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USA Today
2 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Paddy Pimblett chasing Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira title winner after UFC 317
UFC star Paddy Pimblett has ambitious goals for his fighting career. Paddy Pimblett wants to be more than just a big name in MMA. He wants to make history, and become one of the few fighters to win UFC titles in two different weight classes. Pimblett's ambitious plan is one that he had long before joining the UFC. During his early days at Cage Warriors, Pimblett won and defended the Cage Warriors featherweight title, and then challenged for the promotion's lightweight belt, but unfortunately came up short. He wants to replicate the same now in the UFC, but this time with 100 percent success. "I want to eventually go for two belts, but I want to get a legacy in my own division," Pimblett told MMA Junkie. "I'd like to defend the belt two or three times and then go for the welterweight belt." Pimblett is not far from UFC gold at 155 pounds. He's currently undefeated in the UFC with seven straight wins. Pimblett's most recent triumph in the octagon came in April, when he stopped former Bellator champion Michael Chandler. Pimblett feels he's one win away from getting his opportunity at the belt, and he doesn't care who he fights between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira, who are set to fight for the vacant lightweight title in the main event of Saturday's UFC 317. "It doesn't matter. I'm always coming after the champ, so whoever wins (Saturday) night, that's who I'm going after," Pimblett said. "That's what you have to prepare for, to fight the champ. I'm not concerned about anything. Whatever fight I get offered, I'll take that fight, and then I'll be going for the title."
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC 317 full fight: Charles Oliveira submits Dustin Poirier in thrilling title defense
Charles Oliveira's first UFC title defense was as exciting as they come. Back at UFC 269 in 2021, Oliveira made his first appearance as champion, defending the belt against long-time contender Dustin Poirier. The fight was everything fans expected. The two went toe to toe, and both had their moments, but in the end Oliveira's unforgiving submission skills took over, and he tapped Poirier with a rear-naked choke in Round 3. Advertisement You can rewatch Oliveira's thrilling title defense in the video above. Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC) returns to the cage this Saturday, as he tries to regain the UFC lightweight title in the main event of UFC 317, which takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN). The Brazilian takes on Ilia Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), who's vacated his UFC featherweight title in pursuit of the belt at 155 pounds. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 317 full fight: Charles Oliveira vs. Dustin Poirier
USA Today
6 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
What time is Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira? Walkouts for UFC 317 main event
Thanks to Islam Makhachev's impending move to the welterweight division, Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira will meet for the richest prize at 155 pounds. This UFC lightweight championship bout scheduled for five rounds is taking place Saturday, June 28 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. After it was announced that Makhachev would relinquish the lightweight title in pursuit of winning a welterweight championship, the UFC obliged Topuria's request to move up – only after he, too, relinquished his featherweight belt – and booked him in an immediate vacant title bout against former champion Oliveira. Topuria, 28, is coming off a 2024 in which he was named MMA Junkie's Male Fighter of the Year after he knocked out Alexander Volkanovski to claim the 145-pound title and most recently knocked out Max Holloway in his lone title defense last October. Oliveira, 35, is 2-2 since he was stripped of the title after missing weight for his bout against Justin Gaethje in May 2022. Oliveira went on to submit Gaethje but has since alternated losses (vs. Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan) and wins (vs. Beneil Dariush and Michael Chandler) since then. Here are the walkout times for the UFC 317 main event between Topuria and Oliveira. When does the UFC 317 fight card start? The UFC 317 lineup consists of 11 fights. Early prelims start at 7 p.m. ET, prelims at 8 p.m. ET, and the pay-per-view main card at 10 p.m. ET. Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira walkout time As the main event, Topuria and Oliveira are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 12:30 a.m. ET. The fight streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC 317 video: Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira final faceoff for vacant title bout
LAS VEGAS – UFC 317 headliners Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira got a final chance to size each other up Friday before determining a new lightweight champion. Former featherweight titleholder Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) will take on former 155-pound kingpin Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC) for the vacant strap left behind when Islam Makhachev agreed to move up to welterweight. There is history at stake for both sides, and the anticipated was palpable during their final encounter at ceremonial weigh-ins. Advertisement There has been tension between Topuria and Oliveira throughout the week, and they were all business at the conclusive staredown in advance of Saturday's headliner, which takes place at T-Mobile Arena (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). Check out the video above to see the UFC 317 ceremonial weigh-in faceoff between Topuria and Oliveira. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 317 video: Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira final faceoff
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Video: Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford Las Vegas press conference
The build toward the massive boxing fight between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford continues Friday in Las Vegas. Prior to the UFC 317 ceremonial weigh-ins, the fighters take the stage along with UFC CEO Dana White to answer questions from the media ahead of the fight taking place Sept. 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Check out the full press conference in the video above. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Video: Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford Las Vegas press conference
