UFC 317 Main Card Showdown: Topuria Battles Oliveira for Lightweight Gold

UFC 317: Championship Fights and High Stakes in Las Vegas

Fight fans packed the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on June 28, 2025, to witness UFC 317, capping off one of the wildest International Fight Weeks in recent memory. And for good reason—the main card promised fireworks, starting right at 10 p.m. ET, and delivered two can’t-miss title showdowns, not to mention a packed supporting program for dedicated followers.

The spotlight was firmly on the main event: Topuria vs Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title. Ilia Topuria, not long ago the king at featherweight, made headlines not just for his unbeaten UFC run but also after announcing a leap to the 155-pound division. Topuria’s crushing wins over legends like Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in 2024 got him Fighter of the Year and a dedicated fan following. His jump up in weight wasn’t just about new competition—it was about chasing legacy, and no one drew more eyes in the division than Charles Oliveira.

Oliveira, known for his wicked submission game and wild comebacks, returned looking to add another championship belt to his story. His previous title reigns were anything but boring—think highlight-reel finishes, blood-and-guts wars, and more UFC records than most can count. The stakes? Everything. Oliveira eyed redemption and the chance to remind everyone who runs the lightweight division.

If the main event wasn’t enough, the co-main offered up flyweight dynamite: champion Alexandre Pantoja put his title on the line against Kai Kara-France. Pantoja’s rise has been quietly fierce, but Kara-France was more than just a challenger—he’d carved a name as one of the division’s most explosive finishers. The matchup guaranteed all-action from the first bell, with fans glued to their screens from the get-go.

Beyond the Octagon: International Fight Week and What’s Next

International Fight Week is never just about the fights. UFC 317 doubled down on fan experiences, welcoming diehards to the UFC X Fan Experience, which brought face-to-face moments, exclusive merch, and no shortage of selfies with fighters both past and present. The Hall of Fame ceremony gave legends their due, turning the week into a true celebration of the sport’s biggest moments and personalities.

The main card streamed on ESPN+ PPV, while prelims and undercard contests kept viewers on ESPN’s platforms hooked all evening. Ticket sales through AXS.com left little time for last-minute grabs—the arena was buzzing with anticipation long before the first bout.

Topuria even hinted at bigger dreams if he walked out with the lightweight belt. Talk swirled about a jump up to welterweight, setting sights on Islam Makhachev at 170 pounds. No promises, but the willingness to chase greatness on multiple fronts definitely had fans—and likely potential opponents—on high alert.

UFC 317 had it all: legacy fights, rising stars, rare fan access, and whispers of future superfights. For anyone marking their calendar during International Fight Week, it was a can’t-miss main event in every sense.