best chance lies in his grappling prowess. His record 16 submission wins highlight his dangerous ground game, which can force opponents into uncomfortable positions or even lead to finishes. While his striking has improved, his defense (avoiding 49% of opponent significant strikes) is less robust than Topuria's, and he has been prone to getting wobbled. Oliveira will need to leverage his size advantage (taller with a longer reach) and look for opportunities to take the fight to the ground.

Betting odds heavily favor Topuria, with many expecting the fight to end before the final bell. The over/under for rounds is set at 1.5, reflecting the expectation of a quick finish, though some analysts favor the fight going into the later rounds.

Fighter Perspectives

Topuria has expressed confidence, stating that while Oliveira is dangerous, his opponents haven't experienced the level of skill development he brings. He boldly predicted a first-round finish. Oliveira, viewing this fight as crucial for his legacy, believes Topuria will "fold" under pressure and is fully prepared for the challenge, emphasizing his own firepower and determination to regain the belt.

Co-Main Event: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France

In the co-main event, Alexandre Pantoja defends his UFC flyweight title for the fourth time against Kai Kara-France. This is a rematch from their 2016 encounter on The Ultimate Fighter, which Pantoja won.

Alexandre Pantoja will probably get a tougher test at UFC 317

Pantoja has proven to be a formidable champion, known for his aggressive style and strong grappling. His recent title defenses include wins over Brandon Moreno, Brandon Royval, and Steve Erceg, often involving significant wrestling and control time.

Kara-France is a dynamic striker with knockout power, coming off a first-round TKO win over Steve Erceg in August 2024. He previously lost a split decision to Amir Albazi and was stopped by Brandon Moreno. Kara-France boasts a strong takedown defense (88%), which will be crucial against Pantoja.

This rematch is expected to be a competitive battle between Pantoja's grappling and pressure and Kara-France's striking and defense.

UFC 317 Fight Card

The event features a stacked card with several intriguing matchups across various divisions.

Main Card (10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV)

Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira (Vacant Lightweight Title)
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France (Flyweight Title)
Brandon Royval vs. Joshua Van (Flyweight)
Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano (Lightweight)
Payton Talbott vs. Felipe Lima (Bantamweight)

Prelims (8 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+)

Jack Hermansson vs. Gregory Rodrigues (Middleweight)
Hyder Amil vs. Jose Miguel Delgado (Featherweight)
Viviane Araujo vs. Tracy Cortez (Women's Flyweight)
Terrance McKinney vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (Lightweight)

Early Prelims (6:30 p.m. ET on UFC Fight Pass)

Niko Price vs. Jacobe Smith (Welterweight)
Jhonata Diniz vs. Alvin Hines (Heavyweight)
Christopher Ewert vs. Jackson McVey (Middleweight) - Note: Christopher Ewert is a late replacement for Sedriques Dumas.

Event Details and How to Watch

UFC 317 takes place this Saturday, June 28, 2025, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The early prelims begin at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by the prelims at 8 p.m. ET. The main card is scheduled to start at 10 p.m. ET, with the main event cage walks expected around 12:25 a.m. ET on Sunday, June 29.