During their initial faceoff leading up to UFC 317, Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira engaged in continuous conversation. Their exchange appeared to be strictly business-focused as the two fighters prepare to compete for the vacant lightweight championship.
While mutual respect has been evident between the main event participants, Topuria has remained resolute in his declaration that he will secure a decisive first-round finish in his return to the lightweight division. Oliveira, a veteran accustomed to such pronouncements, seemed unperturbed by the back-and-forth exchange.
Although the precise dialogue remains unknown, the faceoff commenced with a hug and concluded with a handshake between the lightweight contenders, indicating an absence of genuine animosity between them.
This display of respect does not, however, diminish the significance of the upcoming fight. For Topuria, it represents an opportunity to join the prestigious club of two-division champions, building on his reign as featherweight king before moving up to the 155-pound weight class.
Meanwhile, Oliveira, a former champion himself, is driven to reclaim his position as the sport`s premier lightweight. His impressive record includes significant victories over top contenders such as Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, and two wins against Michael Chandler.
UFC 317 Co-Main Event Faceoff
In a contrasting scene, the co-main event at UFC 317 featured a notably more intense staredown between champion Alexandre Pantoja and challenger Kai Kara-France. These two previously shared a heated exchange during the pre-fight press conference. Pantoja aims for his fourth consecutive title defense, while Kara-France seeks to achieve an upset in his first opportunity to claim UFC gold.
UFC 317 is scheduled to take place on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card is set to begin its broadcast at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
