UFC 317 hosts a huge main event for the empty UFC Lightweight Championship.
Ilia Topuria has increased a weight class to fight for the title, originally held by Islam Makhachev.
Although Topuria left the UFC belt of featherweight to jump to lightweight, Makhachev did the same with the UFC light weight title to try his hand on goodweight.
Instead of being confronted with Makhachev, Topuria will compete against Charles Oliveira on UFC 317, because the Brazilian wants to end the undefeated line of Topuria to become a double world champion.
If he wins the fight on June 28, Oliveira will again be on top of the UFC Lightweight Division.
However, Topuria can become a two-way champion if he dedicates the step for the light to add another victory to his record with another exciting knockout punch.
What happens at UFC 317? The bloody elbow experts have made their predictions about what will happen in the fight between Topuria and Oliveira in the enormous main event.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC
Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira predicted by bloody elbow staff
Harvey Leonard: Charles Oliveira is known for being fallen and emerging comebacks. He did it against Michael Chandler. He did it against Dustin Poirier. He did it against Justin Gaethje. He will not do it against Ilia Topuria.
The punches of Topuria do not seem to be something a hunter is known to be hit, so I expect that 'El Matador' will become the new lightweight king for the championship rounds.
- Prediction – Ilia Topuria via Knock -Out
Jamie Theodosi: I don't see a world where Charles Oliveira gets a victory here. He was extremely happy that he received a title shot behind the back of a victory against Michael Chandler.
Boxing of Ilia Topuria will be far too much for Oliveira to deal with and despite a large format advantage, Oliveira will crumble in the first 2 rounds. Ilia Topuria by Ko.
Forecast-Ilia Topuria via knockout in the second round
Kyle Dimond: Charles Oliveira tends to make a number of large shots and when Ilia Topuria touches people, they remain hit.
It is the consensus institution, but if you look at how many opponents have come close to stop Oliveira, and how effective Topuria has been like a finisher, it is difficult to look past here. Topuria by Ko within 2 rounds.
Forecast-Ilia Topuria via knockout in the second round
Ilia Topuria took out the title against Arman Tsarukyan if he wins the belt on UFC 317
Topuria also has faith to also win the UFC 317 Main Event and to agree with the bloody elbow staff that he is the favorite.
The Georgian is already discussing who should be his first title defense, days before challenging the empty belt.
However, he has excluded that he is fighting Arman Tsarukyan and warns that he needs more victories under his belt to earn a shot at the undefeated hunter.
“I would not immediately give him the chance,” Topuria said about Tsarukyan in an interview with New York Post Sports.
“He has to win another fight. He had the opportunity to fight for the title. He withdrew. I don't know for what reasons, but he withdrew.
“So he has to win his shot again, I don't know – there is Justin Gaethje, Paddy Pimblett, many boys in the division who also earn the shot. So they have to fight between each other.”
Topuria, however, also concluded to give Paddy Pimblett a title shot, so his first challenger, if he would beat Oliveira on UFC 317, is still unknown.