Ilia Topuria just knocked out another one of the toughest legends in the sport, but that hasn’t stopped him from being accused of ducking opponents in his new weight class.
On Saturday night Topuria followed through on his promise to KO Charles Oliveira in the first round of their UFC 317 lightweight title fight (watch highlights here). “El Matador” made it look easy, just like he made knocking Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway out look easy.
Any concern that Ilia’s power would not translate to 155 can be put to rest. Oliveira is a guy who has walked through the fire against some of the hardest hitters at lightweight and come out unscathed. This time he was knocked out cold on the canvas, staring blankly at the T-Mobile Arena rafters.
With Topuria the new lightweight champion, the big question is: what’s next? There’s a lot of momentum on an Ilia Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett fight after “The Baddy” was let into the cage to get into a yelling / shoving match with “El Matador.” But the No. 8 ranked lightweight is nowhere near the most deserving option when it comes to level of challenge.
It was never supposed to be Charles. I can finish Ilia, simple as that. And he knows it too. That’s why he’s avoiding the real #1 contender.
— Arman Tsarukyan UFC (@ArmanUfc) June 29, 2025
No. 1 ranked Arman Tsarukyan stepped on the scales at UFC 317 as a backup for Topuria vs. Oliveira, redeeming himself after a bad weight cut led to his withdrawal from a lightweight title fight in January. He was quick to criticize Topuria for scuffling with Topuria.
“It was never supposed to be Charles. I can finish Ilia, simple as that,” Tsarukyan tweeted. “And he knows it too. That’s why he’s avoiding the real #1 contender.”
Justin Gaethje was in attendance at UFC 317 but hasn’t shared his thoughts on not even getting a mention from Topuria. He was reportedly ‘pissed off’ over not being included in the fight for the vacant lightweight title and recently said the UFC ‘owed him’ a title shot after he fought Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313 on short notice after Dan Hooker withdrew.
And let’s not forget that Islam Makhachev is out there in beltless limbo, waiting for his fight with welterweight champ Jack Della Maddalena to be booked. Win or lose, Makhachev vs. Topuria is exactly the kind of fight the UFC should book if they’re serious about the best fighting the best.
We could debate who deserves what, but that seems foolish when the UFC cares more about what works for their schedule and finances. Paddy Pimblett is clearly angling to jump the line, and the money the UFC could make off that easy match-up might make it hard to turn down. But let’s not pretend he’s the worthiest contender for Topuria’s first lightweight title defense.
