Latest news with #CharlesOliveira
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Arman Tsarukyan Willing To Be Backup For UFC 317 Or UFC 318 Main Event
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 13: Arman Tsarukyan of Georgia prepares to fight in a lightweight fight ... More during the UFC 300 event at T-Mobile Arena on April 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) If the UFC needs a backup fighter for the main event of the UFC 317 or UFC 318 pay-per-view cards, Arman Tsarukyan is willing and able to step in on short notice. Tsarukyan (22-3) is the No. 1 fighter in the UFC lightweight rankings. The 28-year-old was to face Islam Makhachev for the UFC lightweight title at UFC 311, but he was forced from that fight after when he sustained an injury during his weight cut. Instead, Makhachev faced Renato Moicano on that pay-per-view card, defending his title via first-round submission. Tsarukyan has not competed since he earned a split-decision win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in April 2024. 'I am not sure if that's needed, but if they offer me that, I will definitely back it up,' Tsarukyan recently said. 'I will be ready. I am flying back to the U.S. now and will be staying there in case anyone is injured and [if] the UFC asks me if I am ready, I will say yes.' 'I need to take chances now," Tsarukyan added. "I got injured and this injury got misinterpreted. The doctor didn't let everybody know what really happened, so some people still think I ducked that fight. 'Now I just need to get back on track, so I'm going to do whatever the UFC tells me to do.' ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OCTOBER 21: Islam Makhachev of Russia reacts after his knockout ... More victory against Alexander Volkanovski of Australia in the UFC lightweight championship fight during the UFC 294 event at Etihad Arena on October 21, 2023 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) The main event of UFC 317 will crown a new lightweight champion. In the lead-up to UFC 316, the speculation was if Belal Muhammad retained his UFC welterweight title with a win over Jack Della Maddalena, then UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev would remain at 155 pounds and defend his title against Ilia Topuria. The reason for this thinking being that Makhachev and Muhammad have trained together and that they would not be willing to face each other inside the Octagon. However, with Jack Della Maddalena defeating Muhammad, that opened the door for Makhachev to move to welterweight. The thinking now being that he will get an immediate title shot against Maddalena in the freshly crowned champ's first title defense. Makhachev's manager Ali Abdelaziz spoke to MMA Junkie about the situation. 'If Belal were to win, Islam was never going to fight Belal, and he's going to stay in the (lightweight) division. But now Jack wins,' Abdelaziz said. 'Islam has beaten everyone in this division, literally. Dan Hooker, Arman (Tsarukyan), Charles Oliveira, he's on a 15-fight winning streak, finished nine of his last 10 opponents. (There's no one who) deserves to go fight for a second title than Islam, and the reason he wasn't going to do it because Belal was the champion.' UFC CEO Dana White has announced the plans for Della Maddalena vs. Makhachev, but did not announce a date for the 170-pound title fight. With that, the UFC lightweight title will most likely become vacant the moment the UFC 317 main event, which pits former UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria against Oliveira, begins. UFC 317 takes place on Saturday, June 28 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 11: Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier face-off for the media during the UFC 236 ... More Ultimate Media Day at Hyatt Regency Atlanta on April 11, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) Dustin Poirier will close out his UFC career in a main event matchup against Max Holloway at UFC 318. Holloway's BMF title will be on the line in the lightweight matchup, which marks the third meeting between the two future UFC Hall of Famers. UFC 318 takes place on July 19 at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. We will have more on Arman Tsarukyan, UFC 317 and UFC 318 as news becomes available.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Justin Gaethje Frustrated After Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira Title Fight Announcement
