The outcome was certainly not what Charles Oliveira had hoped for.
Competing for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317, Charles Oliveira suffered a shocking first-round knockout loss. Ilia Topuria landed a devastating right hook, followed by a left, sending the Brazilian fighter crashing violently to the canvas.
This marked the first time Oliveira had been stopped by knockout in nearly eight years, with his previous TKO loss coming against Paul Felder in 2017. Following the event, Oliveira shared a brief statement on social media addressing the defeat to Topuria.
Via Instagram, Oliveira posted: “It wasn’t how we wanted it but I’m fine. I just want to thank everyone for the affection and the wonderful energy. God bless you all.”
Although the fight lasted less than three minutes, Oliveira came out aggressively, immediately testing Topuria. He briefly secured a takedown and attempted a submission, but Topuria defended effectively, avoiding any significant threat.
Once the fight returned to striking, Topuria`s power and precision proved too much for the Brazilian.
Topuria consistently landed a lead jab, and crucially, once he adjusted to Oliveira`s timing and reach, he patiently waited for the opportunity to unleash his fight-finishing blows.
The decisive moment occurred during another intense exchange. Topuria connected with a powerful right hook that visibly rocked Oliveira, rendering him unconscious almost instantly. Before Oliveira even hit the ground, Topuria landed a final left hand.
Oliveira was clearly out before falling, prompting referee Marc Goddard to quickly step in and stop the bout at 2:27 of the opening round.
Despite the disappointing result, Oliveira remains a top contender in the lightweight division and is expected to be matched with another significant opponent once he has recovered and is ready to compete again.
Marcus Blakely