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Yahoo
25-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ilia Topuria obliterates Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 before wild face-off with Paddy Pimblett
Ilia Topuria's stunning UFC run continued on Saturday, as he knocked Charles Oliveira out cold to become a two-weight champion. In the main event of UFC 317, Topuria, who vacated the featherweight title in February, faced Oliveira for the vacant lightweight belt and finished the former champion in round one. After a frantic opening few minutes, in which both men landed in the striking exchanges and demonstrated grappling prowess in other moments, Topuria floored Oliveira with a right cross and left hook, leaving the Brazilian staring up at the lights in Las Vegas. Oliveira, 35, walked onto Topuria's right hand and was seemingly unconscious even before the left hook landed. 'Do Bronx', who held the 155lb title from 2021 until 2022, crumpled to the canvas and was pummeled with one more shot before referee Marc Goddard could step in. Topuria's victory kept the Spanish-Georgian unbeaten and saw him enter a small club of two-weight UFC champions. The 28-year-old knocked out Alexander Volkanovski last February to win the featherweight belt, before doing the same to Max Holloway in October to retain the gold. He then relinquished it this February, eyeing a move up to 155lb. Some fans felt that Topuria's victories over Volkanovski and Holloway were the greatest back-to-back wins ever recorded by a UFC fighter. Volkanovski is seen by some as the best featherweight in UFC history, while Holloway is also a former champion and modern great. And Topuria, who predicted that he would knock out both men, dealt Oliveira the same fate after making a similarly prophetic call. After 'El Matador' collected the lightweight title on Saturday (28 June), his quasi-rival Paddy Pimblett was called into the cage by UFC announcer Joe Rogan. In 2022, 'Paddy The Baddy' and Topuria were involved in an altercation at the fighter hotel ahead of UFC London, with the latter taking exception to seemingly anti-Georgian tweets by the Liverpudlian. 'We have some f*****g p***y [at ringside],' Topuria said in the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday. 'Whoever is ready for me, I'm here. I don't think he's gonna accept it, but if he thinks he's ready, come on, you p***y.' 'That was a heavy knockout, I'll give you that,' Pimblett responded after entering the Octagon. 'Respect, but you will never knock me out.' 'You'll get knocked out even before the fight,' Topuria laughed, before appearing to shove Pimblett, who is ranked eighth at lightweight. In the co-main event, Alexandre Pantoja recorded a fourth successful defence of his flyweight title, submitting Kai Kara-France in round two.
The 42
30-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Ireland's Shauna Bannon to face Sam Hughes as UFC returns to Paris
IRISH UFC STAR Shauna Bannon will return to the Octagon in Paris on Saturday, 6 September, when she squares off with American Sam Hughes at the Accor Arena. Dublin's 'Mama B' (7-1), who showed remarkable powers of recovery to earn a second-round submission victory over India's Puja Tomar at UFC London in March, will seek to climb the strawweight rankings against the equally in-form 'Sampage' (10-6). Bannon, the second Irishwoman to fight under the UFC's banner after Aisling Daly, will meet Dallas native Hughes on a card headlined by France's top middleweight Nassourdine 'The Sniper' Imavov and fellow top-10 contender Caio 'The Natural' Borralho. Imavov-Borralho will mark the UFC's return to Paris for a fourth consecutive year, with tickets going on general sale at 8am Irish time this Friday, 4 July. Advertisement Bannon and Hughes both enter their strawweight contest off the back of two wins on the spin. Prior to Bannon's comeback victory over Tomar (previously 9-4) in March, she earned a split-decision win over Alice Ardelean (previously 9-5). The relentless Hughes, meanwhile, has earned back-to-back splits over Victoria Dudakova (previously 8-0) and Stephanie Luciano (previously 6-1-1).
Scottish Sun
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Ilia Topuria performs another Paddy Pimblett U-turn ahead of UFC 317 after seemingly squashing beef with Brit
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ILIA TOPURIA has seemingly performed yet another U-turn on Paddy Pimblett. The pair almost came to blows at the UFC London fighter hotel in March 2022 after Topuria confronted the submission specialist over comments he made about his fellow Georgians. 5 Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett almost came to blows at the UFC London fighter hotel in March 2023 Credit: INSTAGRAM@ILIATOPURIA 5 But the pair appeared to squash their beef at the most recent UFC London weigh-ins Credit: X@CHISANGA_MALATA 5 Topuria has since revealed he hates Pimblett and wants to knock his block off Credit: GETTY A public war of words has played out over the last three years, although the duo seemingly put their differences aside with a brief embrace at the most recent UFC London weigh-ins. But Topuria, who fights for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317 next weekend, insists he still has immense disdain for 'The Baddy'. The 28-year-old said of Pimblett in an interview with ESPN Deportes: 'He's a hypocrite. "I'll tell you, I remember we shared a press conference once, and he said something like, 'I'm fighting in the main card, and you're on the prelims,' some kind of nonsense. READ MORE ON ILIA TOPURIA 'DIDN'T WANT TO' Ilia Topuria explains reason for major career change ahead of UFC 317 "And now I'm thinking, I have two belts. Where are you? "Who the f**k is Paddy Pimblett right now and why would he deserve to fight me right now?" Former featherweight king Topuria has already earmarked Pimblett, who picked up the biggest win of his career against Michael Chandler in April, as his next opponent. He said: "Honestly, if I could choose a fight, I would fight him because I hate him. He's a pain in the ass. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 5 Surging Brit contender Paddy Pimblett has welcomed a showdown with Ilia Topuria Credit: REX "I'd love to give that fight to the fans, because for a long time, I believe that in the UFC, you haven't seen a real fight. "Two people who really want to fight each other, and what better way than to fight in front of everyone and put on a show? Ilia Topuria Trains For UFC 317 Clash With Charles Oliveira "I know what's going to happen, and it won't be good for him." Topuria has the small matter of beating former 155lbs titleholder and fan favourite Charles Oliveira before he can think about settling the score with Pimblett. But 'El Matador' believes he'll make light work of the Brazilian, saying: "Charles is a great fighter. "I'd say he's a legendary fighter, one of the few still active in the UFC. "But the truth is that his style fits perfectly with mine to put him to sleep in the first round. "Because he has no mobility, he doesn't move."
