Charles Oliveira Vows to Knock Out Ilia Topuria in Lightweight Title Showdown
Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira has made a bold declaration ahead of his upcoming clash with Ilia Topuria, promising a knockout finish in their bout for the vacant lightweight title. The fight is set to headline UFC 317 on June 28, 2025, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
With Islam Makhachev vacating the title to pursue welterweight gold, Oliveira and Topuria will now compete for the lightweight throne. Known primarily for his elite submission game, Oliveira is shifting focus to his striking for this bout.
“This fight came at a huge opportunity. I will knock out this guy. That’s for real,” said Oliveira, making his intentions crystal clear in a recent interview.
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Topuria, an undefeated standout who previously held the featherweight belt, has generated buzz with his decision to move up a division. He boasts a perfect 17-0 record, including high-profile wins over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. Despite his momentum, Oliveira has cast doubt on Topuria’s ability to succeed at lightweight, suggesting that his achievements at featherweight don’t necessarily translate to the new division.
The war of words between the two has intensified in the lead-up to the fight. Topuria has not held back, stating, “I haven’t dissed him, I’ve told the truth. He has 10 losses. I haven’t said anything else.” Charles Oliveira responded by calling Topuria’s remarks disrespectful and emphasized how difficult the lightweight division is in comparison.
In preparation for the biggest fight of his career, Topuria has made notable changes to his training setup. He has parted ways with his long-time coaches and is now training in private sessions with his brother Aleksandre and boxing coach Javi Climent.
UFC 317 is shaping up to be a landmark event, with the potential to reshape the landscape of the lightweight division. As Oliveira aims to reclaim championship status and Topuria looks to remain unbeaten, fans are in for a highly charged and potentially historic showdown.
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