International Fight Week prepares for an incredible week of Combat Sports, but the one event which shines the most is UFC 317 which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena. The main event sees Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira compete for the vacant Lightweight Championship. The co-headliner features a Flyweight title fight between the champion, Alexandre Pantoja, and the #4 contender, Kai Kara-France. Here is everything you need to know before the action commences in Las Vegas.
early prelims
Chris Ewert vs Jackson McVey (Middleweight Bout) - Ewert makes his UFC debut after increasing his undefeated record to seven with an unanimous decision against Reece Watkins at Fury FC 100. El Tanke has stopped five of his opponents, all by KO/TKO in the first round. The Chilean is aiming to make a good first impression and introduce himself as a prospect of the Middleweight division.
McVey is also undefeated as well as making his UFC debut after a first-round TKO victory against Mataeo Garner at LFA 210. The Moose has a 100% finish rate with three KO/TKO wins and three submissions, all of them ending in the first round. The American will be wanting to make his introduction as perfect as possible.
Jhonata Diniz vs Alvin Hines (Heavyweight Bout) - Diniz lost his perfect record in his last bout when he suffered a second-round TKO (Doctor Stoppage) defeat to Marcin Tybura at UFC 309. The Brazilian is a wild knockout artist, holding seven KO/TKO victories out of eight MMA triumphs.The Curitiba-born fighter is searching for redemption as he tries to get back to winning ways in Las Vegas.
Hines earned himself a UFC contract after staying undefeated at LFA 206 when he knocked out Billy Ray Valdez in the third round. Goozie has only gone the distance once out of his seven professional bouts, earning three knockouts and three submissions. Hines has the chance to defeat a big prospect in the UFC and possibly make a name for himself in the Heavyweight division.
Niko Price vs Jacobe Smith (Welterweight Bout) - Price is back on the search for entering the win column after losing by unanimous decision against Themba Gorimbo at UFC Vegas 98. With 16 victories in his MMA career, The Hybrid has stopped 13 of his opponents, 10 by KO/TKO and three by submission, The Florida fighter has fought with the UFC since December 2016 and will want to prove that he is a worthy veteran of the organisation.
Smith earned his fourth-consecutive knockout win when he stopped Preston Parsons by first-round knockout at UFC Vegas 101. Undefeated with 10 victories, Cobe has knocked out eight of his conquered enemies. Smith looks like a promising prospect at Welterweight and with a win against an experienced opponent, it might not be long before he gets a shot at the top 15.
preliminary card
Terrance McKinney vs Viacheslav Borshchev (Lightweight Bout) - McKinney put himself back in the win column after securing a first-round TKO against Damir Hadzovic at UFC Saudi Arabia. T. Wrecks has a 100% finish rate with eight knockouts and submissions, 15 of those ending in round one. The Washington fighter will be hoping to increase the Las Vegas crowd's atmosphere with another first round finish to start a winning streak.
Borshchev suffered his fourth defeat in the organisation when he lost to Tom Nolan by unanimous decision at UFC 312. Slava Claus is a specialist on the feet as six of his eight victories have ended by KO/TKO. The Russian is yet to be victorious in front of a sell-out crowd as he has the opportunity to do so in the T-Mobile Arena.
Viviane Araujo vs Tracy Cortez (Women's Flyweight Bout) - Araujo went back to winning ways after defeating Karine Silva by unanimous decision at UFC 309. The Brazilian has stopped seven of her conquered opponents, earning three KO/TKO wins and four submissions. The #8 Flyweight contender will want to keep her place in the rankings and begin her third winning streak in the UFC.
Cortez's 11-fight win streak was snapped in her last bout when she lost to Rose Namajunas by unanimous decision at UFC Denver. Despite only having two stoppage wins, the Phoenix-born fighter has earned seven unanimous decision victories as she likes to go to the judges scorecards. The #10 contender will be hoping to rise further up the rankings as she searches for redemption.
Hyder Amil vs Jose Miguel Delgado (Featherweight Bout) - Amil remained undefeated in his last fight when he defeated William Gomis by split decision at UFC Vegas 103. The Hurricane has seven finishes out of 11 victories, stopping six of his opponents by KO/TKO and one by submission. The Philippines mixed martial artist will be targeting to keep his perfect record, while continuing his rise as a prospect of the Featherweight division.
Delgado made his UFC debut in his last battle, earning a first-round knockout against Connor Matthews at UFC Vegas 102. The Yuma-born fighter has a 100% finish rate in his MMA career, consisting of five KO/TKO wins and four submissions. Delgado will be aiming to continue his successful run and put on a showstopping performance to put the division on notice.
