UFC 317: Ilia Topuria aims to become two-weight champion
Michael Bolton
In the main event of UFC 317, Ilia Topuria will aim to become a two-weight champion when he faces Charles Olivera for the vacant lightweight title.
After he vacated his featherweight title, Topuria only had eyes on the 155 belt, with Islam Makhachev originally seen as the likely opponent.
However, after he moved up to welterweight, Topuria faces fan favourite and former champion Olivera at UFC 317.
Unbeaten in his career, and knockout wins over Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski in his last two fight, Topuria is one of the biggest stars of the sport.
His boxing is some of the best MMA has ever seen, and his power is something no fighter has been able to deal with. If it transfers over to lightweight, the rest of the division could be in trouble.
Attempting to achieve something few have done in the sport, Olivera will have one of Topuria's most difficult assignments.
While his defense may be questionable, Olivera's willingness to put himself in danger often puts him on the path to victory.
The fighter with the most submissions in the UFC, Olivera will be keen to get this fight to the ground, and force Topuria into a mistake during the exchanges.
In the co-main event, the flyweight title is on the line as Alexandre Pantoja takes on Kai Kara-France.
Pantoja has already defended his title three times, with his last defence against Kai Askura at UFC 310 when he won via second round submission.
Having already defeated most of the top contenders at flyweight, the Brazilian fighter could have his eyes on bantamweight should he win on Saturday.
In Kara-France however, he will face arguably the most powerful puncher at 125 pounds, who will be eager to cause the upset in his first title shot.
With injuries, close decision losses and timing often against him, the New Zealand fighter will feel like now is his time to become world champion.
Elsewhere on the card, it will be a big night for the flyweight division, as Brandon Royval takes on Joshua Van, who could become the next contender if he was to defeat Royval.
Van is making a quick turnaround from his win over Bruno Silva at UFC 316, while Royval is on a two-fight win streak, with decision wins over former champion Brandon Moreno and Tatsuro Taira.
In his first fight since UFC 311, Renato Moicano will hope to get back on the win column when he faces Benil Dariush in the lightweight division, in a fight that was originally scheduled for January.
