After a relatively quiet stretch in recent weeks, UFC 317 delivered a flurry of entertaining matchups on Saturday night. Where UFC Atlanta and UFC Baku came up short, this pay-per-view event not only met expectations—it exceeded them.
Fans at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas were treated to a night filled with highlight-reel finishes, a potential Fight of the Year contender, and a historic performance from Ilia Topuria in the main event.
Now that the dust has begun to settle, let’s take a look at what could be next for the main card winners at UFC 317.
Ilia Topuria
By knocking out Charles Oliveira in Saturday’s main event, Ilia Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) became the 10th fighter in UFC history to win titles in two different weight classes—and the first to do so while remaining undefeated. With the 155-pound title, recently vacated by Islam Makhachev, now in his possession, “El Matador” instantly became the top target for every contender in the lightweight division.
On paper, Arman Tsarukyan should be next in line for a shot at Topuria’s belt. However, his last-minute withdrawal from the UFC 311 main event in January has left his status in limbo. While Tsarukyan did weigh in as the backup fighter for Saturday’s main event—a move UFC President Dana White called “a step in the right direction”—he may still need to do a bit more to solidify his case for a title shot.
Meanwhile, Paddy Pimblett, who has had a simmering feud with Topuria for the past three years, shared a tense post-fight faceoff with the new champion inside the Octagon. Despite the heated exchange, Dana White quickly shot down the idea that a matchup between them is imminent.
That leaves Justin Gaethje (26-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) as the most likely candidate to challenge for Topuria’s title. "The Highlight" returned to the win column with a victory over Rafael Fiziev in March, and a bout between Gaethje—one of the most consistently exciting fighters in UFC history—and Topuria would be an easy sell for the promotion.
Alexandre Pantoja and Joshua Van
Placing a No. 1 contender bout directly before the flyweight title fight on Saturday’s UFC 317 main card turned out to be a smart move by the promotion—leading to the simplest matchmaking decision of the night.
Not only did Joshua Van (15-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) deliver one of the year’s best fights in his thrilling battle with Brandon Royval, but he also cemented his status as a legitimate contender by defeating a former title challenger. It was a breakout moment that proved Van belongs among the elite at 125 pounds.
In the co-main event, Alexandre Pantoja (30-5 MMA, 14-3 UFC) successfully defended his flyweight title for the fourth time, further solidifying his dominance in a division he’s all but cleaned out. While Van—just 23 years old—may still need time to refine his all-around game, the UFC has shown a recent willingness to shake things up by fast-tracking contenders like Steve Erceg and Kai Asakura into title fights.
With both Pantoja and Van turning in electrifying performances on Saturday, a future title showdown between them already feels like must-see TV.
Beneil Dariush
Beneil Dariush (23-6-1 MMA, 17-6-1 UFC) bounced back from a tough first round to defeat fellow veteran Renato Moicano at UFC 317, earning his first victory since 2022. While “Benny” has struggled when matched up against the division’s top-tier talent, he remains a dangerous and respected presence at lightweight.
A potential next step? A matchup with Michael Chandler (23-10 MMA, 2-5 UFC) could make sense. The former Bellator champion is coming off a loss to Paddy Pimblett and is looking to get back on track. A clash between two seasoned veterans like Dariush and Chandler could provide fireworks—and help determine who still belongs in the lightweight mix.
Payton Talbott
Payton Talbott (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) found redemption at UFC 317, bouncing back from the first loss of his UFC career with an impressive performance against Felipe Lima. Over the course of fifteen minutes at T-Mobile Arena, Talbott showed clear growth in his game, earning a unanimous decision and reaffirming his place as a promising contender in the bantamweight division.
A compelling next step for Talbott could be a matchup with former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt (14-7 MMA, 9-7 UFC). “No Love” is also coming off a loss to Raoni Barcelos—the same man who handed Talbott his first defeat just months ago. Pairing the two could offer both fighters a chance to reset and re-establish momentum in a stacked 135-pound division.
