Ilia Topuria Destroys Oliveira at UFC 317, Eyes Pimblett Showdown
Wow, what a night it was at UFC 317! If you missed it, trust me—you’ll want to catch the highlights. Ilia Topuria delivered one of the most devastating knockouts of the year, flattening Charles Oliveira in the very first round to capture the lightweight title. It was fast, brutal, and clinical—Topuria landed a laser-precise straight right followed by a left hook that turned the lights out on Oliveira, leaving the crowd at T-Mobile Arena stunned. With that, Topuria etched his name into UFC history by becoming only the 10th fighter ever to hold belts in two divisions.
This wasn’t just any win—it was a statement. Topuria vacated his featherweight title earlier this year after tough weight cuts and has been on an absolute rampage. Knockouts over Volkanovski, Holloway, and now Oliveira? That’s a who’s who of UFC royalty. He’s not just climbing the ladder; he’s kicking the whole thing down behind him.
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But the night didn’t end there. The drama kept rolling when Paddy Pimblett—yes, that Paddy Pimblett—entered the octagon post-fight, grinning and rubbing his hands like a comic book villain. The two came face-to-face, and Topuria gave him a shove that lit up social media. These two have beef dating back to 2022 when they had a heated altercation at a hotel in London, and now it seems we might actually get to see that score settled inside the cage.
On the financial side, UFC 317 fighters earned a total of $298,500 under the Promotional Guidelines Compliance program. Topuria and Oliveira both netted $32,000 each for their roles as title challenger and former champ. Alexandre Pantoja, who also defended his title impressively against Kai Kara-France via third-round submission, led the pay chart with $42,000. Pantoja continues to quietly dominate the flyweight division with yet another clinical performance.
This compliance pay is based on a mix of fight count and role—champions, challengers, and tenure in the UFC, Strikeforce, or WEC. Fighters also earn long-term royalties from merchandise featuring their likenesses, which is a big move in the right direction for fighter compensation.
The total compliance payouts for 2025 have already crossed $3.6 million, with UFC 317 sitting among the top events of the year. Clearly, the UFC isn’t just investing in big names—they’re making sure everyone from rookies to veterans gets a slice.
So where does Topuria go from here? Pimblett is the hot-button option for a blockbuster bout, but names like Arman Tsarukyan and Justin Gaethje are looming in the shadows, ready to pounce. Regardless of who steps up, one thing’s certain—Topuria is must-watch material right now. That knockout wasn’t just a win; it was a warning. The new king of the lightweight division has arrived, and he's not playing games.
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