News Ilia Topuria Announces UFC 317 RETURN - June 28th

[Black9]

Who is he fighting?! Islam, Charles or someone else?!
Looks like they got the deal done.

 

[Ara tech]

Future superstar in the making, if he continues to deliver as he promised against fierce competition.

Islam, Arman, Charle are all great fights to pursue at LW.

 

[Rorschachxx]

Doesn't sound like an official confirmation necessarily but I'll take it.

Has to be either Charles or Islam.

 

[Kung Fu Kowboy]

I'm guessing his opponent depends on if Belal wins or loses...

 

[Tweak896]

Islam if Belal wins and Olivera/Gaethje for vacant belt if Belal loses or something.

 

[RockyLockridge]

vacant title vs charles

 

[cburm]

Who is he fighting?! Islam, Charles or someone else?!
Looks like they got the deal done.

It's not Islam.. or it would a Ben announced and Islam needs his camp time to fight once a year..

Maybe Charles maybe arman maybe gaethje it's def not anyone who wouldn't warrant a title fight

 

[Portland8242]

Yeah something really tells me it's not Islam. He never did agree to any of this, he's kind of thrown cold water on the Topuria matchup.

My guess is they got Oliveira lined up to take on Topuria - he's more of the guy who's fine with a 60-day notice fight. Not Islam, those Dagi's are picky as fuck with when and where they want to fight.

 

[JustBleed69]

Kinda hoping it's Arman

 

[Alpha_T83]

OK I'm more convinced than ever that Islam is not going to fight Topuria, and Topuria will be fighting for an interim title.

If Belal wins @ UFC 315 and doesn't move up to middleweight, I don't think Islam will vacate the 155 belt to fight Belal. And the fact that we haven't had a fight announcement means that Islam has yet to sign a bout agreement to fight Topuria.

If you're Islam and after UFC 315 you don't end up moving to welterweight, are you really going to be motivated to fight Topuria at UFC 317? I think Islam will find himself unmotivated. And then he and his team will decide it's not a good idea to fight at UFC 317.

In that scenario, Topuria will probably be given an interim lightweight title shot against Charles Oliveira.

 

[Alpha_T83]

vacant title vs charles

Interim title vs Charles if Islam doesn't move to welterweight.

 

[Chayanne]

Isn't it up to Dana White to publish this?

 

[Alpha_T83]

Isn't it up to Dana White to publish this?

I think at this point no one knows what will happen, except maybe Islam Makhachev.

If Islam moves to welterweight and vacates the lightweight title, then we get Topuria vs Oliveira for the vacant lightweight belt. Otherwise, if Islam doesn't move up, we could see Islam vs Topuria. If Islam doesn't vacate and doesn't fight at UFC 317, then we get Topuria vs Oliveira for the interim lightweight title.

I'd say those are the three options, and I'm not even sure Islam knows what he's going to do before UFC 315.

 

[Söze Aldo]

Rumor not news.

 

[markys00]

It's not Islam.. or it would a Ben announced and Islam needs his camp time to fight once a year..

Maybe Charles maybe arman maybe gaethje it's def not anyone who wouldn't warrant a title fight

Well it's pretty much confirmed that's not the case.

Islam is training and waiting to see if madallena wins next week

 

[Skarsgard]

Hopefully it's Arman, Gaethje, or Charles.

 

[MigitAs]

UFC should put everything behind this guy rn, he’s literally all they have for potential superstars

 

[Oscar Madison]

Paddy

If they're gonna make a mockery of a Title Fight -- give us an entertaining build up with two rivals who are new to the Top of Lightweight.

 

[Russie]

Good to hear. I hope against Islam but would be happy with Gaetjhe or Charles.

Some 317 fights should start to be released next week or after 315. Bring it.

 

[The_Renaissance]

Gonna be Charles I reckon, title eliminator. He should get an automatic shot though, given his recent resume.