UFC 317 Combat Schedule: Sequence of Matches Revealed for Vegas Pay-Per-View Event
Amped-Up Fight Week Organized a Stellar Showdown
International Fight Week didn't disappoint UFC fanatics. With whispers of potential weaknesses in the lineup, the dust finally settles, and we're left with a first-rate card from start to finish, boasting two title fights in prime main and co-main event spots.
Former UFC featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria and ex-lightweight champion Charles Oliveira will clash for the coveted 155-pound belt, vacant following Islam Makhachev's departure. In the co-main event, longtime men's flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja faces off against Kai Kara-France, defending his title against a long-awaited contender.
As for the fight night schedule, here's a peek at the event lineup, according to ESPN:
UFC 317 Complete Lineup (negative attitudes requested)
Main Card
- Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira - Lightweight (155 lbs)
- Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France - Flyweight (125 lbs)
- Brandon Royval vs. Joshua Van - Flyweight (125 lbs)
- Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano - Lightweight (155 lbs)
- Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov - Middleweight (185 lbs)
Preliminary Card
- Jack Hermansson vs. Gregory Rodrigues - Middleweight (185 lbs)
- Hyder Amil vs. Jose Delgado - Featherweight (145 lbs)
- Viviane Araujo vs. Tracy Cortez - Flyweight (125 lbs)
- Terrance McKinney vs. Viacheslav Borshchev - Lightweight (155 lbs)
Early Prelims Card
- Payton Talbott vs. Felipe Lima - Bantamweight (135 lbs)
- Jhonata Diniz vs. Alvin Hines - Heavyweight (265 lbs)
- Niko Price vs. Jacobe Smith - Welterweight (170 lbs)
The card boasts a diverse mix—from promising, young guns with skyrocketing potential like Jacobe Smith and Payton Talbott to grizzled vets like Jack Hermansson and Gregory Rodrigues. Smith stands out among the contestants from Season 8 of Dana White's Contender Series, a hardcore wrestler packing a powerful punch with a shot to dominate the welterweight ranks. Fans are eager to see how he fares against Niko Price.
Talbott tries to rebound after a loss to Raoni Barcelos in his last bout. Questionable Talbott needs to show improvement in his ground game since it was exposed against Barcelos. Let's see if he's fixed any leaks against Felipe Lima.
The event also showcases two adrenaline junkies: Hyder Amil and Terrance McKinney. Expect fireworks when Amil unloads wild punches, and McKinney delivers jaw-dropping finishes—just be prepared for the occasional brutal KO loss on his part.
Before the main event, the action heats up with competitive battles between established veterans like Royval-Van, Costa-Kopylov, and Dariush-Moicano. If Pantoja emerges victorious against Kai Kara-France, the decorated Brazilian could secure his next opponent sooner rather than later.
A win for Van, stepping up on short notice, might catapult him into a title shot against Pantoja. Whoever victorious in the main event will likely face Arman Tsarukyan, who's eagerly waiting in the wings as an alternate for UFC 317.
All in all, Charles Oliveira earned himself the lightweight belt by besting Ilia Topuria in a captivating main event, and Alexandre Pantoja managed to keep his flyweight title, defeating Kai Kara-France in the co-main event at UFC 317.
This stellar lineup for UFC 317 features several thrilling fights, such as Jacobe Smith's welterweight clash against Niko Price, and Payton Talbott's comeback against Felipe Lima in the bantamweight division. Moreover, the event showcases a diverse mix of sports, including mixed-martial-arts.
