The Ilia Topuria has a lightweight title shot.
UFC CEO Dana White concluded the international fighting week in Las Vegas on Tuesday via Instagram Live, by announcing Topuria will face Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 317 on June 28th. The belt is getting Makhachev to move to welterweight, opening up the air and taking on new champion Jacques Della Madarena.
According to White, the date and location of Della Maddalena vs. Makhachev is still determined. White announced that flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja will defend the title against Kai Kara-France in the co-main event.
Topuria’s lightweight championship opportunity has been rumoured for several months. “El Matador” vacated his featherweight title this February, hoping to compete against another top candidate for Islamic Makhachev or lightweight belts. Many of the talks heading to UFC 315 last Saturday revolved around whether the Beral Muhammad Welterweight title defense would prevent Makachev from lifting himself (Muhammad and Makhachev are friends and training partners). Now, Makhachev is free to move through the divisions of that belt after Della Madrena defeats Muhammad.
Topuria (16-0) is about to become a two-division champion. “Elmatador” joined the UFC in 2020 and quickly established himself as a competitor, knocking out the likes of Youssef Zalal, Ryan Hall, Bryce Mitchell, Josh Emmett and more for title shots. He made history at the UFC 298 when he knocked out Volkanovsky, making history again with the title defense against Max Holloway when he became the first fighter to beat the Australian star in a 145-pound match and the first fighter to knock out “Blessed.”
Shortly after his fight became official, Topuria commented on social media while swiping in Makhachev.
On June 28th, another dream comes true. I will be the champion of the lightweight category. Charles, my apology in advance… I’m just fighting for my dreams. It’s a shame that Makhachev escaped. 17-0 pic.twitter.com/ysuth4u2h
-Ilia Topuria (@topuriailia) May 13, 2025
On June 28th, another dream comes true. I will be the champion of the lightweight category. Charles, my apology in advance… I’m just fighting for my dreams. It’s a shame that Makhachev escaped. 17-0
Oliveira (35-10, 1 NC) is no stranger to the vacant title fight. He won the lightweight belt at UFC 262 after the retirement of incumbent champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. “Do Bronx” managed to defend the title once against Dustin Poirier, but lost weight on his second scheduled defense and was stripped of the title before submitting Justin Guettege. He had the opportunity to claim a vacant belt again at the UFC 280, but was defeated in an affordable way by Makhachev.
Pantoja (29-5) vs. Kara-France (25-11, 1 NC) is a rematch of sorts, with Pantoja defeating “Don’t Blink” when he was a cast member before. Ultimate Fighter 24. Since then, Pantoja has won the flyweight title and has successfully defended three times. Kara-France is a 125-pound ranking flagship player and has earned his shot after winning the first round knockout for title challenger Steve Erceg.
The UFC has announced an updated lineup for the June 28th event at T-Mobile Arena.
Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira
Alexandre vs. Carafrace
Paulo Costa vs Roman Koperov
Beneil Dalyush vs. Renato Moicano
Jhonata Diniz vs. Justin Tafa
Brandon Roybal vs. Manel Cape
Jack Hermanson vs Gregory Rodriguez
Viviane Araujo vs. Tracy Cortez