UFC Insider Info: Breakdown of the Fighters and Matches to Anticipate at UFC 317
Tonight's UFC fight night heads to the T-Mobile Center in Sin City, baby! And this isn't just any fight - we've got a cracker of a main event on our hands at UFC 317. The spotlight is on the undefeated Ilia Topuria, who's taking on the experienced Charles Oliveira in a battle royale for the vacant UFC lightweight crown!
But that's not all, folks! The co-main event is a flyweight title scrap between UFC champ Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Kara-France. And let's not forget about Brandon Royval facing off against the rising Joshua Van and the rest of this stacked fight card!
Let's break it down, shall we?
Ilia Topuria is a former Cage Warriors champion who joined the UFC with a 9-0 record, and it didn't take him long to make a name for himself. Ranked 14th in the featherweight division after his 3 UFC bouts, he dispatched Bryce Mitchell in the second round with a submission and earned his first "Performance of the Night" bonus. A matchup with Josh Emmett followed, with Topuria picking up a decision in a "Fight of the Night" scrap. He then faced the UFC featherweight champ, Alexander Volkanovski, and knocked him out in the second round to become the champ.
Topuria defended the featherweight belt once, becoming the first to finish former champ Max Holloway via strikes, knocking him out in the third round at UFC 308. When Topuria decided to move to lightweight, he vowed to sit until he got a title shot. That fight takes place tonight!
Charles Oliveira (35-10-0-1) has been with the UFC since 2010 and has had quite the journey. He won the vacant lightweight title with his win over Chandler and defended it once, beating Dustin Poirier. A chance to regain the belt against Justin Gaethje landed him on the scales and cost him the title. But Oliveira's recent form has been on point, with a decision win over Michael Chandler and a No. 2 ranking in the official UFC lightweight rankings.
It all goes down tonight! Tune in to catch this historic fight card and witness Topuria's quest for lightweight glory!
Enrichment Data:- Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira gained significance as it marked Topuria's third title defense and a historic moment for the UFC, becoming the 10th two-division champion- Oliveira showcased his durability and toughness, despite being stopped by Topuria's striking- Topuria's victory led to instant conversations about potential rivalries against Paddy Pimblett and his status as a dominant force and rising star in the MMA world
The Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France co-main event saw Pantoja, sporting a 7-fight winning streak, put his UFC flyweight title on the line. The Brazilian made his UFC debut in 2017 with a split-decision win over Eric Shelton and went 5-3 over the next three years. However, he has not tasted defeat since dropping a decision to Askar Askarov in 2020 and has defended his title three times, winning each fight via decision. Kara-France, on the other hand, was 17-7-0-1 before joining the UFC, where he won "Fight of the Night" honors in his first fight against Elias Garcia. After two more wins, he faced Brandon Moreno in 2019 and lost by decision. Kara-France then went on a three-fight winning streak before losing to Moreno again in the co-main event of UFC 277 and to Amir Albazi in June 2023.
The Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano fight featured a highly-anticipated matchup between two top-5 ranked lightweights. Beneil Dariush entered the contest with a 22-6-1 record, having fought with the UFC since 2014. Known for his grappling skills and submissions, Dariush has hit a rough patch in recent years, losing to Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan in his last two fights. Renato Moicano, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and black belt in Judo, had won seven fights in a row leading up to the contest, including five via submission.
Enrichment Data:- Pantoja vs. Kara-France was a tightly contested matchup, with Pantoja securing a unanimous decision victory, firmly cementing his status as the UFC flyweight champion- Dariush vs. Moicano ended with a decision win for Dariush, marking his first victory since April 2022
This UFC tonight event at the T-Mobile Center in Sin City will feature more than just the main event between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira, as the co-main event will showcase the UFC flyweight title scrap between champion Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Kara-France.
In the highly-anticipated bout between Beneil Dariush and Renato Moicano, Dariush secured a decision win, marking his first victory since April 2022. Meanwhile, the flyweight title fight between Pantoja and Kara-France was a tightly contested matchup, with Pantoja emerging victorious via unanimous decision, further solidifying his status as the UFC flyweight champion.
