Comparing any fighter to an all-time legend like Muhammad Ali is always a delicate matter, but Dana White admitted it was difficult to avoid the comparison after Ilia Topuria delivered on his promises at UFC 317.
Leading up to his fight against Charles Oliveira on Saturday night, Topuria confidently predicted a brutal first-round knockout that would see him claim the vacant lightweight championship after Islam Makhachev`s departure from the division. He did exactly what he said he would do. Topuria landed a powerful right hook that essentially ended the former champion`s night, followed by a left hand for good measure to officially stop the contest.
Topuria was already seen as a rapidly rising star following similar impressive wins against featherweight icons Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. However, even White was astonished by Topuria`s ability to not only predict but also execute the finish against Oliveira in under five minutes.
Speaking at the UFC 317 post-fight press conference, White commented, “If you look at what he’s accomplished in his last three fights, tonight was like his big coming out party. Moved up to win another title and did it in spectacular fashion.”
White elaborated on the Ali comparison: “Like some [Muhammad] Ali sh*t saying ‘I’m going to knock him out in the first round’ and viciously knocks him out in the first round. I think tonight was his big night. We have a star on our hands.”
Even before this latest victory, Topuria was already being eyed as a potential new face for the UFC – a role the promotion certainly needs to fill as past prominent stars like Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, and Jon Jones are less active or have moved on from the sport.
While the UFC continues to generate significant revenue and anticipates a massive 2026 with a new broadcast deal, Topuria now provides the promotion with a highly marketable champion. His undefeated record and exciting, fan-friendly fighting style make him a prime candidate to drive ticket sales and pay-per-view buys.
White expressed his admiration, stating, “He did exactly what he said he’s going to do. He is an absolute complete fighter. His standup is beautiful, ground, grappling, everything. This kid’s a star.”
He continued, “There’s no doubt about it. You obviously felt the energy in the building tonight. It was a big fight. Again, to go in and say exactly what you’re going to do and then do it in the way that he did it, is impressive.”
Marcus Blakely 
Wesley Dunham