Ilia Topuria’s stunning UFC run continued on Saturday, as he knocked Charles Oliveira out cold to become a two-weight champion.
In the main event of UFC 317, Topuria, who vacated the featherweight title in February, faced Oliveira for the vacant lightweight belt and finished the former champion in round one.
After a frantic opening few minutes, in which both men landed in the striking exchanges and demonstrated grappling prowess in other moments, Topuria floored Oliveira with a right cross and left hook, leaving the Brazilian staring up at the lights in Las Vegas.
Oliveira, 35, walked onto Topuria’s right hand and was seemingly unconscious even before the left hook landed. “Do Bronx”, who held the 155lb title from 2021 until 2022, crumpled to the canvas and was pummeled with one more shot before referee Marc Goddard could step in.
Topuria’s victory kept the Spanish-Georgian unbeaten and saw him enter a small club of two-weight UFC champions. The 28-year-old knocked out Alexander Volkanovski last February to win the featherweight belt, before doing the same to Max Holloway in October to retain the gold. He then relinquished it this February, eyeing a move up to 155lb. Re-live all the action from UFC 317, below:
UFC 317 live
- Topuria knocks Oliveira out cold in round one to win vacant lightweight belt
- Victory comes after Topuria gave up featherweight title in February
- Topuria's quasi-rival Paddy Pimblett enters cage to face off with champ
- Pantoja submits Kara-France to retain flyweight title in co-main event
- Van upsets top-ranked Royval in record-breaking fight of the year contender
- Dariush secures decision win over Moicano in first fight since late 2023
- Bantamweight prospect Talbott outpoints Lima to kick off main card
UFC 317 live: Topuria beats Oliveira and faces off with Paddy Pimblett
06:27 , Alex PattleUnlike any other 😮💨@TopuriaIlia is the first undefeated fighter to become champion in two UFC divisions #UFC317 pic.twitter.com/eFHbUxxWkt
— UFC (@ufc) June 29, 2025
UFC 317 live: Topuria beats Oliveira and faces off with Paddy Pimblett
06:15 , Alex PattleEL MATADOR IS BUILT DIFFERENT 🐂#UFC317 | @TopuriaIlia pic.twitter.com/JlK0bEwl1R
— UFC (@ufc) June 29, 2025
UFC 317 live: Topuria beats Oliveira and faces off with Paddy Pimblett
06:08A MAN OF HIS WORD 😱@TopuriaIlia called his shot and got the 1st RD KO! #UFC317 pic.twitter.com/BdLxZuk8Ph
— UFC (@ufc) June 29, 2025
UFC 317 live: Topuria beats Oliveira and faces off with Paddy Pimblett
06:01Topuria: “I already said it, I represent the next generation of mixed martial arts.
“I did exactly what we had planned. A lot of jabs. Right hand, left hook. Boom.
“We have some f*****g p***y [at ringside],” he adds, referencing Liverpool’s Paddy Pimblett.
“Whoever is ready for me, I’m here. I don’t think he’s gonna accept it, but if he thinks he’s ready, come on, you p***y.”
Rogan brings Pimblett into the cage!
“That was a heavy knockout, I’ll give you that,” says Paddy The Baddy. “Respect, but you will never knock me out.”
“You’ll get knocked out even before the fight,” jokes Topuria, before there’s a shove – I thinkkkk from him.
UFC 317 live: Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira
05:55 , Alex PattleThis is exactly what Indy Sport thought would happen: Oliveira pressed forward and walked right onto a brutal right cross. and left hook.
He was out before he hit the canvas, but Topuria managed a follow-up shot on his downed opponent.
Ilia Topuria def. Charles Oliveira via first-round knockout (right cross, 2:27)
UFC 317 live: Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira
05:53 , Alex PattleRound one
They touch gloves. Oliveira is much the taller fighter. Both men stand orthodox.
