5 Burning Questions for UFC 317
Read Time:8 Minute, 9 Second
As UFC 317 approaches during the always-anticipated International Fight Week, fight fans are buzzing about a card that feels both massive in potential and slightly underwhelming in star power. Headlined by Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira for the lightweight crown, and backed by Alexandre Pantoja’s fourth title defense against Kai Kara-France, the event offers high stakes and plenty of narratives to chew on.
In this edition of 5 Burning Questions, we dive deep into the most compelling storylines surrounding UFC 317. From Topuria’s sudden shift to 155 and what it means for his superstardom, to whether Charles Oliveira’s legacy is on the line, let’s get into it:
#1. With Islam Makhachev moving up to 170, was Ilia Topuria’s move to vacate and move to lightweight the right call?
Lee: Ilia Topuria’s move to 155 is the right decision for this stage of his career. Still, it would’ve been even better if he had the chance to face Islam Makhachev for the title. Without that fight, some fans may question whether he’s the true champ. After beating Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski, there weren’t many marquee matchups left for him at 145. But at lightweight, potential bouts with Justin Gaethje, Mateusz Gamrot, Arman Tsarukyan, Dustin Poirier, and even a surging Paddy Pimblett make things more exciting. If Topuria can rack up quality wins in this stacked division, he can cement himself as the UFC’s next big star. First, though, he has to get through Charles Oliveira.
Evan: I’m aligned with Lee, ultimately this was probably the right call for Topuria’s career. Especially if it’s true that he had to move up to lightweight because the weight cut at featherweight was too detrimental to his health. I also understand the logic of not thinking there was anything left for Ilia at 145. However, I don’t fully buy that he cleaned out the division. Featherweight still had plenty of depth and interesting contenders for Topuria to face. Aaron Pico, Diego Lopes, Jean Silva, Lerone Murphy, Movsar Evloev, and Yair Rodríguez, all would’ve been fresh challengers and intriguing matchups.
The timing of the decision definitely wasn’t ideal either, given Islam Makhachev’s immediate departure from the division to move up to welterweight and pursue a second title himself. But going up to 155 provides Ilia with more lucrative financial opportunities, a long list of potential matchups with bigger named opponents, and an opportunity to solidify his place in the sport as a rare superstar.
#2. In an era where the UFC is hurting for star power, would an emphatic win for Topuria ascend him to superstar status?
Lee: Topuria already carries himself like a superstar, but he still has more to prove. Even with a win at UFC 317, I wouldn’t rush to give him that label just yet. Outside of beating Holloway and Volkanovski, he hasn’t faced many opponents with both name value and elite skill. Now at 155, he has the opportunity to take on bigger names in higher-stakes matchups. There’s nothing wrong with earning that superstar status the hard way. If he had beaten Islam Makhachev for the belt, my stance would be different. Islam is widely considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC.
Evan: I agree that Topuria still probably has some work to do to truly get that full stamp of approval of becoming a superstar. However, I’m not sure he’s as far away from it as Lee is suggesting. If he were to beat three legendary, former champs in Holloway, Oliveira, and Volkanovski, it would be an insanely impressive feat. The star power of those three alone should elevate Ilia’s stature within the sport. That trio is beloved by fans and has a combined nearly 16 million Instagram followers between them. It’s not like he’s beating some no-name jabronis.
Not to mention, Topuria would become just the tenth fighter in UFC history to win a title in two different weight classes. The magnitude of that shouldn’t be understated. A decisive, emphatic victory over Charles on a stage like international fight week, would launch Ilia into the next stratosphere of stardom in my opinion. Primarily in Europe, and specifically Spain, which is an untapped gold mine that the promotion has so far failed to take advantage of. It could be a gigantic step forward for the UFC building their brand in exciting new markets with Topuria.
#3. As a near four-to-one underdog in this matchup with Topuria, what would a win mean for Charles Oliveira’s legacy?
