Topuria KOs Oliveira, Claims Lightweight Crown in Dramatic UFC 317

Ilia Topuria, the former featherweight champion and No. 2-ranked pound-for-pound fighter, added another accolade to his already impressive career at UFC 317. He secured the lightweight title by delivering a stunning first-round knockout against Charles Oliveira, becoming only the tenth fighter in UFC history to hold belts in two different weight classes.

The victory was followed by high drama as Paddy Pimblett, Topuria's long-time rival, entered the Octagon directly from the audience. A heated exchange of words quickly escalated when Topuria shoved Pimblett, requiring security to intervene and separate the two. This confrontation has ignited speculation and anticipation for a potential future clash, possibly as Topuria's first lightweight title defense.

In the co-main event, Alexandre Pantoja successfully defended his flyweight title for the fifth consecutive time. He defeated Kai Kara-France via a rear-naked choke submission in the third round, showcasing his dominance in the division.

Following Pantoja's victory, Joshua Van, who had earlier defeated ESPN's No. 2-ranked flyweight Brandon Royval by unanimous decision, entered the cage to face off with the champion. This sets the stage for a future title challenge, with Van seemingly next in line to compete for Pantoja's flyweight crown.