Stern jabs from Topuria early on, but he’s tagged with a couple of hooks as he throws his right hands recklessly.
Oliveira gets a clinch and forces Topuria to the fence. Topuria trips the Brazilian, who has a bloody forehead already.
Topuria is working on a crucifix position, but Oliveira gets out and tries a leg lock...
Topuria can’t get free, he’s tripped as he tries to escape... but he eventually manages to get away!
He stands over Oliveira, kicking the 35-year-old’s legs.
Eventually ref Marc Goddard stands up Oliveira, who eats a right hook but clinches Topuria, who stumbles away.
OH!! TOPURIA PUTS OLIVEIRA OUT COLD WITH A RIGHT CROSS!
UFC 317 live: Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira
05:49How are the nerves? Bruce Buffer has introduced the fighters, so here... we... go...
IT’S TIME! Five rounds for the vacant lightweight title.
UFC 317 live: Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira
05:43Big cheers for Oliveira as he reaches the cage. Now here comes Topuria, marching to the ring to a largely positive reaction.
And on that note, his march towards a second UFC title can be defined by one word...
One word defines Ilia Topuria’s march towards a second UFC title
UFC 317 live: Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira
05:36 , Alex PattleTime for the main event: Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira will clash over the vacant lightweight title, in a fight that has unique stakes for each man.
In one corner is Topuria, the Spanish-Georgian putting his unbeaten record on the line as he aims to become a two-weight champion.
Back in February, the 28-year-old gave up the featherweight belt to eye a move to lightweight, setting his sights on Islam Makhachev, who held the title at the time.
Soon thereafter, however, Makhachev similarly vacated his title with the intent of capturing the welterweight belt. As such, Topuria was paired with Oliveira, who aims to become a two-time lightweight champion here.
The Brazilian, 35, is statistically the most dangerous fighter in the UFC, holding the records for most finishes and most submissions in the promotion’s history.
UFC 317 live: Alexandre Pantoja vs Kai Kara-France
05:31Van, who outpointed No 1 contender Royval earlier tonight, enters the cage to face off with Pantoja!
Joe Rogan announces that Van is next for the champion. Wow, that came together extremely fast.
UFC 317 live: Alexandre Pantoja vs Kai Kara-France
05:25 , Alex PattleRound three
Kara-France just can’t keep Pantoja off him. Pantoja closes space quite recklessly but still effectively and quickly.
He’s holding KKF against the fence with a rear body lock. He hauls the Kiwi down and secures a body triangle.
Pantoja gets to work on a rear naked choke, this feels ominous... Kai is clawing at the hands...
THERE’S THE TAP! AND STILL!
Kara-France rolls onto his front as Pantoja lets go and stands. KKF looks like he wants the world to swallow him up.
Alexandre Pantoja def. Kai Kara-France via third-round submission (rear naked choke, 1:55)
UFC 317 live: Alexandre Pantoja vs Kai Kara-France
05:22Round two
A minute goes by with both flyweights standing, but neither is landing anything of note. They’re mainly feinting.
All of a sudden, Pantoja lurches forward at pace, throwing punches upstairs, a low kick, and securing a takedown by basically barrelling KKF into the fence.
Kai does well to stand against the cage wall, and he eventually creates space.
Back to a striking exchange, although strangely, Kara-France grabs a body lock and drives Pantoja to the fence.
They don’t stay there for long, however. Back out in the open, and Pantoja is landing kicks and a knee to the body. Kara-France eats another knee to the midriff while landing a cross up top.
Pantoja 20-18 KKF.
UFC 317 live: Alexandre Pantoja vs Kai Kara-France
05:14 , Alex PattleRound one
Such a frantic start. Pantoja comes forward and walks onto a cluster of punches, but he lands a few, too, then grabs Kara-France against the fence.
Pantoja drags the challenger down quickly, and he’s already taken the back. A nightmare position for KKF so early in the bout.
