Brett Okamoto
LAS VEGAS — Ilia Topuria said he was going to knock out Charles Oliveira in the opening round of their vacant lightweight title fight at UFC 317, but it was still a shock to watch it unfold.
Topuria (17-0) became the 10th two-weight champion in UFC history on Saturday, as he knocked out Oliveira with a right hand at 2:27 of the first round. Topuria connected with a short right hand to Oliveira’s chin, followed by a left hook. The left hook was just icing on the cake, however, as Oliveria hit the deck, eyes open but unconscious from the initial shot.
“I already said it,” said Topuria, who even held a celebratory dinner on Friday, in anticipation of his victory. “I represent the new era of mixed martial arts. This is the next level of the game.”
Immediately after Topuria’s history-making win, the UFC wasted no time bringing Paddy Pimblett into the conversation. Pimblett, a ranked lightweight from Liverpool, was in attendance at T-Mobile Arena. Pimblett and Topuria have history with each other going back to 2021, when Pimblett commented on the Russo-Georgian War of 2008. Topuria, of Spain, is of Georgian descent and took offense.
“If he thinks he’s ready, come on you blonde b—-,” Topuria said in his postfight Octagon interview Saturday night.
The UFC even allowed Pimblett to enter the Octagon and square off with Topuria. Earlier this week, Topuria told ESPN he wanted to fight Pimblett in his first lightweight title defense, preferably in Las Vegas.
Even the promotional aftermath wasn’t enough to overshadow Topuria’s spectacular performance. He fought off multiple attempts by Oliveira to clinch and take him down. When Oliveira did succeed in getting a trip, Topuria reversed position in a scramble and ended up on top of the submission specialist.
The victory marks three consecutive knockout victories for Topuria, all coming against all-time greats. He knocked out Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway at featherweight in 2024, before opting to vacate the 145-pound title earlier this year to move up to lightweight.
Topuria has also targeted former lightweight champ Islam Makhachev. Makhachev vacated the belt last month and is expected to challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight belt before the end of the year.
