Ilia Topuria is set to challenge Charles Oliveira for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship in the highly anticipated main event of UFC 317. Topuria recently relinquished his featherweight title to move up to the 155-pound division. The significant question surrounding this fight is whether this calculated risk will pay off against a formidable opponent considered among the greatest lightweight fighters of all time.
A preview show featuring Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee delves into this International Fight Week card. They provide an in-depth analysis of the pay-per-view lineup, with a primary focus on the Topuria vs. Oliveira title confrontation. The discussion explores potential outcomes, what might be next for either fighter depending on the result, and scenarios that could lead to a surprising finish. The preview also covers the co-main event, which features the flyweight championship clash between Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Kara-France. Additional topics include identifying fighters with the most at stake on the card and the recent weigh-in controversy involving Christopher Ewert.