Pantoja has a body triangle and lands punches to the head and body. Now he starts thinking about a rear naked choke.
Kai is doing a good job of defending the hands, but in a scramble, Pantoja switches to an arm-triangle! The man is relentless...
More encouraging defence from Kara-France, as he manages to get Pantoja from mount into half-guard, and he escapes the submission.
Pantoja is still in control, however, and that’s how he ends the round.
UFC 317 live: Alexandre Pantoja vs Kai Kara-France
05:01 , Alex PattleWe stay in the flyweight division; it's time for the co-main event!
Alexandre Pantoja defends his title against Kai Kara-France.
This could be fought at a similar pace to that last bout, if you can believe it, given the way the well-rounded Pantoja likes to fight.
The question is whether he’ll walk onto one of Kara-France’s trademark, knockout shots.
Brazil’s Pantoja, 35, has pretty much cleared out the 125lb division, but Kiwi Kara-France, 32, is a relativelyyyy fresh challenger; the pair fought on The Ultimate Fighter, with Pantoja winning across two rounds, but that was nine years ago.
This match-up makes all the sense in the world right now.
UFC 317 live: Brandon Royval vs Joshua Van
04:52 , Alex PattleJoshua Van def. Brandon Royval via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Fight of the year contender.
With 340-plus combined significant strikes, the pair broke the record for most in a single UFC flyweight fight – and across just three rounds!
Massive win for the young Van, too, who will catapult up the rankings...
UFC 317 live: Brandon Royval vs Joshua Van
04:49 , Alex PattleRound three
Van holds the centre and storms forward, but Royval lands a slew of crosses to regain some respect.
Royval is maintaining a wild pace right now! He sneaks an elbow into a series of punches. He’s bleeding from the nose and is bruised around one eye but is undeterred...
Van’s face is marked up, too, and he might be able to capitalise now as Royval briefly slows down. And he does! Big one-two from Van!
But somehow Royval lands a knee up the middle. He overcomits again, though, and Van staggers him with a cross or hook – hard to see.
Royval comes forward but keeps missing and getting countered. Eventually Royval lands a one-two, though. Then a clever combination up top.
Van stomps on his knee twice. Royval drops to a knee after a punch upstairs, then stands and eats a knee. Now he falls from another side kick to the leg.
The crowd raise their voices as a dramatic ending ensues, with Van dropping Royval with a right hand and landing an elbow on the buzzer!
Van surely stole it with the last minute or so...
UFC 317 live: Brandon Royval vs Joshua Van
04:42 , Alex PattleRound two
Van unloads a cluster of punches to the body and head at point-blank range, as Royval again tries to hold the shorter fighter’s head! The crowd enjoys that.
Van is taxing Royval on every entry, snapping back the 32-year-old’s head. Royval with a nice southpaw cross, though!
Clever uppercut by Royval and a low kick. Now Royval with a one-two over the top of a body kick.
Royval is landing with increasing frequency, but as he gets a bit overeager, Van continues to punish him with counters! This is getting good...
Both men have bruising on their faces. They’re landing almost at will. Van’s team tell him to move his head after he eats a string of jabs and a hammer of a cross.
Van fires back with a fine combo. This is ridiculous now.
Oh! Royval staggers backwards after a one-two by Van, but he comes straight back into the fire! What a ROUND!
The above probably doesn’t do justice to how many punches Royval landed; statistically, he comfortably outlanded Van, but Van also had a lot of success.
UFC 317 live: Brandon Royval vs Joshua Van
04:35 , Alex PattleRound one
Royval is the much taller fighter, wow. He stands southpaw. So far, he’s doing a good job at using kicks and rangy jabs to keep Van at a distance.
But Van lands a couple of sharp punches as Royval comes forward, and then a couple more... Has he already found his range? Just 90 seconds gone.
Van is catching Royval every time the older fighter comes forward, and his punches have much greater weight than Royval’s.
