Spain’s Ilia Topuria poses along with his belts after successful his light-weight title match in opposition to Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 on June 29, 2025. — X@ufc
LAS VEGAS: Spain’s Ilia Topuria scored a surprising first-round knockout victory over Charles Oliveira to assert the UFC light-weight title at UFC 317.
Former featherweight champ Topuria introduced in February that he was going to step as much as the 155-pound division to battle for the belt vacated by former champ Islam Makhachev’s transfer as much as the welterweight division.
Standing between him and the title was 35-year-old Brazilian former light-weight champ Oliveira, who briefly introduced his huge expertise to bear earlier than being defeated.
After a dominant run at featherweight that noticed him transfer to 16-0 as knowledgeable, Topuria, who was born in Germany to Georgian mother and father, seemed small within the cage in comparison with Oliveira, however he defended properly in opposition to the Brazilian’s grappling earlier than showcasing his hanging energy.
Oliveira, who was stripped of the light-weight belt in Could 2022 when he missed weight for a defence in opposition to Justin Gaethje, seemed good throughout a short alternate on the mat, however Topuria disengaged to deliver the battle again to the toes, and shortly afterwards Oliveira’s night ended.
The 28-year-old surprised Oliveira with a proper hook and adopted it up with a crunching left that despatched Oliveira crashing to the mat, his eyes glazed as his again hit the canvas as Topuria fulfilled his pre-fight prediction of a first-round knockout win.
“I already said it — I represent the new generation of the mix of martial arts, this is the next level of the game. This is the next thing, and this is what I represent,” Topuria mentioned in a post-fight interview.
“I did exactly what we had planned, lot of jabs, right hand, left hook, and boom — his lights were out,” he added.
Within the co-main occasion, Brazil’s Alexandre Pantoja dominated New Zealander Kara-France earlier than taking his again and locking in a rear bare choke 1:55 into the third spherical.
