Dana White Confirms UFC 317: Topuria vs Oliveira Headlines, Pantoja Defends Title
Fight fans, it’s time to mark your calendars. UFC CEO Dana White just dropped some major fight announcements during his Instagram Live on Tuesday, and UFC 317 is now officially set as one of the biggest events of the year. The card is stacked, and the headline bout will crown a new lightweight king.
UFC 317 will take place on June 28 in Las Vegas, right in the heart of International Fight Week. It promises fireworks, and if you’re a fan of big names, rising stars, and explosive fights, this is the one you don’t want to miss.
Topuria vs Oliveira for the Vacant Lightweight Title
The main event is nothing short of a blockbuster. Charles Oliveira, the former lightweight champion, is back for another shot at gold. He’ll be facing Ilia Topuria, the former featherweight champion who recently made headlines with brutal knockouts over both Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway.
With Islam Makhachev vacating his title to move up to welterweight, the lightweight throne is now wide open. Makhachev is expected to face welterweight champ Jack Della Maddalena later this year, but for now, the spotlight belongs to Topuria and Oliveira.
This marks Topuria’s first lightweight appearance since his 2022 knockout over Jai Herbert, and he’s making it count. The undefeated Spaniard is riding high after back-to-back statement wins and looks sharper than ever.
Oliveira, on the other hand, is coming off a thrilling “Fight of the Night” victory against Michael Chandler at UFC 309. With past wins over Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje, Oliveira is still one of the most dangerous names in the division.
This is a dream matchup. A hungry finisher versus a seasoned submission artist. New blood versus proven greatness.
Co-Main Event: Pantoja vs Kara-France
As if that wasn’t enough, the co-main event features another title on the line. Flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja will defend his belt against New Zealand’s Kai Kara-France.
Pantoja is on a dominant seven-fight win streak, with recent title defenses over Kai Asakura, Steve Erceg, and Brandon Royval. His mix of durability and skill makes him one of the toughest champions in the lighter weight classes.
Kara-France, who is known for his knockout power, is getting another shot at UFC gold. His first attempt came in 2022 against Brandon Moreno. This time, he’s looking to make good on the opportunity, fresh off a blistering TKO win over Erceg.
UFC 317 Card: Full of Big Names and Rising Stars
Besides the two title fights, UFC 317 will also feature some can’t-miss action in the rest of the main card and prelims. Dana White confirmed several high-profile matchups, including:
- Brandon Royval vs Manel Kape
- Paulo Costa vs Roman Kopylov
- Beneil Dariush vs Renato Moicano
- Jack Hermansson vs Gregory Rodrigues
- Jhonata Diniz vs Justin Tafa
- Viviane Araujo vs Tracy Cortez
This lineup packs everything from brutal brawlers to slick submission artists. Whether you love technical battles or first-round chaos, there’s something for everyone here.
More Fireworks Coming at UFC 319
While all eyes are on UFC 317 for now, Dana White also teased what’s next. UFC 319 is shaping up to be just as massive. Dricus Du Plessis will defend his middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev in Chicago on August 18.
Chimaev’s rise has been nothing short of insane. Wins over Gilbert Burns, Kamaru Usman, and a quick submission of Robert Whittaker have made it clear: he’s ready for the belt.
Du Plessis, the South African champ, just defended his title in a tight rematch against Sean Strickland at UFC 312. This will be his third defense, and it’s one of the most anticipated matchups of the year.
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