Royval is getting tagged with hooks when he throws uppercuts. He’s stungggg now. He tries to clinch Van but is clattered with a sequence of hooks to the body.
UFC 317 live: Brandon Royval vs Joshua Van
04:24Down to flyweight, where former title challenger Brandon Royval faces young prospect Joshua Van on short notice.
Van, 23, steps in for Manel Kape here. Can Van catapult himself into title contention, given champion Pantoja has cleared out the division?
Or can Royval, 32, remain the No 1 contender? If Kara-France dethrones Pantoja tonight, Royval may even find himself with a title shot sooner than expected.
UFC 317 live: Beneil Dariush vs Renato Moicano
04:11 , Alex PattleRound three
Dariush gets the takedown early in this round, but Moicano reacts quickly and is able to take the back. Solid defence by Dariush, and both men stand.
Dariush throws two body kicks, but the second is laboured and allows Moicano to clinch. They separate, and Dariush connects with a cross.
More boxing success for Dariush from southpaw. He then shoots a double-leg, and although Moicano sprawls fairly well, Dariush completes the takedown by wrapping Money’s legs.
A scramble follows, and the lightweights stand. A slightly wild exchange on the feet, but it’s Dariush who produces the greater accuracy.
Moicano shoots for a takedown but is denied in the final seconds.
Beneil Dariush def. Renato Moicano via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
The right call.
UFC 317 live: Beneil Dariush vs Renato Moicano
04:05 , Alex PattleDariush looked sharp in that round, especially given his long Octagon absence, but Moicano surely stole the frame with his late success.
Round two
Dariush with some fine left hooks that lead Moicano to shoot, but he’s denied. Dariush sprawls then takes the back, and he holds that position for much of the round – though Moicano eventually stands against the fence.
Moicano finally creates separation, only to be taken down. He spends the rest of the round getting controlled from half-guard.
Dariush seeks an arm-triangle late on, but to no avail.
We’re likely at 19-19 heading into the final round.
UFC 317 live: Beneil Dariush vs Renato Moicano
03:59Round one
Dariush stands southpaw; Moicano is orthodox. Hard low kick by Dariush, but Moicano lands a left hand at the same time.
Now Moicano gets through with a right hand after blocking a pair of high kicks. Ouch, another good leg kick by Dariush, who swings inside.
Now he floors Moicano with an outside low kick! Then HE stumbles to the mat, having put himself off balance with another kick, ha.
A clinch ensues after Dariush stands, with Moicano controlling him against the fence. The 155lbers separate, and Dariush shakes his head after a grazing cross by Moicano.
Dariush with body kicks and another blocked high effort.
Oh! Moicano drops Dariush with a piston right cross, and he takes the back! Dariush rolls, but Moicano still has the back and is firing off punches.
It’s late in the round... Dariush stands and should survive, but he eats more punishment in the final 15 seconds!
UFC 317 live: Beneil Dariush vs Renato Moicano
03:48Excited for this one! An appetiser for the main event, it’s a lightweight meeting between Beneil Dariush and Renato Moicano.
The pair were due to square off in January, on the undercard of Islam Makhachev’s planned title defence against Arman Tsarukyan. However, Tsarukyan suffered an injury a day before the event, leading Moicano to step in and Dariush to have the night off.
Brazil’s Moicano was quickly submitted by Makhachev but was on a fine run before that. So was Dariush before two TKO losses in 2023 – to Charles Oliveira and Tsarukyan. The American has not fought since the latter loss, at the end of that year.
“Money” Moicano and Dariush are both 36; if either wants to get back in the title picture, they need to make a statement tonight.
UFC 317 live: Payton Talbott vs Felipe Lima
03:39 , Alex PattleRound three
Nice knee from Lima, then another spearing cross. Still, Talbott presses forward, looking to box the Brazilian.
Lima opts to grapple again, getting down Talbott by the cage wall. Eventually Talbott stands and quickly denies Lima a single-leg.