Jack Hermansson vs Gregory Rodrigues (Middleweight Bout) - Hermansson redeemed himself in his last bout when he scored an unanimous decision win over Joe Pyfer at UFC Vegas 86. The Joker holds 17 finishes out of 24 wins in his professional career, earning 11 KO/TKO triumphs and six submissions. The Norwegian was previously a Middleweight contender and he will be hoping to get back in that spotlight with an eye-catching victory at UFC 317.
Rodrigues failed to make the 185-pound rankings in his last bout when he suffered a fourth-round TKO loss to Jared Cannonier at UFC Vegas 102. Robocop rarely goes the distance in his battles as 10 of his victories have ended by KO/TKO and three by submission. The Brazilian will hope to get a second chance of entering the top 15 in the Middleweight division, if he can defeat a very experienced fighter in the organisation.
main card
Payton Talbott vs Felipe Lima (Bantamweight Bout) - Talbott became undefeated no more after losing his last fight to Raoni Barcelos by unanimous decision at UFC 311. The Nevada-born fighter is known for knocking his opponents out as seven of his eight wins have ended by KO/TKO. Talbott was seen as the next big prospect in the UFC, and that is still possible, but he must be victorious and earn a finish in his hometown.
Lima succeeded once again in his second fight with the organisation after defeating Miles Johns by unanimous decision at UFC Tampa. Jungle Boy has finished half of his conquered opponents, securing four KO/TKO wins and three submissions. The Brazilian makes his Bantamweight debut in the UFC and will hope to be successful with his 14-fight win streak on the line in enemy territory.
Beneil Dariush vs Renato Moicano (Lightweight Bout) - Dariush has not fought since December 2023 where he suffered a first-round knockout loss to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC Austin. The Iran-born mixed martial artist has 13 stoppage wins with five ending by KO/TKO and eight by submission. The #9 Lightweight contender has not won a fight since October 2022 as he is in desperate need of some redemption to get him back on board for his career.
Moicano fought on 1 day's short notice in his last fight as he failed to capture the Lightweight title after losing to Islam Makhachev by first-round submission at UFC 311. The Brazilian has stopped 12 of his enemies with two TKO victories and 10 submissions as he prefers to stay on the ground. The #11 contender was previously meant to face Dariush at UFC 311 as he finally gets the chance to enter the top 10 of the Lightweight division.
Brandon Royval vs Joshua Van (Flyweight Bout) - Royval earned his second consecutive split decision win when he went the distance with Tatsuro Taira at UFC Vegas 98. Raw Dawg has stopped 13 of his 17 opponents, securing four KO/TKO wins and nine submissions. The #1 Flyweight contender once his opportunity at UFC gold once again as he has the chance to be the next rightful challenger, if he is victorious in Las Vegas.
Van increased his win streak to four after stopping Bruno Silva by third-round TKO at UFC 316. The Fearless holds nine finishes in his MMA career with seven ending by KO/TKO and two by submission. The #12 contender comes into this battle on short notice, but high rewards are at stake as a victory against the top contender, and former title challenger, could give him a shot for the Flyweight belt in his next bout.
Alexandre Pantoja vs Kai Kara-France (Flyweight Title Bout) - Pantoja successfully defended his title for a third time when he submitted debutant, Kai Asakura, in the second round at UFC 310. Out of 29 victories in his illustrious career, the Cannibal has stopped 19 of his opponents, eight by KO/TKO and 11 by submission. The UFC Flyweight Champion is still a long way from Demetrious Johnson's record for most title wins, but he still looks to chase that record and become the greatest 125-pound fighter possible.
Kara-France earned his shot at UFC gold after knocking out Steve Erceg in the first round at UFC 305. The Auckland-born mixed martial artist has stopped 15 of his enemies with 12 wins by KO/TKO and three by submission. The #4 contender has previously fought for the interim title before, but lost to Brandon Moreno, as he looks to make the most of his opportunity for the undisputed championship.
Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira (Lightweight Title Bout) - Topuria defended the Featherweight title in his last bout where he knocked out Max Holloway in the third round at UFC 308. El Matador has only gone the distance twice in his MMA career, earning six knockout wins and eight submissions. The undefeated Georgian makes his Lightweight debut for the vacant undisputed title and will do everything in his power to claim that glory as he has so much on the line.
Oliveira claimed redemption in his last battle after going five rounds with Michael Chandler to win by unanimous decision at UFC 309. Do Bronxs has 31 stoppage victories in his professional career, holding 10 KO/TKO triumphs and 21 submissions, not forgetting that he has the most finishes in UFC history. The #2 Lightweight contender has been in this position before as he tries to become the first two-time champion in the 155-pound division.
Who will become the King of the Lightweights in the Main Event of UFC 317? Which fight are you looking forward to the most?
Written by Charlie Oxtoby
Instagram: charlie_oxtoby
MMA Instagram: undisputed._.mma
Twitter: Charlie_Oxtoby1
TikTok: Combat Talk With The Ox
Add comment
Comments