UFC 317 results prediction: Who will be winner on Saturday night?

UFC 317 on Saturday night will witness Ilia Topuria taking on former champion and future Hall of Famer Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title on Saturday night at UFC 317. The bout headlines International Fight Week, which has become the UFC's Super Bowl weekend equivalent since debuting ahead of UFC 148 in 2012. Anderson Silva, Jon Jones and Conor McGregor are among the stars who have taken part in the week's marquee fight over the years.

It's no secret that the undefeated Topuria, who ranks third on UFC's pound- for-pound list, seeks a similarly defining moment Saturday. The former featherweight champion has been adamant that he believes a stoppage is coming within the first two or three minutes of the fight. Saturday will mark Topuria's return to the lightweight division after he vacated the featherweight belt in April in pursuit of becoming a two-division champion. And best believe Topuria knows what kind of statement knocking out a legend like Oliveira in the first round would make.

Topuria won the featherweight belt in February 2024 with a second-round knockout of former champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 before succeeding in his lone title defense against Max Holloway at UFC 308 in October. He has bounced between weight classes throughout his career, having fought professionally at bantamweight, featherweight and lightweight.


A significant reason for Topuria's insistence that Saturday's fight will end so early is his respect for the fact Oliveira will be on the attack as soon as the bell rings. In Oliveira's eyes, meanwhile, he sees Topuria joining the long list of opponents who have made empty promises to put him down.

The co-main event features champion Alexandre Pantoja, who is making his fourth flyweight title defense against fourth-ranked Kai Kara-France. Pantoja is currently tied for ninth in the UFC's pound-for-pound fighters ranking. Kara-France previously fought Brandon Moreno for the interim flyweight championship at UFC 277, losing by TKO at 4:34 in the third round.

UFC 317 Main Card:

Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveria for the vacant UFC lightweight championship

Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France for the UFC flyweight championship

Brandon Royval vs. Joshua Van

Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano

Payton Talbott vs. Felipe Lima

FAQs

Q1. When is UFC 317?
A1. UFC 317 is on Saturday night.

Q2. Who is headlining UFC 317?
A2. Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveria for the vacant UFC lightweight championship is headlining UFC 317.