Good combo, ending in a front kick to the body, from Talbott as Lima stands against the fence. Lima moves away and switches stances back and forth. Nice side kick by Talbott!
Lima slips while kicking high, and he ends up turtled under Talbott, who advances to mount after a while.
Lima is able to shrimp under Talbott and try to neutralise him, but a scramble follows.
Both men stand, and Talbott unloads punches as the final buzzer sounds.
Payton Talbott def. Felipe Lima via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
The right call. Really good work from Talbott in every area of the fight tonight, minus the occasional boxing complacency.
UFC 317 live: Payton Talbott vs Felipe Lima
03:32Round two
Talbott with a pointed attempt to start on the front foot in this round.
He’s tagged HARD with a one-two, though! He grins before rolling under an overhand, but Lima follows up with a double-leg attempt.
More good defensive grappling from Talbott, who ends up on top, in half-guard.
Eventually Talbott stands and lets Lima up. Lima again shoots, and Talbott stuffs the single-leg and lands in mount! Wow.
Lima does well to recover half-guard, but Talbott fires off ground and pound.
Ultimately Talbott lets Lima stand again. Spinning back fist from Lima, but it’s blocked. Talbott with some nice boxing now.
Lima grabs him by the fence and drags him to the mat, taking the back, but Talbott is able to shake Lima off, as the Brazilian got too high.
UFC 317 live: Payton Talbott vs Felipe Lima
03:24 , Alex PattleRound one
Both men stand orthodox. Lima hurls a quick overhand early on. Good footwork from Talbott to slide back and out of range.
Lima with a left hand at close range, as he grabs Talbott and tries a knee, too. No success there, but he snaps back Talbott’s head with a one-two.
The 135lbers spend some time in the clinch before separating, and Lima dives for a single-leg.
Talbott rolls away nicely and ends up taking the back! Talbott is known for his striking, but clever grappling there from the 26-year-old, who then lands some strong elbows from full guard.
In a scramble, both men stand, but Talbott makes an ill-advised takedown attempt and gets tripped. Now it’s Lima working on top.
Talbott does well to stand, and he eyes the clock as the final 30 seconds of round one tick by.
UFC 317 live: Jack Hermansson vs Gregory Rodrigues
02:41Round one
Both men stand orthodox. Lots of pawing jabs and feints from both men. Decent straight by Hermansson, who then blocks a one-two.
Hermansson is trying to pick his shots, while Rodrigues is bursting forward with flurries.
Nothing too clean has landed for “Robocop” Rodrigues yet, but he is startling Hermansson.
Superman punch and inside low kick from Hermansson. Rodrigues is actually bleeding on his forehead. It’s likely from scar tissue, given he hasn’t eaten any big shots yet.
Decent cross and long left hook from Rodrigues.
Oh!! Rodrigues with a huge left hook after a right-hand feint, and Hermansson is out cold!!
Somehow Rodrigues gets off a hammer fist before referee Herb Dean can stop the fight... Dean was quite slow there...
Gregory Rodrigues def. Jack Hermansson via first-round KO (left hook, 4:20)
UFC 317 live: Hyder Amil vs Jose Miguel Delgado
02:16Up to 145lb next, where Hyder Amil and Jose Miguel Delgado square off.
Round one
Delgado tries a trip early, but Amil reverses smartly, throwing Delgado to the mat.
Delgado is quick to stand, though, and he fires off a one-two and OH!! A vicious knee up the middle!
It folds Amil, and Delgado lands some crushing elbows on his floored foe, before referee Herb Dean steps in.
Amil’s unbeaten record goes up in smokes...
Jose Miguel Delgado def. Hyder Amil via first-round TKO (knee, 0:26)
UFC 317 live: Viviane Araujo vs Tracy Cortez
01:56 , Alex PattleRound three
Cortez eats a front kick to the face! She manages to grab Araujo in spite of it, dumping her to the canvas and getting into half-guard.