The Irish Sun
16-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Ilia Topuria performs another Paddy Pimblett U-turn ahead of UFC 317 after seemingly squashing beef with Brit
ILIA TOPURIA has seemingly performed yet another U-turn on Paddy Pimblett. The Advertisement 5 Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett almost came to blows at the UFC London fighter hotel in March 2023 Credit: INSTAGRAM@ILIATOPURIA 5 But the pair appeared to squash their beef at the most recent UFC London weigh-ins Credit: X@CHISANGA_MALATA 5 Topuria has since revealed he hates Pimblett and wants to knock his block off Credit: GETTY A public war of words has played out over the last three years, although the duo seemingly put their differences aside with a brief embrace at the most recent UFC London weigh-ins. But Topuria, who fights for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317 next weekend, insists he still has immense disdain for 'The Baddy'. The 28-year-old said of Pimblett in an interview with "I'll tell you, I remember we shared a press conference once, and he said something like, 'I'm fighting in the main card, and you're on the prelims,' some kind of nonsense. Advertisement READ MORE ON ILIA TOPURIA "And now I'm thinking, I have two belts. Where are you? "Who the f**k is Former featherweight king Topuria has already earmarked Pimblett, He said: "Honestly, if I could choose a fight, I would fight him because I hate him. He's a pain in the ass. Advertisement Most read in MMA JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 5 Surging Brit contender Paddy Pimblett has welcomed a showdown with Ilia Topuria Credit: REX "I'd love to give that fight to the fans, because for a long time, I believe that in the UFC, you haven't seen a real fight. "Two people who really want to fight each other, and what better way than to fight in front of everyone and put on a show? Advertisement Ilia Topuria Trains For UFC 317 Clash With Charles Oliveira "I know what's going to happen, and it won't be good for him." Topuria has the small matter of beating former 155lbs titleholder and fan favourite But 'El Matador' believes he'll make light work of the Brazilian, saying: "Charles is a great fighter. "I'd say he's a legendary fighter, one of the few still active in the UFC. Advertisement "But the truth is that his style fits perfectly with mine to put him to sleep in the first round. "Because he has no mobility, he doesn't move." 5 Ilia Topuria faces Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317 on June 29 Credit: UFC
Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
UFC star makes confident Paddy Pimblett vs Ilia Topuria admission
Pimblett and Topuria have been on a collision course ever since they clashed at the fighter hotel during UFC London in 2022, and the fight could soon be on the horizon UFC welterweight sensation Ian Machado Garry has predicted a fight between Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett would go down as one of the "biggest fights" ever. The bad blood between 'The Baddy' and Topuria dates back to an infamous altercation three years ago during a UFC London event. After a heated exchange in the fighter hotel, Pimblett threw a bottle of hand sanitiser at Topuria, sparking chaotic scenes. The clash in London seemed to ignite the bitter feud, and there have been teases about them facing off in the octagon despite previously competing in different divisions. However, that all changed earlier this year when Topuria vacated his featherweight title in favour of a move up to 155lbs. 'El Matador' has jumped straight into a title fight against Charles Oliveira for the newly vacated 155lb championship belt at next month's UFC 317, following Islam Makhachev's decision to step up to welterweight. Providing Topuria comes away with the win and unscathed, it could set up eagerly anticipated clash with the Liverpudlian. 'The Baddy' recently secured the most significant victory of his career against Michael Chandler, and despite many believing the Brit needs another win before competing for the title, he could be thrust into a title bout with Topuria due to their mutual animosity. While 'El Matador' is set to fight Oliveira, a close friend of Machado Garry, the Irishman is still keen to see a showdown between Topuria and Pimblett. In an interview with he said: "Paddy's been phenomenal. You can't give nothing but praise to what he's done and how he's done it. He's gone out there. He's backed up everything he said. He's beaten and is beating everyone that's been put in front of him and he's looked great and has that popularity inside and outside the Octagon, he's doing what he needs to do, and he's doing a very good job at it. Paddy and Ilia is a massive, massive fight if that happens down the line. It's going to be so big, so big. I reckon that's a stadium [fight]. That'll be one of the biggest fights we've ever seen." Pimblett is indeed keen on facing Topuria in Abu Dhabi in October, but he admits that his likely opponent will be Justin Gaethje. "I'm hoping to fight in Abu Dhabi in October. I think that's when I'm going to be back in the cage," Pimblett told BBC Sport. "I was thinking Ilia might call me out if he wins [against Oliveira]. I'd love to beat him if he gets the belt. I'd love to fight him anyway but he's booked, so I think it's more than likely Justin Gaethje." The Brit was asked about his interest in dangerous contender Arman Tsarukyan - to which he replied: "No one [cares] about Arman Tsarukyan and people actually want to watch Gaethje fight. People know it'll be an exciting fight, me versus Gaethje," said Pimblett. "Tsarukyan, he's just an absolute tool, and then it's me and Gaethje. One win away and I'll be fighting for the belt. Yeah, that's always been the aim. It's the only aim that we have."
