UFC 317 feels like the start of what could be a monumental summer for Dana White’s promotion.
After a moderately slow start to the year, and with much of the talk surrounding a potential clash between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall, the UFC will be hoping this weekend’s event in Las Vegas can make a statement of its own.
Although the card features a plethora of talent and an exciting co-main event title bout between Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Kara-France, it’s the headline act that will draw all eyes on fight night.
Former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has made the move up to 155 lbs and faces Brazilian fan-favourite Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight belt.
Topuria has been heavily favoured to be crowned the new UFC lightweight champion in the main event, with many MMA fans prediction a long title reign in store for the Spaniard.
Oliveira, meanwhile, goes into UFC 317 a resounding underdog, although some of the more hardcore enthusiasts believe ‘Do Bronxs’ still has it in him to mix it up at the very top.
With that being said, talkSPORT has sought the opinion of those who are involved with sport on a regular basis to get their take on how UFC 317’s main event might unfold.
Kweku Afaria’s pick: Ilia Topuria
talkSPORT reporter and one third of talkSPORT’s talkMMA show Afari predicts plenty of lightweight title defences for Topuria, who he believes will stop Oliveira in the second round at UFC 317.
“It’s a boring pick, but I’m going for Ilia ‘El Matador’ Topuria, the man riding a 16-fight unbeaten streak coming into this fight,” he said.
“I know that Charles Oliveira is an absolute legend, one of the greatest lightweights we have ever seen.
“But Topuria’s been taking out legends for fun. He’s knocked out Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in his last two fights, and I think he adds Charles Oliveira’s name to that list.
“He gets it done in two rounds. He knocks him out. I know Ilia’s been saying a first round knockout, but it will take him a little bit of time.
Topuria can add the strap at 155 lbs to his featherweight collection at UFC 317Getty“But I believe Topuria gets the job done in the second round, and we’re going to see a long, long reign from one of the best fighters in the UFC.”
George Glinski‘s pick: Charles Oliveira
talkSPORT’s Senior Boxing and MMA reporter Glinski believes Topuria’s move to lightweight could prove a hindrance to his performance at UFC 317.
“I’m going against the grain on this one,” he said.
“The oddsmakers have got it all wrong. Topuria enters fight night as a resounding -450 favourite (the second biggest odds of his UFC career).
“However, this is a pick ’em fight in my eyes. I’ve gone back and forth over who I think will win, but after careful deliberation I’m edging Oliveira via fifth-round submission.
“The Brazilian has more routes to victory and has a proven track record fighting at 155lbs.
Topuria can become a two-division UFC champion if he defeats OliveiraGettytalkSPORT's UFC 317 predictions
Topuria the favourite
Kweku Afari: Topuria via second-round KO/TKO
Alex Ritchings: Topuria via second-round KO/TKO
George Glinski: Oliveira via fifth-round submission
Ben Davies: Topuria via third-round KO/TKO
Lewis Thompson: Topuria via unanimous decision
Vanessa D’Ambrosio: Topuria via third-round KO/TJO
“Topuria has piled on a lot of mass to move up in weight and we don’t know how that will affect his cardio in the championship rounds.
“If Oliveira can keep it long and not get drawn into a fire fight with Topuria, he can take out ‘El Matador’ late.”
Alex Ritchings’ pick: Ilia Topuria
Host of MMA On Point and another third of talkSPORT’s talkMMA show Ritchings can see a route for both Topuria and Oliveira to come out victorious at UFC 317, although he favours the Spaniard for the win.
“I see this as a matchup of extreme stylistic advantages and disadvantages for both guys,” he said.
“Something to note is that both guys like to come forward a lot, so really how does that look from the opening bell?
“Who’s going to be giving up the space, and who’s going to be the one pushing forward and imposing their will on the other?
Oliveira is a former lightweight champion, having defeated Chandler to win the belt in 2021GETTY“Simply because Charles typically always comes forward like a freight train, but in his most recent fight against [Michael] Chandler, we saw a bit more of a measured approach.
“He did step back at times to bring Chandler in, and when he had his back to the cage, his range management was much better.
“The reason I say ‘extreme advantages and disadvantages’ is because, once Ilia breaks through that distance, that range, the long straight – he’s going to have a lot of weapons on the inside.
“We know he likes to combo to the head and combo to the body, he can finish hard up high or hard down below.
“The elbows of Oliveira tend to be quite high because he covers high, he does leave the body open, so Ilia Topuria has a really big advantage on the inside.
“But at the same time, on the outside – if Oliveira can get the kicking game going, and he won’t be afraid to throw the kicks, because we know he has a lot of confidence in his ground game – that’s an element that Topuria doesn’t really have in his game.
