Ilia Topuria Knocks Out Oliveira for Lightweight Title, Makes History at UFC 317
Ilia Topuria Knocks Out Oliveira for Lightweight Title, Makes History at UFC 317
LAS VEGAS – Ilia Topuria solidified his position as a dominant force in mixed martial arts on Saturday night at UFC 317, delivering a spectacular first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira to seize the vacant lightweight championship. The decisive victory elevates Topuria to an exclusive club, making him the first undefeated fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two separate weight classes.
“El Matador” delivered the fight-ending blow at 2:27 of the opening round, fulfilling his pre-fight prediction with a devastating left hook that sent Oliveira to the canvas. The emphatic finish electrified the 19,800-strong crowd, prompting UFC CEO Dana White to declare Topuria a burgeoning star.
The tension continued post-fight as Topuria reignited his long-standing rivalry with fellow lightweight Paddy Pimblett, who was ringside. A heated exchange in the octagon, culminating in a shove from Topuria, has set the stage for a highly anticipated future showdown between the two.
In the co-main event, flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja successfully defended his belt for the fourth time, submitting Kai Kara-France with a rear-naked choke in the third round. Other notable performances on the main card included Joshua Van’s slugfest victory over Brandon Royval and Beneil Dariush’s unanimous decision win against Renato Moicano.
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