Ilia Topuria Becomes UFC Double Champ
Ilia Topuria delivered another jaw-dropping performance at UFC 317, knocking out Charles Oliveira in the first round to claim the lightweight title and become a two-division UFC champion.
Fighting in Las Vegas, the undefeated Georgian-Spaniard ended the bout with surgical precision, a straight right followed by a crushing left hook that dropped Oliveira cold. With the win, Topuria etched his name in history as only the 10th fighter to hold titles in two weight classes.
The matchup came together after Islam Makhachev vacated the lightweight belt to move up to welterweight, opening the door for Topuria’s shot at a second title. Already riding high off knockout wins over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in 2024, Topuria had relinquished his featherweight title due to the harsh weight cut, opting to chase greatness in a new division.
Oliveira, a 35-year-old former champion, was aiming to become the first-ever two-time lightweight king. But Topuria made sure that dream didn’t last long.
From the opening bell, Topuria looked locked in. He landed early, slicing Oliveira open above the eye, then showed off his ground skills in a brief grappling exchange. Once they returned to the feet, he closed the show in emphatic fashion, timing Oliveira perfectly with the knockout combo that silenced the arena.
Topuria celebrated with swagger miming a sip of tea, then lifting a UFC belt on each shoulder.
“This is the next level of the game,” he said after the fight. “I represent a new generation of MMA. Right hand, left hook, boom. Lights out.”
With a perfect 17-0 record and a growing list of fallen legends behind him, Ilia Topuria isn’t just chasing greatness. He’s setting the new standard.