The Road to UFC 317 Winning: How can Ilia Topuria stop Charles Oliveira and become a two-division champion?

Ulli Topuria Chasing greatness at International Fight Week.

This Saturday, Topuria will move up to 155 pounds to try Charles Oliveira For a free lightweight title for the main event UFC 317. If he succeeds, Topuria will become the 10th fighter in UFC history, winning titles in multiple heavy classes, Alex Pereira, Amanda Nures, Randy Coutureand others.

Similarly, Oliveira tried to make history of his own kind on Saturday, becoming the first fighter to hold a lightweight title multiple times. Saturday’s main event is the Super Stakes Super Fight, so let’s take a look at how each person makes history this weekend.

The road to victory for Ilia Topuria at UFC 317

Ilia Topuria is the best outlook at MMA.

That’s strange about the man who was one of the best pound-pound fighters in the sport and was a fighter in 2024, but that’s what happens when you’ve done so many things and you’re only 28 years old. Topuria is now in his major combat years. In other words, the incredible heights we have achieved already marks the low point of his ability in the foreseeable future. God helps the rest of the lightweight department.

The Topuria game is built around his boxing and his pressure. He held back as an outstanding grappler, but we barely saw that side of his game. Not only does he have great power, but he knows it has been translated into light weight, but he also has brutal body shots. All this is backed up by the foundations of great footwork and solid defense.

And for Oliveira, these are the only tools he really needs. Oliveira is always on his feet and relies on dangerous guards to help him buy time when he breaks. It may still work against Topuria, but what he doesn’t do is the physical job. Oliveira was not as big as ever against targeted body attacks. If Topria is going through his game, he’s lined up very well for the featherweight champion if he’s going to run through Oliveira, tear his body, then tear his head.

Oliveira is durable so Topria may not be able to get him for the first time or second time, but if he consistently puts pressure on him, he will ultimately have to overwhelm the former lightweight champion.

Photo: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Charles Oliveira’s path to victory at UFC 317

This is not an easy battle for Oliveira, as they may have gathered from above. In fact, other than Makhachev, there may not be any worse stylistic matchups for Oliveira at £155. But just because it’s difficult doesn’t mean you can’t win.

Oliveira has some things that work in his favor on Saturday, especially his size. “Do Bronx” once fought at featherweight, but he wasn’t 145er for many years and simply couldn’t gain weight. Oliveira is a big, lightweight and has seen Topulia at 155 pounds, but he has had difficulty dealing with Jay Herbert’s size and length. There’s no rudeness, but Charles Oliveira is much better than Jay Herbert.

As a bigger guy, Oliveira would be useful enough to use its advantages in clinches rather than range. Charles is a sneaky clinch fighter, and his natural size edge should give him plenty of opportunity to score. We have never seen Topulia frequently in the clinch, so Oliveira should be trying to test its water soon.

Another thing that works in Oliveira’s favor is his kick game. Topuria has not actually fought many fighters who are dedicated kickers. Still, his enemies are leaning against its weapon for how effective it is. Both Alexander Volkanovsky and Josh Emmett went to body kicks frequently. Oliveira is also a better kicker than both, but he has to do the same thing. Not only will you score, but you will also keep Topuria’s hands close to home. This means they’re less likely to punch you.

However, what matters more than either is the battle of footwork. Oliveira is definitely slowing down, but he can’t afford to give ground in this matchup. The attacking Topuria is a bad, bad guy. Oliveira must decide not to turn the opening bell to an inch, as war will be lost if they begin to retreat.

question

There are two questions about this matchup that may ultimately be pointless, but that still doesn’t stop you from wondering.

1. How is Oliveira washed? He looked slowly against Michael Chandler. Oliveira is cooked, but don’t know yet? If so, this will finish quickly and quickly.
2. Do you watch Ilia Topuria past Oliveira? “El Matador” has been on quite a journey over the past few months, changing his nickname into something grossly selfish, changing it, shooting fuel with Islamic Makhachev, making conflicting statements about what he is trying to do, and now openly speaking about moving to welterweight after this fight. What you haven’t heard of in any of it is a deep respect for Charles Oliveira and the threat he may pose. Looking at past opponents is never a good idea, and Topuria could be making that mistake.

prediction

If Oliveira was a young man, I hope his chances will pull away more upsets. Yes, the stylistic matchups are bad, but Oliveira will have his own advantages to play. now? Oliveira is decreasing, and the speed gap here will be huge. Ilia probably will have to drop him a couple of times to get it done, but he doesn’t have much trouble doing it.

Ilia Topuria def. Charles Oliveira (Punch) by TKO – 2:21, Round 2