The main event at UFC 317 concluded swiftly in the first round, with Ilia Topuria securing a spectacular victory. Immediately after his impressive knockout win over Charles Oliveira, which earned him the new lightweight championship, Topuria, also known as `El Matador`, faced off with Paddy Pimblett inside the octagon, leading to a physical confrontation involving a shove. This undefeated fighter`s victory made him the tenth athlete in UFC history to become a two-division champion, achieving this milestone with a stunning knockout against the popular Brazilian.
In the co-main event, flyweight titleholder Alexandre Pantoja successfully defended his belt by securing a submission victory over Kai Kara-France.
Topuria Reflects on His Vulnerability
In his post-fight press conference, Ilia Topuria made a surprisingly frank admission, stating he believes he is quite “beatable.” He elaborated:
I am not invincible. Quite the contrary. I feel that I`m beatable, and that`s why I work so hard. I put so much dedication. And that`s why I do the work that I do, and I don`t want to leave anything out there. And the work is so well done that I feel that there`s no doubt left. And that`s why I celebrate things the night before, because I feel that the victory is built and should be celebrated at the end of camp. Because I would not live with myself if I didn`t put all the hard work out there. So I feel that that`s what happens. I put so much hard work, and I deserve it.
McGregor Reacts to Topuria`s Win
Conor McGregor congratulated Ilia Topuria following his remarkable win at UFC 317. Commenting on the potential future bout between Topuria and Paddy Pimblett, McGregor quoted Topuria`s provocative remark about putting his “balls on Paddy`s head,” adding, “Haha, fair play.”
Oliveira Addresses His Defeat
Charles Oliveira issued a statement regarding his loss to Ilia Topuria, tweeting simply: “My apologies.” Earlier on Instagram, he had posted: “It wasn’t how we wanted it to be, but for the best. I want to thank everyone for the affection and wonderful energy. God bless you all.”
Hermansson Breaks Silence After KO
Jack Hermansson commented after his severe knockout loss to Gregory Rodrigues, a blow that rendered him unconscious for a period. He wrote on Instagram:
No need to sugar coat it, I made a mistake. I got knocked out. Congratulations to my opponent, Gregory Rodrigues. Well done. Thank you to my team and supporters ❤️ I will be back.
Dana White Criticizes Octagon Clash
Dana White explained his disapproval of the intense face-off between Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett and why a fight between them isn`t imminent. He voiced his concern, particularly given Topuria`s family was present in the octagon:
My thing with Topuria is his wife and kid are in the octagon. That`s not the fight. It`s just, yeah. It shouldn`t happen. That`s not really what we do. I don`t really give a sh*t if it`s fun to watch or not. That shouldn`t have happened. Plus, he wins a second title in a higher division. It was a bad call by whoever let him in there.
Topuria Earns Performance Bonus
Ilia Topuria was awarded the `Performance of the Night` bonus for his outstanding finish against Charles Oliveira, receiving an additional £37,500.
Topuria`s Take on Pimblett Face-Off
According to Ilia Topuria, he struck fear into Paddy Pimblett during their confrontation. He told ESPN:
I saw the fear in his eyes… he was like, `What the f*** am I doing here. Why didn`t I go to University, why didn`t I choose something different?`
Pimblett and Topuria Exchange Heated Words
The face-off between Pimblett and Topuria involved a fiery verbal exchange. Pimblett reportedly told Topuria, “Well done, lad. That was a heavy knockout, respect… but you will never knock me out.” Topuria’s aggressive reply included, “I’m going to take your head, you little p***y. I’m going to put my balls on your forehead, you little p***y!” A fired-up Pimblett responded, “I never get knocked out, I’ll finish you little man.” Just before shoving `The Baddy`, Topuria also reportedly said, “Get your bum arse out of here.”
Topuria Crowned Lightweight King
Ilia Topuria is now the champion of the UFC`s lightweight division following his brutal stoppage victory over Charles Oliveira. Immediately after becoming only the tenth two-division champion in UFC history (having moved up from featherweight), he made a point of confronting the British fighter Paddy Pimblett. Leading up to the bout, the 28-year-old Topuria had confidently predicted he would secure the lightweight strap with a devastating first-round knockout against former champion and fan favorite Oliveira. He fulfilled his prediction with yet another highlight-reel KO that brought the T-Mobile Arena crowd to its feet.
Topuria`s Prophecy Fulfilled
Ilia Topuria relished in delivering the devastating knockout he had predicted. He quoted himself, stating:
I said it, and I did it. They always call me crazy, and then they realize that I am not crazy.
Percy Harlow