From there, she fires off right hands. What follows is a period of Cortez being content to work on advancing the position, but as she’s nullified, she decides to throw more rights.
A slew of them land hard! Now Cortez switches back to a grappling focus, working on an arm-triangle choke.
Araujo yet again survives a submission attempt, but as the buzzer sounds, she knows she’ll have lost this one on points.
Tracy Cortez def. Viviane Araujo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
UFC 317 live: Viviane Araujo vs Tracy Cortez
01:49 , Alex PattleRound two
Halfway through round two, and this frame has played out entirely on the feet.
Some tidy jabbing by Cortez, but Araujo stuns her a bit with a clean cross.
Lovely work by Cortez, though: she feints a double-leg and blasts a one-two.
Now Cortez kicks hard to the body, and Araujo again makes use of the right hand to retaliate.
Cortez rolls under a cross and snatches a body lock, driving Araujo to the fence with one minute left in the round.
Araujo, almost out of nowhere, jumps a guillotine – but to no avail.
UFC 317 live: Viviane Araujo vs Tracy Cortez
01:44Round one
Cortez with a double-leg takedown early in the first round, out in the open, and she seeks half-guard but is reversed!
In the ensuing scramble, Araujo is able to stand and get a body lock against the cage. She now works on dragging down Cortez and taking the back...
She has the back in a seated position, but a defiant Cortez defends well and eventually twists, getting into Araujo’s guard.
Cortez ends up in half-guard and attacks a guillotine, but it’s never quite there for her.... but as Araujo stands, Cortez gets a better look at the choke...
Araujo makes it to the buzzer, though.
UFC 317 live: Terrance McKinney vs Viacheslav Borshchev
01:15 , Alex PattleThe first regular prelim pits Terrance McKinney against Viacheslav Borshchev at lightweight.
Round one
Spinning back kick from Borshchev early, landing to the mid-section, but McKinney responds by shooting a drive single-leg, successfully!
McKinney quickly locks in a guillotine... Borshchev is struggling, kicking his legs as he turns red and grimaces... and there’s the tap!
Wow, barely a minute in!
Terrance McKinney def. Viacheslav Borshchev via first-round submission (guillotine choke, 0:55)
Oliveira makes weight after concern from Volkanovski
Sunday 29 June 2025 00:14 , Alex PattleOn the topic of UFC ‘curses’, Oliveira has missed weight six times in his UFC career, and here’s why Alexander Volkanovski feared for the Brazilian on the scales yesterday – only for “Do Bronx” to make weight:
UFC 317 weigh-in concern for Charles Oliveira amounts to nothing in relieving scene
Strange UFC curse hangs over Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira’s title decider
Sunday 29 June 2025 00:05 , Alex PattleAnother preview of tonight’s main event, and it all stems from a user’s comment on a Bloody Hellbow article last month...
“Interesting stat: Eddie Alvarez is the last LW [lightweight] champion to lose his title in the Octagon.”
That was back in 2016, when Alvarez was deconstructed by Conor McGregor.
Here’s a look at the unusual, broken lineage of the UFC lightweight title, and why it may not get better any time soon:
Strange UFC curse hangs over Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira’s title decider
How to watch UFC 317 tonight
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:40 , Alex PattleThe card will air live on TNT Sports in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights. Discovery+ will also air the action in the UK. In the US, ESPN+ will stream the event live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass.
What time does UFC 317 start tonight?
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:20 , Alex PattleUFC 317 will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas tonight.
The early prelims are scheduled to begin at 11pm BST (3pm PT / 5pm CT / 6pm ET), with the regular prelims following at 1am BST on Sunday (5pm PT / 7pm CT / 8pm ET on Saturday).
The main card is then due at 3am BST on Sunday (7pm PT / 9pm CT / 10pm ET on Saturday).
