
UFC 317 Full Fight Card: Bout Order Announced For Las Vegas PPV
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OCTOBER 26:Ilia Topuria of Spain prepares to face Max Holloway in ... More the UFC featherweight championship fight during the UFC 308 event at Etihad Arena on October 26, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
International Fight Week turned out pretty good.
For weeks, UFC fans were concerned about how the card would shape up. However, as the dust has settled, we have a pretty strong card from top to bottom, with two title fights in the main and co-main event spots.
Former UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria will take on former lightweight champ Charles Oliveira for the vacant 155-pound strap. In the co-main event, long-standing men's flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja will defend his title against Kai Kara-France.
We know those two fights will close the night at the T-Mobile Arena on June 28, but here is a look at the complete bout order, per ESPN.
Main Card
Preliminary Card
Early Prelims Card
The card has a little bit of everything. There are dynamic young fighters with incredibly high ceilings, like Jacobe Smith and Payton Talbott, in action. Smith is one of the biggest standouts from Season 8 of Dana White's Contender Series.
The hardcore wrestler has explosive power in his hands and a chance to pound his way up the welterweight ranks. Price is a gamer, but perhaps positioned to be Smith's next stepping stone.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 11: Jacobe Smith poses for a portrait after his victory during the UFC ... More Fight Night event at UFC APEX on January 11, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Talbott is trying to bounce back from a loss to Raoni Barcelos in his last fight. The polarizing Talbott's underdeveloped ground game was exposed against Barcelos. We'll find out if he has worked to advance his skills against Lima.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 29: Payton Talbott reacts after knocking out Yanis Ghemmouri of France in a ... More bantamweight fight during the UFC 303 event at T-Mobile Arena on June 29, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
The card also features two all-or-nothing action fighters: Hyder Amil and Terrance McKinney. Amil throws punches with reckless abandon, and McKinney is one of the most spectacular finishers in the sport. However, he has also been the victim of some of the most brutal KO losses in recent years.
Before we get to the main and co-main events, we have solid battles between respected veterans like Royval-Van, Costa-Kopylov, and Dariush-Moicano.
If Pantoja defeats KKF, the proud Brazilian could be staring at his next opponent earlier in the card. If Van, a fighter stepping up on short notice to face Royval, wins, he probably should be next to challenge Pantoja for the title.
Whoever wins in the main event will likely take on Arman Tsarukyan, who has said he is an alternate for UFC 317. If he doesn't get a chance to step in for Topuria or Oliveira, he will almost certainly be the winner's first challenger for the title.
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