Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira is one of the largest UFC fights of the year.
For the first time since 2022, a new UFC Lightweight Champion will be awarded this Saturday in the main event of UFC 317. The champion Islam Makhachev took off his title after four defending defense and chose to go to the Welterweight division against the new champion Jack Della Maddalena.
The unbeaten Ilia Topuria comes from back-to-back knockouts from Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, promises to complete Oliveira, the most productive Submitsiekunstenaar of the UFC, every way he wants.
Topuria is extremely preferred to beat Oliveira, with former champion Aljamain Sterling and former Oliveira -enemy Beneuil Dariush among those to choose the Spaniard.
A former BMF champion is the newest hunter to give their choice for the UFC 317 headliner.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty images
Jorge Masvidal supports Ilia Topuria to beat Charles Oliveira on UFC 317
Jorge Masvidal has long been in favor of the championship potential of Topuria.
The inaugural BMF title holder said he has been Topuria for 5-6 years and has always had the feeling that he would ever be world champion.
Now Topuria has the rare opportunity to become a two -division champion.
“Ilia is one of 10,000,” Masvidal told Red Corner MMA.
“Say their name. I trained with everyone, brother. This guy is special.
“I think he will be a world champion at 155,” Masvidal said about Topuria.
“He is going to beat Charles, man. He is going to find a way to beat him.
“Charles is bigger. Charles has stairs, knees, elbows, great Jiu-Jitsu, struggling well. Charles is good everywhere.
“But Ilia is just different, brother,” said Masvidal.
“I trained with Ilia, he is one of 10,000”: Jorge Masvidal breaks #UFC317 Main Event while Ilia Topuria makes his debut in the lightweight division against the former champion Charles Oliveira.
Follow Red Corner MMA for more exclusive content ✅ pic.twitter.com/dyagfzzmvm
– Red Corner MMA (@redcorner_Mma) 23 June 2025
View tweet
Ilia Topuria expects to be heavier than Charles Oliveira on fighting evening
Oliveira is three centimeters longer than the 5'7 ″ Topuria, and top 10 candidate Mateusz Gamrot who chooses the former lightweight champion to regain his title because of the great advantage.
Topuria does not understand criticism of its size for the lightweight division and claims that he will be heavier than Oliveira in their fight.
On the Ariel Helwani show on Monday, Topuria says that he will weigh everywhere from 174 to 179 pounds, Come Fight Night.
Ilia Topuria shares that he intends to be between 79-81 kg (174-179LBS) and to enter the Octagon on Saturday evening.
“At the moment I feel good, I feel happy. I am still able to keep eating and drinking. I didn't have to kill myself so far.” pic.twitter.com/ozvvnsstoh
– Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) 23 June 2025
View tweet
For his featherweight fighting, Topuria weighed between 167 and 172 pounds.