Charles Oliveira has warned Ilia Topuria of the ‘firepower’ in his hands ahead of UFC 317.
UFC CEO Dana White announced this week that lightweight champion Islam Makhachev was vacating his belt to move up to welterweight, meaning Oliveira would contest Topuria to become the new champion at 155 lbs.
Topuria, 28, vacated his featherweight title in February to move up 10 lbs to lightweight and the Spaniard’s clash with Oliveira, 35, will be just his second bout in his new division since he joined the UFC.
Oliveira, meanwhile, is a former UFC lightweight champion having stopped Michael Chandler at UFC 262 in May 2021 to win the belt for the first time.
He defended the belt against Dustin Poirier seven months later before dropping it to Makhachev at UFC 280.
‘Do Bronxs’ now has the opportunity to secure two-time lightweight champion status and cement his name as one of the best to ever do it at 155 lbs.
“Everyone started yelling, the kids were screaming, and all of that,” Oliveira told Brazilian outlet MMA Hoje, reacting to his Topuria fight for the first time in a clip that has been translated from his native Portuguese.
“Training had just ended, I grabbed my phone and saw thousands of messages, I went straight to Diego (my manager), and that’s it.
“Let’s go, we’re ready. 46 days, 46 days for this belt to go back to where it should never have left.
“We’ll focus on what matters, stay focused and make it happen.”
Oliveira was then asked if Topuria’s style is suits him better compared to a fellow grappler like Makhachev.
“In reality, I’m not very focused on what [Topuria] has been doing, but [rather] on what we can get and take… ” he said.
Topuria said he’s ready to return the UFC lightweight belt ‘to where it should never have left’Getty“My team will map out Topuria so that we can see which game we can play, but the whole concern in reality is what I will be able to take into the [fight].
“We are more than prepared for this fight. [Topuria] is a tough opponent, but I know the firepower I have in my hands.
“I’ll go all in, I have a promise to be fulfilled and I’m going to get this belt.”
Oliveira climbed up the rankings again after dropping his title to Makhachev in October 2022 by defeating Beneil Dariush in the first round at UFC 289 eight months later.
However, he slipped back down after suffering a split decision defeat to current No. 1 ranked lightweight Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300.
The Brazilian then bounced back once again in his second UFC battle with Chandler, outpointing the American after a five-round war in November – his last fight to date.
Oliveira went to war with Chandler in his last UFC fight in NovemberGETTY Topuria knocked out Max Holloway at UFC 308 in his last fightGettyTopuria, meanwhile, shockingly knocked out UFC legend Alexander Volkanovski in February 2024 to win his first title in the promotion.
Eight months later, he slapped Max Holloway with the first knockout defeat of the Hawaiian’s stellar MMA career and decided he’d had enough of the featherweight division following some tough weight cuts.
The 28-year-old believes he is more of a natural fit at lightweight as he aims to become one of the very few fighters to have held a UFC title in two different divisions.
Topuria is undefeated in 16 professional MMA bouts and has the potential to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world if he gets past Brazil’s Oliveira.
“On June 28, another dream will come true,” he wrote on X after the news of his fight with Oliveira was confirmed.
“I’ll be the champion of the lightweight division. Charles, my apologies in advance.
UFC 317: Topuria vs Oliveira (card so far)
Sunday, June 29 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
Main event
Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira (lightweight title bout)
Co-main event
Alexandre Pantoja vs Kai Kara-France (flyweight title bout)
Fight card
Beneil Dariush vs Renato Moicano (lightweight)
Brandon Royval vs Manel Kape (flyweight)
Paulo Costa vs Roman Kopylov (middleweight)
Jack Hermansson vs Gregory Rodrigues (middleweight)
Jhonata Diniz vs Justin Tafa (heavyweight)
Viviane Araujo vs Tracy Cortez (women’s strawweight)
“I’m just fighting for my dreams. It’s unfortunate that Makhachev ran away. 17-0.”
The pair headline a blockbuster card during UFC’s annual International Fight Week on June 29.
UFC 317 will also witness Alexandre Pantoja defend his flyweight title against Kai Kara-France, while Beneil Dariush takes on Renato Moicano at the top of the main card.
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