Lee: If Charles Oliveira beats Ilia Topuria, it would cement the second half of his career as a historic run. With wins over Poirier, Gaethje, Chandler, and Dariush, his resume is already elite. Once known for struggling in big moments, Oliveira now thrives under pressure, evolving from a grappling specialist to a well-rounded, dangerous fighter. A second title reign would be a major achievement. But like Topuria, questions may linger about his status as true champ since he didn’t reclaim the belt from Makhachev.
Evan: I get Lee’s perspective of Islam Makhachev’s departure from lightweight. I don’t really think most fans though, especially casual ones, really are going to diminish the victory for either Olveira or Topuria because of that. A win here for Charles is a career defining moment in many ways. It would make him the first two-time UFC lightweight champion in the promotion’s history. Also, for him to become the first man to defeat Ilia who is now entering his prime, would be yet another incredible scalp to notch on to his already brilliant resume.
Oliveira has the most performance of the night bonuses, post fight bonuses, submission wins, and finishes in UFC history. To add to that by securing a second title win, at 35 years old no less, against a current pound-for-pound talent would put him in rarified air. A victory over Topuria fortifies do Bronx’s legacy completely and makes him one of the most revered action fighters the sport has ever seen.
#4. If Alexandre Pantoja gets through Kai Kara-France, is it time for him to move up to 135 to pursue a second title?
Lee: If Alexandre Pantoja beats Kai Kara-France and Amir Albazi—the only top-five contender he hasn’t faced—then moving up makes sense. Even if he jumps up after UFC 317, it’s a worthy challenge. He’d face a size disadvantage, but his speed and skill could still translate. The real question is whether he has the strength and chin to hang with the top bantamweights. A move up isn’t out of the question, but he should carefully weigh the risks and rewards first.
Evan: I differ quite a bit from Lee here. If Pantoja were to defeat KKF, he would be one of the best examples we’ve seen in recent memory of a champion who deserves to pursue a second title in a separate weight class. He’s already beaten half of the current fighters ranked in the top ten of the UFC’s flyweight division. The Brazilian champ has even lapped the top two contenders at 125 at the moment, Brandon Moreno and Brandon Royval, scoring multiple victories over both. There literally is not much left for him to do at this point, as he has cleaned out a good portion of his division.
Plus, I believe a matchup between Alexandre and bantamweight king Merab Dvalishvili is fascinating in a variety of different aspects. Pantoja has the doggedness, grappling versatility, and overall skill set to provide Merab with an interesting problem to solve. It’s also a high stakes fight that the promotion is currently desperately lacking. So I feel the risk is most certainly worth the reward for Pantoja to move up to 135.
#5. Does this card meet expectations to what we’ve become accustomed to seeing during International Fight Week?
Lee: Outside of the UFC 317 main and co-main events, this card feels lackluster for International Fight Week. Names like Justin Tafa, Jack Hermansson, Brandon Royval, Renato Moicano, and Beneil Dariush are solid. But, most of their matchups don’t really move the needle. Moicano vs. Dariush should be a banger, but beyond that, it’s underwhelming. Hopefully, the UFC strengthens the prelims in the coming weeks. Last year’s card had 13 fights, including Joe Pyfer headlining the prelims and Gillian Robertson retiring Michelle Waterson-Gomez on the early prelims. Still, we’ll be tuned in, because we love the sport.
Evan: I think given the standards the UFC has set with their events during international fight week, Lee’s right in calling this a lackluster card from them. That doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a bad card either though. However, it pales in comparison to some of the past offerings we’ve seen in this same spot from the promotion. The Topuria-Oliveira and Pantoja-KKF fights are undoubtedly great.
Additionally, the Royval-Van, Dariush-Moicano, Hermansson-Rodrigues, Araujo-Cortez, and Talbott-Lima matchups are all extremely quality scraps too. However, the way this card was sort of hastily constructed is a prime example of what’s wrong with the current UFC product. Dana White seems more disengaged than ever, focusing his energy on ventures like Power Slap and high-profile political endorsements rather than strengthening UFC cards. The frequency of events as well has led to more watered down cards across the board.
Ultimately, UFC 317 is a good card, but it definitely could’ve used some more star power infused into its lineup.
Happy
25 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
38 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
38 %
About Post Author
