ilia topuria vs charles oliveira

Topuria Shocks Oliveira With First-Round KO, Faces Off With Pimblett in Heated Faceoff

BySaurav Chhabra

On June 28, 2025, at UFC 317 during International Fight Week in Las Vegas, Ilia Topuria delivered a performance that may go down as the biggest moment of his career — and one of the most shocking finishes in recent UFC lightweight history.

Facing former champion Charles Oliveira, Topuria — who vacated his featherweight belt in April to move up — showcased vicious ground-and-pound and stunning control, ultimately finishing the fight with a brutal first-round knockout.

Dominant Performance Against a Legend

Oliveira, a decorated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with 34 wins heading into the bout, was expected to test Topuria’s ground game.

But the undefeated Spaniard had other plans.

Topuria passed Oliveira’s guard early, mounted quickly, and began dropping heavy shots.

Just 3:41 into Round 1, the referee stepped in to halt the punishment — marking Topuria’s 17th straight win and his first in the lightweight division.

According to UFCStats, Topuria’s striking accuracy is 57% — higher than Oliveira’s 48% — and his 90% finish rate places him among the most dangerous fighters in the sport today.

Makhachev Callout: Fans Demand the Fight

The win instantly sparked calls for a Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev title fight — possibly the most anticipated lightweight matchup since Khabib vs. Conor.

Makhachev, the current lightweight champion with a 27–1 record, remains a dominant grappler with unmatched pressure.

As reported by Ariel Helwani in February 2025, UFC had already been exploring Topuria vs. Makhachev should Ilia win at UFC 317 — a bout many believe could draw record viewership numbers.

Faceoff with Paddy Pimblett Heats Up

While fans were expecting title talk post-fight, what actually happened caught even more attention:

Paddy Pimblett entered the cage after the win and confronted Topuria face-to-face. The two exchanged heated words and had to be separated by security.

Many online were divided: is Paddy ready for this challenge? Or is it too soon?

The two fighters have had beef dating back to 2022, but this latest interaction may set up a grudge match — or at least plant the seed.

More Action From UFC 317

Topuria’s win capped a card full of major moments, including:

What’s Next for the Lightweight Division?

With Oliveira falling, Topuria rising, and Makhachev looming, the lightweight picture is changing fast.

Whether the UFC leans toward Makhachev vs. Topuria or fuels the drama with Paddy vs. Ilia, the division is guaranteed fireworks in 2025.

📊 For official stats, rankings, and fight announcements, visit the UFC’s official website.

I got into watching UFC during the press conferences leading up to the McGregor vs. Khabib fight. McGregor's trash talk made it really entertaining for me. Since then, I've become very interested in UFC and MMA. Now, I want to share news and updates with everyone because I enjoy writing and talking about UFC and MMA in general.

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