As International Fight Week arrives, the UFC is delivering another major pay-per-view spectacle. UFC 317 is scheduled for this Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and showcases two championship bouts on the main card.
Main Event: Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira – UFC Lightweight Title
Fighting for the vacant lightweight belt, undefeated featherweight champion Ilia Topuria (16–0 MMA, 8–0 UFC) is moving up a division to challenge former titleholder Charles Oliveira (35–10 MMA, 23–10 UFC). Topuria could make history as the first fighter to win UFC titles in two different weight classes while keeping an undefeated record, boasting an impressive 88% UFC finish rate.
He’s tested the 155-pound waters before, knocking out Jai Herbert at UFC London in 2022—although he was stunned early in that bout, prompting questions about whether he can hold his own at the higher weight.
Oliveira, meanwhile, is aiming to become the first man to be crowned undisputed lightweight champion twice, as this marks his third attempt at claiming a vacant UFC title—more than any other fighter. With UFC records for total finishes, submissions, and post-fight bonuses, “Do Bronx” brings massive finishing power to this championship clash.
Co-Main: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara‑France – UFC Flyweight Championship
In the co-main event, reigning flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja (29–5 MMA, 13–3 UFC) defends his title against perennial contender Kai Kara‑France (25–11 MMA, 8–4 UFC). On the line is a history-making achievement: the most wins ever in UFC flyweight competition.
Currently tied with Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez at 13 divisional victories, Pantoja also shares the record for most stoppage wins (7) with Johnson and Deiveson Figueiredo. Riding a seven-fight unbeaten streak—including three successful title defenses since claiming the belt—he’ll face Kara‑France in a rematch dating back to their encounter on The Ultimate Fighter 24 in 2016, which Pantoja won by decision.
Key Main Card Bouts
- Brandon Royval vs. Joshua Van (Flyweight): Rising star Joshua Van (14–2 MMA, 7–1 UFC) steps in for injured Manel Kape to face former title contender “The Renegade” Brandon Royval (17–7 MMA, 7–3 UFC). Van is on a four-fight winning streak and landed a brutal knockout in his UFC 316 bout, posting the highest significant strike rate in UFC history (8.2/min).
- Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano (Lightweight): Experienced veterans collide as Beneil Dariush (22–6–1 MMA, 16–6–1 UFC) squares off against Renato Moicano (20–6–1 MMA, 12–6 UFC). Dariush is looking to snap a post-2022 slump that includes losses to Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan. Moicano returns after a short-notice title shot defeat to Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 and carries a solid 7–2 record at lightweight.
- Payton Talbott vs. Felipe Lima (Bantamweight): Promising bantamweight Payton Talbott (9–1 MMA, 3–1 UFC) seeks redemption after his UFC debut loss and will square off against former OKTAGON champion Felipe Lima (14–1 MMA, 2–0 UFC), who has already beaten notable names Muhammad Naimov and Miles Johns since joining the UFC.
Preliminary Card Highlights
- Jack Hermansson vs. Gregory Rodrigues (Middleweight)
- Hyder Amil vs. Jose Delgado (Featherweight)
- Viviane Araujo vs. Tracy Cortez (Flyweight)
- Terrance McKinney vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (Lightweight)
- Niko Price vs. Jacobe Smith (Welterweight)
- Jhonata Diniz vs. Alvin Hines (Heavyweight)
- Jackson McVey vs. Christopher Ewert (Middleweight)
