After weeks of speculation, a lightweight title bout between former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira has been officially announced. The news comes after months of Topuria campaigning for a super fight with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. However, that opportunity appears to have slipped away as Makhachev is set to move up to welterweight to face Jack Della Maddalena.
Although “El Matador” won’t get his desired shot at Makhachev, he now has a chance to claim the vacant lightweight title. A victory would also pave the way for a long-anticipated showdown with rival Paddy Pimblett. Despite never having shared the cage, the two fighters have harbored bad blood since a heated hotel altercation in 2022.
In recent months, Pimblett hasn’t held back his disapproval of Topuria’s rise and even dismissed him as “irrelevant.” The undefeated Brit is expected to be next in line for a title shot, making a matchup between him and Topuria seem inevitable.
Pimblett might not have a clear favorite in the UFC 317 title bout, but if Topuria emerges victorious, the Liverpool native has made it clear he intends to settle the score—and violently. In a recent Instagram post, Pimblett shared a photo of himself landing a head kick on Michael Chandler, adding a not-so-subtle jab at Topuria.
“Can’t wait to land one of these on el chorizo,” Pimblett wrote.
Topuria has yet to respond to Pimblett’s taunt, but fans are already buzzing about the potential clash. As their showdown grows more likely, Topuria’s focus seems to have shifted firmly away from Makhachev.
Recently, “El Matador” stated he has no plans to grant Makhachev an immediate title shot should the Dagestani return to the lightweight division. This comes in response to Makhachev’s apparent reluctance to face Topuria during recent matchmaking discussions.
Makhachev is now expected to face newly-crowned UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena later this year in pursuit of a second belt. He hasn’t competed since defeating Renato Moicano at UFC 311. His path to welterweight gold opened when Maddalena beat Belal Muhammad at UFC 315.
Topuria, on the other hand, hasn’t stepped into the Octagon since his brutal knockout of BMF titleholder Max Holloway at UFC 308 last October.
