Review the UFC 317 fight card, with a predicted main event of Ilia Topuria versus Charles Oliveira, and Pantoja vs. Kara-France serves as the co-main event.
Vegas Welcomes UFC 317: A Thrilling Lightweight and Flyweight Title Showdown
Get ready for an adrenaline-pumping night as UFC 317 heads to its traditional home in Las Vegas! This highly-anticipated event will witness a fresh Lightweight contender, Ilia Topuria, making his mark as former champion Charles Oliveira introduces him to the division. The main event will be a title fight for the vacant Lightweight belt, vacated by Islam Makhachev, who's switched his sights to the Welterweight division.
Alongside the exciting main event, Alexandre Pantoja will defend his Flyweight title against the Kiwi Kai Kara-France, who gets another crack at the crown after his previous try. The fights lined up make for an action-packed evening, with these two being just the beginning!
So let's dive into the fights one by one...
The Main Event: Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira
Despite Ilia Topuria giving chase to Islam Makhachev for the Lightweight title, Makhachev slipped away, leaving Topuria to tackle the rest of the division. The UFC believes Charles Oliveira is the perfect adversary to welcome Topuria, making this fight the title fight for the vacated Lightweight belt.
Topuria boasts an unbeaten record of 16-0 as a former Featherweight champion. In his division, he demonstrated relentless aggression, effortlessly outclassing his opponents. As competition leveled up, he started KOing opponents. He KOed Alexander Volkanovski to seize the title and then repeated the feat in his first title defense against Max Holloway.
On the other hand, do Bronxs has been fighting his way back to prominence after his loss to Islam Makhachev. He has triumphed over Beneil Dariush but faced defeat against Arman Tsarukyan shortly after. Despite everyone thinking Oliveria's days were numbered, he silenced the critics with a title-earning performance against Michael Chandler.
This one's a tough call, but Topuria seems to have the edge. Known for his resilience and improved skills, he seems to thrive under pressure. Although Oliveira is an expert on the ground, Topuria's wrestling should counteract Oliveira's BJJ tactics. Plus, Topuria's striking is superior, ensuring the fight stays upright.
I foresee Topuria becoming the Lightweight champion and challenging Makhachev post-victory. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he managed to finish the fight with a KO, considering he's done so against tougher opponents in the past.
The Co-Main Event: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France
Alexandre Pantoja is fast becoming the GOAT of the Flyweight division. He showed his prowess once crowned champion. Now, he takes on Kai Kara-France, who he defeated long ago on The Ultimate Fighter series.
Pantoja is relentless in his game, currently on a seven-fight win streak. His impressive run includes a title win against Brandon Moreno, a championship title defense against Brandon Royval, and an even more recent victory over Kai Asakura via rear-naked choke at UFC 310.
Kai Kara-France missed his first chance to become the Flyweight champion, losing to Brandon Moreno. This setback was followed by another loss to Amir Albazi. But he secured another title opportunity thanks to an impressive TKO victory over Steve Erceg, setting up this rematch against Pantoja.
Nevertheless, I don't see Kara-France clinching the win. I still believe Pantoja is miles ahead of everyone in this division. He possesses the grappling and striking abilities to counteract anything Kara-France dishes out. The only thing that swings in Kara-France's favor is his punching power, which could end the fight in an instant.
Either way, I anticipate Pantoja taking the fight to the ground and handling things there. If he can take Kara-France down every round, it'll throw off his rhythm, making Pantoja the more likely winner via decision.
The Rest of the Card
The rest of the card might not be as chock-full of adrenaline-packed fights as the main and co-main events, but it still promises a few surprises. Renato Moicano is always entertaining to watch, and this time he will be facing Beneil Dariush. The card will also include the fast-paced action of Royval vs. Van and Talbott's opportunity to avenge his first loss against Felipe Lima.
With the main and co-main events promising a thrilling night, the rest of UFC 317's card doesn't disappoint. Renato Moicano, known for his entertaining fights, faces Beneil Dariush. Another noteworthy matchup is Royval versus Van, promising fast-paced action. Lastly, Talbott gets an opportunity to avenge his first loss against Felipe Lima.
In the world of betting, a potential upset could occur as Moicano and Talbott are seen as underdogs in their respective matches. However, the odds for Royval versus Van are more evenly matched.
For those who enjoy MMA sports and championship action, UFC 317's full card provides an exciting opportunity to place bets and witness some anticipated matchups.
