By 
Ilia Topuria’s performance against Charles Oliveira was nothing short of spectacular. As someone who has stood across from dangerous strikers and elite grapplers, I can tell you — what Topuria did inside that cage takes a rare blend of timing, composure, and sheer confidence in your skillset. From the opening bell, you could feel that Ilia wasn’t there to feel things out. He was there to take the belt, and he didn’t intend to waste time.
The first exchanges showed respect on both sides. Oliveira tried to set the tone with his jab and feints, and Topuria stayed patient, reading the movement, measuring distance. A clash of heads opened up a cut on Charles early — and while that kind of thing can rattle some fighters, Topuria stayed laser-focused. He didn’t chase the finish recklessly; he kept working his angles, cutting off the cage, waiting for that window.
When the opportunity came, it came fast. Oliveira was backing up toward the fence, looking to reset, and Topuria launched a right hook that connected clean. You could see the impact ripple through Charles’ frame. The follow-up left sealed it — textbook combination, no wasted motion, just precision and power. When Oliveira hit the canvas, it was clear the fight was over before the ref even stepped in.
Also read: Ilia Topuria Opens Up About His Change in Training: “I Don’Spar at All’;
What impressed me most wasn’t just the knockout. It was how Topuria handled the entire moment. He stuffed Oliveira’s grappling attempts, kept the fight where he wanted it, and showed the patience of a veteran beyond his years. Lightweight is one of the most stacked divisions in the sport, and to come in and take out a former champ like that — it sends a message to the whole roster.
After the fight, emotions ran high. The face-off with Paddy Pimblett was bound to happen. There’s history there, and now there’s a real story to build on. But beyond the drama, what matters is what Topuria just did in the cage. He proved that his power, precision, and fight IQ translate at lightweight. He’s not just visiting the division — he’s here to reign.
View this post on Instagram
Everyone’s going to want a piece of him now. Tsarukyan, Gaethje, even Islam if he decides to come back down. But after tonight, one thing’s clear: the lightweight division has a new king, and his name is Ilia Topuria.
UFC 317 QUICK RESULTS
155 lbs.: Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira — Topuria def. Oliveira by KO (left hook), round 1 (2:27) — HIGHLIGHTS
125 lbs.: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France — Pantoja def. Kara-France by submission (rear naked choke), round 3 (1:55) — HIGHLIGHTS!
125 lbs.: Brandon Royval vs. Joshua Van — Van def. Royval by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
155 lbs.: Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano — Dariush def. Moicano by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
135 lbs.: Payton Talbott vs. Felipe Lima — Talbott def. Lima by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
185 lbs.: Jack Hermansson vs. Gregory Rodrigues — Rodrigues def. Hermansson by KO (left hook), round 1 (4:21) — HIGHLIGHTS!
145 lbs.: Hyder Amil vs. Jose Delgado — Delgado def. Amil by TKO (knee and elbows), round 1 (0:26)
125 lbs.: Viviane Araujo vs. Tracy Cortez — Cortez def. Araujo by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
155 lbs.: Terrance McKinney vs. Viacheslav Borshchev — McKinney def. Borschev by submission (mounted guillotine), round 1 (0:55) — HIGHLIGHTS!
170 lbs.: Niko Price vs. Jacobe Smith — Smith def. Price by submission (rear naked choke), round 2 (4:03) — HIGHLIGHTS!
265 lbs.: Jhonata Diniz vs. Alvin Hines — Diniz def. Hines by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
185 lbs.: Jackson McVey vs. Christopher Ewert (not Sedriques Dumas) — Fight was canceled after Ewert missed weight
Comments