UFC 317 will mark the start of Ilia Topuria's quest for double champion status, as he moves up to lightweight and immediately challenges for UFC gold. In his divisional debut, Topuria faces one of the sport's most feared submission specialists in Charles Oliveira—a former titleholder known for breaking records and finishing elite opponents on the ground. But while the spotlight shines on the matchup, one former UFC champion is feeling overlooked—and he's not staying silent. That former titleholder is Justin Gaethje. On a recent episode of the Anik & Florian Podcast, co-host Jon Anik shed light on a private conversation he had with Gaethje, revealing the lightweight contender's frustration. 'He was pissed, right? He feels like certainly he was passed over in favor of Charles Oliveira for this opportunity against Ilia Topuria,' Anik said. He added, 'I think what Justin Gaethje and his manager Ali Abdelaziz are looking for is just some sort of guarantee that they will be next.' Advertisement Gaethje's irritation comes on the heels of a critical bounce-back win at UFC 313, where he defeated Rafael Fiziev by majority decision. It was a rematch of their razor-close bout at UFC 286, and this time, Gaethje clearly separated himself in the third round, earning Fight of the Night honors. The win moved him to No. 3 in the official UFC lightweight rankings. Charles Oliveira, currently ranked No. 2, returned to action at UFC 309, where he secured a unanimous decision victory over Michael Chandler. The bout marked his bounce-back fight after suffering a loss to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300. Oliveira earned the win on all three judges' scorecards, reinforcing his position as a top contender and strengthening his case for another shot at the belt. Justin GaethjeGetty Images With Gaethje and Oliveira neck-and-neck in the rankings and both coming off high-level wins, it's understandable why the UFC's decision to go with Oliveira over Gaethje could be seen as a toss-up. Each man had a legitimate case, but ultimately it was Oliveira who landed the Topuria sweepstakes. UFC CEO Dana WhitePhoto by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC With Dana White remaining noncommittal about Gaethje's future, the road ahead remains uncertain. However, if history is any indicator, the former champion is unlikely to stay sidelined for long. A clash with the winner of UFC 317 could still be in play—and Gaethje is making sure his name stays in the conversation. Related: Jake Paul Responds to Logan's MMA Challenge in Latest Twist to Sibling Rivalry Related: New Details Emerge in Fatal Crash Involving Francis Ngannou: Report
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Charles Oliveira Issues a Brutal Warning to Ilia Topuria Before UFC 317
In just a few weeks, UFC 317 will deliver one of the most explosive matchups in recent memory. The main event features Ilia Topuria making his lightweight debut, and he's skipping the line—going straight for gold. But waiting for him is no warm welcome. Instead, it's a battle-hardened former champion in Charles Oliveira, and ahead of the highly anticipated showdown, Oliveira is making it clear that he's not here to play nice. While much of the pre-fight spotlight has focused on the rise of Topuria, Charles Oliveira has remained largely silent—until now. In a recent clip shared by Full Violence on TikTok, Oliveira finally broke his silence and did so with no hesitation. 'It's a great fight, he's a great fighter. But I don't need to prove anything to anyone about who I am,' he said. 'This fight came at a huge opportunity. I will knock out this guy. That's for real.' That statement shouldn't come as a surprise to longtime fans. Oliveira holds the UFC record for most finishes in promotional history, with a staggering 20 stoppages. He's also the all-time leader in submission victories. During his title reign, Oliveira fought Michael Chandler, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje consecutively—and finished all three. That stretch of dominance solidified his reputation as one of the most dangerous lightweights in UFC history, showcasing both striking and submission prowess. Charles OliveiraGetty Images With momentum on his side and experience at the highest level, Oliveira's words may not be hype—they might be a serious warning of what's to come. Related: Former UFC Champion 'Pissed' After Being Passed Over for Ilia Topuria Fight Related: Dricus Du Plessis Sends Explicit Response to Contender Ahead of UFC 319
