Ilia Topuria is entering his next potential championship bout as a substantial favorite, aiming to secure a title in a second weight class.
UFC CEO Dana White recently announced a major shake-up in the lightweight division: Islam Makhachev is vacating his title to challenge Jack Della Maddalena at welterweight. This move sets the stage for Ilia Topuria to face former champion Charles Oliveira for the now-vacant lightweight belt. The fight is scheduled to headline UFC 317 on June 28 in Las Vegas.
Following the announcement, betting odds were released, positioning Topuria as a significant favorite. According to FanDuel, Topuria opened with odds of -400, making him the strong favorite, while Oliveira was listed as the underdog at +285. These odds suggest that Topuria has an approximate 80 percent probability of winning the fight.
For those placing bets, a $100 wager on Topuria would yield a profit of $25, resulting in a total return of $125. Conversely, a $100 bet on Oliveira, if successful, would return $385, including the initial stake.
Topuria previously held the UFC featherweight championship, vacating the belt in February. His lone title defense came in October when he knocked out Max Holloway. Prior to that, “El Matador” captured the title with a devastating knockout victory over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298. Topuria is now seeking to become a two-division champion in just his ninth appearance inside the Octagon.
Across from him, Charles Oliveira is looking to reclaim the lightweight throne. “Du Bronx” initially won the title by stopping Michael Chandler in May 2021 at UFC 262. He then successfully defended it against Dustin Poirier in December 2021 at UFC 269. Oliveira was later stripped of the title after missing weight for his fight against Justin Gaethje (a fight he still won, but was ineligible to regain the belt). He subsequently lost a bout for the vacant title to Islam Makhachev at UFC 280.
Since his loss to Makhachev, Oliveira has competed three times, compiling a record of 2 wins and 1 loss. His recent victories include a second win over Michael Chandler and a stoppage of Beneil Dariush, while his sole defeat during this period was a decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan.
