At UFC 317, Ilia Topuria produced the most dominant performance of his career, stopping Charles Oliveira with a first-round knockout to take the new UFC lightweight title. The victory also saw Topuria land his third consecutive knockout against a potential Hall of Famer, further securing his status as the poster boy of a new era in mixed martial arts.
Ilia Topuria Knocks Out Charles Oliveira in UFC 317 Main Event
The UFC 317 headliner was fireworks from the get-go, with no hesitation in testing each other out. Oliveira early punched a hard left but Topuria fired back with ugly power. There was a head clash that opened a cut above Oliveira’s eye, yet that did not deter the pace.
Moments later, Ilia Topuria knocked out Oliveira with a clean right hook and left, sending him asleep at the mere 2:27 mark of the first round. The fight was waved off on the spot, giving Topuria a record-breaking victory.
Ilia Topuria Becomes Two-Division Champion
With this win, Ilia Topuria wins the UFC lightweight title to go with his featherweight championship, having already ruled the featherweight division. The victory over Oliveira comes on the heels of his consecutive knockouts of Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski, and thus it is three consecutive finishes against top-notch opponents.
“I already said it. I am the next generation of mixed martial arts,” Topuria stated after the fight. “This is the next level of the game.”
Topuria Calls Out Paddy Pimblett in UFC 317 Post-Match
The fight did not end inside the Octagon. Having won the title at UFC 317, Topuria lost no time in looking out for possible opponents, especially Paddy Pimblett and Arman Tsarukyan. However, his loud callout of Pimblett was the drama everyone focused on.
“There is a blonde b****… if he thinks he’s ready, come on you blonde b****,” Topuria yelled.
In a dramatic turn, Pimblett climbed into the cage, congratulated Topuria briefly, and then the two exchanged heated words. The verbal sparring escalated, with Topuria shoving Pimblett as security intervened to prevent a full-blown brawl.
Charles Oliveira’s Effort Falls Short Despite Valiant Attempt
Though losing, Charles Oliveira displayed his signature toughness, trying submissions and pushing the pace early in the fight. Though Topuria’s takedown defense and precision striking were too much for the Brazilian veteran. The two fighters hugged after the fight in a display of respect.
The Topuria Era Begins: What’s Next After UFC 317?
With his commanding win over UFC 317, Ilia Topuria has officially begun a new era in the UFC’s lightweight division. As fans ponder his next bout, a clash with Paddy Pimblett could be one of the most high-profile and memorable bouts in UFC history.
Ilia Topuria’s UFC 317 defeat of Charles Oliveira was not just a title win, it was a declaration. Thanks to a devastating first-round KO and a post-fight brawl with Paddy Pimblett, Topuria has lit the flame of interest throughout the MMA universe. As the new UFC lightweight champion, all eyes are now on who will step forward next to challenge “El Matador.”
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