‘Do Bronxs’ outpoined Chandler in his last fight at UFC 309 in NovemberGetty“Yes, Topuria is the favorite, but if Oliveira can get this fight where he can use his own advantages, i.e. keep it at kicking range, beat up the calf, switch kicks to the body – that outside space is somewhere where Charles can really control the fight.
“However, Topuria always pushes forward, he’s looking to close the distance the whole time.
“A lot of people say Oliveira’s other best weapons and options – even though he might be the underdog – is the knees up close and in the middle.
“The head movement from Topuria, the way he level changes, we’ve seen Oliveira throw so many knees, and flying knees as well.
“I really like the matchup, but I would agree: Topuria is the favourite for this one, and he will win at UFC 317.”
Vanessa D’Ambrosio’s pick: Ilia Topuria
talkSPORT reporter and regular contributor to talkSPORT MMA D’Ambrosio would love nothing more than an Oliveira victory at UFC 317, but she is backing Topuria to overwhelm the Brazilian and get a third-round finish.
View Tweet: twitter.com/CharlesDoBronxs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
“My heart says Charles Oliveira, but my head says Ilia Topuria,” she said.
“With Charles Oliveira, I would love to see the resurgence of him being in the over 35-year-old club like Volkanovski did at UFC 314, and become a two-time champion to regain that belt.
“He is someone that finds opportunities everywhere. If you make one minor error, he will find it and capitalize on it, and that has been proven time and time again.
“He’s able to take shots and just go through adversity. Considering he has the most bonuses, finishes, and submissions in the UFC – this speaks volumes.
“However, Ilia Topuria is on a tear. He puts amazing combinations together. He has insane power and I think he could overwhelm Charles Oliveira and get the finish.
“Charles Oliveira wears his chin a little bit up when he’s fighting, and the combinations and the power that Ilia Topuria possesses leads me to believe that he will get a finish.
Topuria has knocked out legends en route to becoming one of the UFC’s biggest starsGetty“It’s going to be all guns blazing from the beginning, but both of them will start smart.
“Topuria is the new era of this division and he’s going to be an absolute superstar for a very long time.
“I love Charles Oliveira. He’s one of my most favourite fighters. He’s such a wizard. He’s so entertaining. He’s got a beautiful life story.
“But I’m predicting Topuria gets a finish by TKO – not a flat KO – in the third round.”
Ben Davies’ pick: Ilia Topuria
talkSPORT’s Boxing and MMA editor Davies is backing Topuria’s momentum to continue in the Octagon through a vicious knockout.
“Topuria will need to weather the early storm of Oliveira, who is a pressure fighter and we know starts quickly out of the traps.
The majority of talkSPORT staff believe Topuria will be crowned the new champ at UFC 317Getty“But on his feet, Topuria is truly elite, and I believe his power will translate at his new weight of 155lbs. He will get the job done.
“A big KO is coming and I can’t see it going beyond three rounds, with ‘El Matador’ declared a double champ.”
Lewis Thompson’s pick: Ilia Topuria
talkSPORT’s Boxing and MMA writer Thompson says Oliveira has a much better chance than several UFC fans believe, but thinks Topuria’s firepower and confidence will prove too much for the underdog in the main event bout.
“Oliveira is being seriously overlooked in this fight, and his path to victory might be easier than most people believe,” he said.
“The Brazilian has walked to the Octagon 46 times and holds the record for most finishes (20) and submissions (16) in UFC history.
“I do believe this fight will depend on which version of ‘Do Bronxs’ shows up in Las Vegas.
“Yes, he’s 2-2 in his last four, but those losses came against the UFC’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in Islam Makhachev, and a razor-thin split decision to Arman Tsarukyan that could’ve gone either way.
“Oliveira could very well win this fight simply because he is the bigger man.
“If he can take Topuria’a back, the Spaniard will find himself in unfamiliar territory, and could find it very difficult escaping that position.
“Although Oliveira has contested just one more title bout than Topuria, his experience under the lights could be pivotal.
“With all that said, I just can’t look past Topuria getting the win at UFC 317.
“I expect the fight to enter the championship rounds, with Oliveira proving why he’s such a veteran of the sport.
“Topuria has oozed confidence throughout the build-up to this one, and despite my belief in his prediction that he will knockout Oliveira, I think proceedings will go the distance.
“I’m going to go for Topuria winning via unanimous decision in a Fight of the Year contender to become the new UFC lightweight champion.”
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( UFC 317 predictions: Ilia Topuria backed for epic KO, but Charles Oliveira has clear path to victory )
Also on site :
- English soccer player throws chair at woman on vacation in wild incident
- Potential K’Andre Miller trade hangs over Rangers’ NHL draft weekend
- Sick photo twisted fiend shared after he live-streamed sexual abuse of girl, 15, in back of van by three men