Ilia Topuria is widely expected to become the UFC`s next champion across two weight divisions.
This news follows UFC CEO Dana White`s recent announcement that Islam Makhachev will be vacating the lightweight title to pursue a challenge against Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight championship later this year. As a result, Topuria is now set to face former champion Charles Oliveira for the newly vacant lightweight belt. This high-stakes matchup will serve as the main event for UFC 317, scheduled for June 28th in Las Vegas.
According to betting odds released by FanDuel, Topuria has opened as a significant favorite at -400 to claim the lightweight title. Charles Oliveira is listed as the underdog, with odds at +285.
These initial odds imply an approximately 80 percent probability of Topuria securing the victory. For context, a $100 wager on Topuria would yield a total return of $125, while the same $100 bet on Oliveira would pay out a total of $385.
Topuria recently vacated his featherweight championship, which he successfully defended once by knocking out Max Holloway at UFC 308 last October. Known as “El Matador,” he originally captured the featherweight title with a devastating knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski eight months prior at UFC 298. Should he emerge victorious at UFC 317, Topuria would secure a championship in a second weight class in only his ninth appearance inside the Octagon.
For Charles Oliveira, this upcoming bout presents a chance to reclaim the lightweight title and become a two-time champion. “Du Bronx” initially won the belt by stopping Michael Chandler at UFC 262 in May 2021, and followed it up with a defense against Dustin Poirier at UFC 269 in December 2021. His reign ended controversially when he was stripped of the title after missing weight before his scheduled defense against Justin Gaethje (a fight he still won, though the belt remained vacant). He subsequently lost the fight for the vacant title to Islam Makhachev at UFC 280.
Since the loss to Makhachev, Oliveira has compiled a record of 2 wins and 1 loss in the Octagon. His recent victories include a second win over Michael Chandler and a stoppage of Beneil Dariush, while his most recent outing was a decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan.
Wesley Dunham