Don’t be surprised if Charles Oliveira pulls off the upset at UFC 317 against Ilia Topuria. I’m not saying it will happen—but it could. In this breakdown, we dig into the exact path to victory for Dub Bronx and what makes this fight so tricky for Topuria, who seems destined for a second UFC title. Oliveira’s clinch game, front kicks, and ground control could spell problems for the featherweight king moving up. But make no mistake, Ilia Topuria is legit. That Max Holloway knockout? Nasty. And if Oliveira exits the clinch with his chin high—as he tends to do—Topuria could land the shot that ends it all.
🎞️Check out Fight Finders, my docuseries! Episode 006 is out now: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx7TZlIVGhDZ_TpnOtVEVSXmkpr_ViExz&si=J8DZ9G6a-RvTaMOv
Chapters:
0:00 Does Charles Oliveira have a chance to beat Ilia Topuria?
7:05 Is Alexandre Pantoja already the 125 GOAT?
10:12 How cool is Joshua Van?
13:41 The rest of UFC 317
Fight Finders 004:
👾 Discord: https://discord.gg/dXRPzMZuyP
📚 “Iron Ambition” by Mike Tyson: https://amzn.to/43SXDVT
We also dive deep into the co-main: Aleksandre Pantoja vs Kai Kara-France. Could Pantoja actually be the flyweight GOAT? It sounds crazy, especially in the shadow of Demetrious Johnson, but look at the resume. He’s cleaned out the division. If he runs through Kara-France like he did Asakura, the conversation gets louder. But Kara-France is dangerous, especially with his counter wrestling and that shifting overhand. We look at how this fight might play out on the mat, along the cage, and in those wild scrambles.
Don’t sleep on the flyweights either—Joshua Van steps in on short notice to face Brandon Royval. It’s a high-risk, high-reward move that could launch Van into title contention overnight. We break down Van’s rise, his recent domination of Bruno Silva, and how his style matches up with Royval’s relentless pace. If Van can weather the storm, we could be looking at a fresh title challenger in a division that’s nearly been cleaned out by Pantoja.
Also on the card: Beneil Dariush takes on Renato Moicano in a lightweight clash that could answer some big questions about where both guys stand. Dariush is coming off tough losses to Oliveira and Gamrot, while Moicano is still rebuilding after that Islam Makhachev loss. Who’s still got it?
Peyton Talbott vs Felipe Lima is for the hipsters. Lima’s a wild card and Talbott’s striking is nasty—expect violence. Then there’s Jack Hermansson vs Gregory Rodriguez, a middleweight showdown that could end quick depending on how Hermansson deals with the power.
We go over the full UFC 317 card, top to bottom, with takes on Vivian Araujo vs Tracy Cortez, Terrance McKinney vs Slava Claus, and even John De Jesus vs Alvin Hines. This card is top-heavy but packed with interesting matchups—some you didn’t know you needed until now.
Hit the comments and let me know who you’ve got at UFC 317. Can Charles Oliveira shock the world again? Will Topuria make a statement at lightweight? Is Pantoja quietly building the best resume at 125? Let’s talk.
📺 Also check out FightFinder 7 dropping soon—we’re filming at the US Karate National Championships. While you wait, go back and watch Episode 4 about the rebirth of bare knuckle boxing and the legacy of the Police Gazette.
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