Main Event at UFC 317: Opening Betting Lines for Topuria vs. Oliveira
Going Down at UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira
Get ready to witness a thrilling showdown as former UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria takes on Charles Oliveira at the main event of UFC 317, happening on June 28. This event marks Topuria's first fight at lightweight since 2022.
UFC 317 Main Event: Betting Odds Update
When BetOnline initially released odds for UFC 317's main event, Topuria was the strong favorite at -300, with Oliveira as the +250 underdog. But the lines have shifted—today, Topuria is listed as a -350 favorite, while Oliveira is at +285.
Ilia Topuria: Trash Talking and Apologizing
As usual, Topuria has taken to social media to stir things up with his UFC 317 opponent, throw some shade at Islam Makhachev, and express his eagerness to become the lightweight champion. "On June 28, another dream will come true. I'll be the champion of the lightweight division. Charles, my apologies in advance... I'm just fighting for my dreams. It's unfortunate that Makhachev ran away. 17-0," Topuria wrote on X.
Islam Makhachev: A Shot at Welterweight Title
With Jack Della Maddalena defeating Belal Muhammad, Islam Makhachev's move to welterweight became possible, and he seems set to challenge the freshly crowned champ for the title. Ali Abdelaziz, Makhachev's manager, spoke to MMA Junkie about the situation, saying, "With Belal were to win, Islam was never going to fight Belal, and he's going to stay in the (lightweight) division. But now Jack wins... Islam has beaten everyone in this division, literally. (There's no one who) deserves to go fight for a second title than Islam, and the reason he wasn't going to do it because Belal was the champion."
A Promising Fight for Topuria
A former Cage Warriors champion, Topuria joined the UFC in 2020 with a 9-0 record. After impressing in three UFC bouts at 145 pounds and one contest in the 155-pound division, he earned a spot in the featherweight top 10. Topuria scored a second-round submission win over Bryce Mitchell, earning his first "Performance of the Night" bonus and moving to No. 9 in the rankings.
In his first fight as a ranked featherweight, Topuria defeated Josh Emmett in a memorable "Fight of the Night" scrap. In his bid for the featherweight title at UFC 298, he knocked out Alexander Volkanovski in the second round to claim the championship.
Topuria made history at UFC 308 by becoming the first fighter to finish former lightweight champion Max Holloway via strikes. After deciding to move to lightweight and fight for a title, Topuria has vowed to usurp the throne at UFC 317.
With a 16-0 record and eight wins under the UFC banner, Topuria is certainly a force to be reckoned with in the lightweight division.
Charles Oliveira: A Seasoned Fighter
Charles Oliveira (35-10-0-1) has been competing in the UFC since 2010. He reigned as the lightweight champion after defeating Chandler for the vacant title and defended it once against Dustin Poirier. Oliveira missed weight for his second title defense against Justin Gaethje, but he still won by submission, only to lose the title on the scales.
In October 2022, Oliveira faced Islam Makhachev for the vacant title but lost via submission. Since then, he's managed an impressive decision win over Michael Chandler.
Currently ranked as the No. 2 fighter in the UFC lightweight rankings, Oliveira is a formidable opponent for Topuria at UFC 317.
Stay tuned for more updates leading up to UFC 317!
Sports enthusiasts can look forward to an exhilarating clash in the world of mixed-martial-arts as UFC 317 is set to feature the main event between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira on June 28. BetOnline has updated the odds for this highly-anticipated bout, with Topuria standing as the -350 favorite and Oliveira at +285, marking a significant shift from their initial lines. In the lead-up to this exciting showdown, Topuria has continued his trademark trash-talking style on social media, aiming jabs at Islam Makhachev while expressing his ambition to become the UFC lightweight champion.
