Ilia Topuria etched his name in the UFC record books by becoming the 10th fighter to hold championships in two separate weight classes after a stunning first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. The 28-year-old, who vacated the featherweight title earlier this year, returned to action after a 10-month layoff, targeting the vacant lightweight crown against the Brazilian veteran at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Oliveira started strong, attempting to clinch and take Topuria to the ground. However, the Spaniard handled these attempts well, and Oliveira's best moment came when he tripped his opponent to the floor. Yet, Topuria quickly turned the tables, ending up on top in half guard. After avoiding a heel hook attempt, Topuria got back to his feet and sealed the deal with a brutal right-left combination, sending Oliveira down to the mat. The referee attempted to step in, but it was too late to save the Brazilian from Topuria's final hammerfists.
As of June 29, both fighters' professional MMA records reflect Topuria's impressive victory. The 28-year-old improves to 17-0, while Oliveira drops to 35-11.
In his post-fight interview, an enthusiastic Topuria declared, "I represent the new era of mixed martial arts. This is the next level of the game!"
Topuria has already set his sights on his next challenger, calling out Liverpool's Paddy Pimblett. The UFC has not yet confirmed whether Pimblett will be the next lightweight contender, but Topuria's confident demeanor is understandable, given his recent string of knockout victories against Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and now Oliveira. A fight with Pimblett could be the most significant lightweight bout since Khabib Nurmagomedov beat Conor McGregor in 2018.
Stay tuned for more updates on Ilia Topuria's title defense and potential matchup with Paddy Pimblett. The UFC lightweight division is heating up, and Topuria is eager to continue his dominance!
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