Forbes
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
UFC 317 Co-Main Event Pantoja Vs. Kara-France Opening Betting Odds
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 08: Alexandre Pantoja celebrates after defeating UFC flyweight champion ... More Brandon Moreno during UFC 290 at T-Mobile Arena on July 08, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pantoja won the title by split decision. (Photo by) Two UFC title fights headline the upcoming UFC 317 fight card. In the main event, two former champions, Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira, battle it out for the vacant UFC lightweight strap. Meanwhile, in the UFC 317 co-main event, UFC flyweight kingpin Alexandre Pantoja attempts to make his fourth defense of the title he claimed in June 2023 against former interim UFC 125-pound title challenger Kai Kara France. UFC 317 takes place on June 28 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The ESPN+ streaming pay-per-view card headlines this year's version of the UFC's annual International Fight Week. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 07: Alexandre Pantoja of Brazil celebrates after his win by technical ... More submission in the second round against Kai Asakura of Japanduring UFC 310 at T-Mobile Arena on December 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by) When BetOnline first published the betting line for the Pantoja vs. Kara-France matchup, the champ opened as the -250 betting favorite over the +210 underdog. Today, Pantoja is listed at -260, while Kara-France checks in at +220. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 16: Alexandre Pantoja of Brazil exits the Octagon following the UFC ... More flyweight championship fight during the UFC 296 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 16, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) Alexandre Pantoja (29-5) is on a seven-fight winning streak heading into UFC 317. The 35-year-old Brazilian made his UFC debut in July 2017 with a split-decision win over Eric Shelton. Pantoja's career had its ups and downs over the next three years, where he went 5-3, but he has not lost since he dropped a decision to Askar Askarov in July 2020. Pantoja won the UFC flyweight title in July 2023 on the heels of two 'Performance of the Night' submission wins. Pantoja secured the 125-pound title with a split decision win over Brandon Moreno. Since that victory, Pantoja has defended his three times, beating Brandon Royval in December 2023 and Steve Erceg in May 2024. Both fights ended in decision victories. Pantoja picked up his 19th career finish in his third title defense, submitting Kai Asakura at UFC 310 in December 2024. PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Kai Kara-France of New Zealand prepares to face Steve Erceg of ... More Australia in a flyweight fight during the UFC 305 event at RAC Arena on August 18, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) Kai Kara-France (25-11-0-1) was 17-7-0-1 when he got the call from the UFC in 2019. In his first fight with the promotion, the New Zealander faced a short-notice opponent in Elias Garcia. The two won 'Fight of the Night' honors for their efforts, with Kara-France picking up the decision win. Kara-France followed that victory with two more wins on the judge's scorecards. Then, in December 2019, he faced future champion Brandon Moreno on the early prelims of the UFC 245 pay-per-view card. Moreno won that bout by decision. Kara-France went 1-1 in his next two outings. He then tore off three straight wins between March 2021 and March 2022 and found himself as the No. 2 ranked fighter in the division. In his next outing, he faced Moreno, who was ranked No. 1, in the co-main event of UFC 277. At stake was the interim UFC flyweight title. Moreno won that contest by TKO in the third round. Kara-France followed that setback with a split-decision loss to Amir Albazi in June 2023. Kara-France was booked to face Manel Kape in September 2023, but a concussion during training camp prevented Kara-France from competing on that card, UFC 293. The 32-year-old would not return to action until August 2024, where he earned a first-round TKO win, and a 'Performance of the Night' bonus against Steve Erceg. Kara-France enters UFC 317 as the No. 4 fighter in the official UFC flyweight rankings. We will have more on the UFC 317 fight card and as fight night approaches.
