The highly anticipated lightweight title bout between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 is one of the year`s most significant fights.
A new UFC Lightweight Champion is set to be crowned this Saturday for the first time since 2022. The title became vacant after Islam Makhachev, following four successful defenses, decided to move up to the welterweight division to challenge the new champion, Jack Della Maddalena.
Undefeated fighter Ilia Topuria enters this fight after securing back-to-back knockout victories against high-profile opponents, Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. Topuria has confidently vowed to finish Charles Oliveira, who is widely recognized as the UFC`s most dangerous submission artist, by any means necessary.
Ilia Topuria is the significant favorite heading into the matchup. Several prominent fighters, including former champion Aljamain Sterling and former Oliveira opponent Beneil Dariush, have publicly picked the Spaniard to win.
Now, a former BMF champion has also weighed in with his prediction for the UFC 317 main event.
Jorge Masvidal Supports Ilia Topuria to Defeat Charles Oliveira at UFC 317
Jorge Masvidal has long believed in Ilia Topuria`s potential to reach championship status.
The first-ever BMF titleholder stated that he has known Topuria for five to six years and always felt he possessed the qualities to become a world champion one day.
Topuria now faces the rare opportunity to become a champion in a second weight class.
“Ilia is one out of 10,000,” Masvidal told Red Corner MMA. “Say their name. I’ve trained with everybody, brother. This guy’s special.”
Masvidal expressed confidence in Topuria`s ability to succeed at lightweight. “I think he’s gonna be a world champion at 155,” Masvidal said regarding Topuria.
“He’s gonna beat Charles, man. He’s gonna find a way to beat him,” Masvidal predicted.
Acknowledging Oliveira`s formidable skillset, Masvidal continued, “Charles is bigger. Charles has kicks, knees, elbows, great jiu-jitsu, good wrestling. Everywhere, Charles is good.”
However, Masvidal concluded by emphasizing Topuria`s unique qualities. “But Ilia is just different, brother,” he stated.Ilia Topuria Expects to Be Heavier Than Charles Oliveira on Fight Night
Concerns about Topuria`s size moving up to lightweight have been raised, especially considering Oliveira is three inches taller than the 5’7″ Topuria. Top-10 contender Mateusz Gamrot, for instance, picked Oliveira to reclaim the title partly due to this perceived size advantage.
Topuria, however, dismisses criticism regarding his size for the lightweight division. He contends that he will actually be heavier than Oliveira when they step into the octagon on fight night.
During an appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show” on Monday, Topuria estimated his fight-night weight would be anywhere from 174 to 179 pounds.
For context, Topuria`s weight for his featherweight fights typically ranged between 167 and 172 pounds.