Forbes
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
UFC 317 Fight Card Date, Time, Location And Ticket Prices
Two title fights get top billing on the upcoming UFC 317 pay-per-view event. That fight card, the second of two ESPN+ streaming PPVs on the UFC schedule for June, also features at least four other bouts that will have a bearing on the UFC rankings. UFC 317 serves as the anchor event for the 2025 edition of International Fight Week. Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira - For vacant UFC lightweight title Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France - For Pantoja's UFC flyweight title Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano - Lightweight Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape - Flyweight Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov - Middleweight Jack Hermansson vs. Gregory Rodriguez - Middleweight Jhonata Diniz vs. Justin Tafa - Heavyweight Viviane Araújo vs. Tracy Cortez - Women's Flyweight Saturday, June 28, 2025 Main card: 10:00 p.m. ET Preliminary Card: 8:00 p.m. ET Early Preliminary Card: 6:00 p.m. ET Prudential Center in Newark, NJ UFC 316 tickets are available from AXS. The lowest price seats are $375.95. The most expensive ticket is $12,000 for a first row floor seat. *Prices include fees, but not taxes. In the lead-up to UFC 316, the speculation was if Belal Muhammad retained his UFC welterweight title with a win over Jack Della Maddalena, then UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev would remain at 155 pounds and defend his title against Ilia Topuria. The reason for this thinking being that Makhachev and Muhammad have trained together and that they would not be willing to face each other inside the Octagon. However, with Jack Della Maddalena defeating Muhammad, that opened the door for Makhachev to move to welterweight. The thinking now being that he will get an immediate title shot against Maddalena in the freshly crowned champ's first title defense. Makhachev's manager Ali Abdelaziz spoke to MMA Junkie about the situation. 'If Belal were to win, Islam was never going to fight Belal, and he's going to stay in the (lightweight) division. But now Jack wins,' Abdelaziz said. 'Islam has beaten everyone in this division, literally. Dan Hooker, Arman (Tsarukyan), Charles Oliveira, he's on a 15-fight winning streak, finished nine of his last 10 opponents. (There's no one who) deserves to go fight for a second title than Islam, and the reason he wasn't going to do it because Belal was the champion.' On Tuesday, White announced the plans for Della Maddalena vs. Topuria, but did not announce a date for the 170-pound title fight. With that, the UFC lightweight title will most likely become vacant the moment the UFC 317 main event begins. Topuria is a former Cage Warriors champion. He joined the UFC in 2020 with a 9-0 record. It did not take him long to make a name for himself. He was ranked No. 14 in the featherweight division after three UFC bouts at 145 pounds and one contest in the 155-pound division. Three of those scraps ended with Topuria winning via knockout. In his first fight as a ranked featherweight, Topuria dispatched Bryce Mitchell via submission in the second round, earned his first 'Performance of the Night' bonus and moved to No. 9 in the rankings. A matchup with No. 5 ranked Josh Emmett followed the Mitchell win. Topuria picked up a decision in a 'Fight of the Night' scrap. Topuria's next fight, saw him face Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC featherweight title at UFC 298. Topuria entered that bout as the No. 3 ranked featherweight. He left as the champion after knocking out Volkanovski in the second stanza. In his first defense of the UFC featherweight crown, Topuria made history, becoming the first fighter to finish former 145-pound champion Max Holloway via strikes, knocking out the ex-champion in the third round of their UFC 308 meeting in October 2024. When Topuria decided to move to lightweight and give up his featherweight title, he vowed to sit until he got a 155-pound title shot. That fight takes place at UFC 317. Topuria has a 16-0 record with eight of those wins coming under the UFC banner. Charles Oliveira (35-10-0-1) has been fighting with the UFC since 2010. He won the vacant lightweight title with his win over Chandler and defended the title once, beating Dustin Poirier. He was booked to face Justin Gaethje in his second title defense, but Oliveira missed weight for that fight, which he won by submission, losing the title on the scale. Oliveira had a chance to regain the belt in October 2022, but Islam Makhachev submitted him and claimed the vacant belt. Since that loss, Oliveira is 1-1, beating Beneil Dariush by TKO in June 2023 and losing to Arman Tsarukyan via split decision in April of this year. Oliveira is coming off a November 2024 decision win over Michael Chandler. Oliveira is the No. 2 fighter in the official UFC lightweight rankings. We will have more on the UFC 317 fight card and the UFC 317 main event between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira as fight night approaches.
