{"id":69073,"date":"2025-06-28T02:27:50","date_gmt":"2025-06-28T01:27:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/?p=69073"},"modified":"2025-06-28T02:28:00","modified_gmt":"2025-06-28T01:28:00","slug":"volkanovski-weighs-in-on-ufc-317-showdown-between-topuria-vs-oliveira","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/volkanovski-weighs-in-on-ufc-317-showdown-between-topuria-vs-oliveira\/","title":{"rendered":"Topuria vs. Oliveira, and the Lightweight Throne &#8211; Volkanovski Weighs In on UFC 317 Showdown"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The lightweight division has found new life with a blockbuster title clash set for UFC 317, as Ilia Topuria squares off against former champion Charles Oliveira for the vacant crown. The belt was left up for grabs following Islam Makhachev&rsquo;s bold move to chase welterweight gold, vacating his spot atop the 155-pound division. <\/p><p>That decision cleared the path for two dynamic and proven finishers, with Topuria, the undefeated Spanish-Georgian phenom, and Oliveira, the division&rsquo;s all-time leader in finishes. The two will battle it out to see who will ultimately be crowed the champion.<\/p><p>Topuria&rsquo;s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. After dethroning Alexander Volkanovski via KO to claim the featherweight title, and following that up by knocking out Max Holloway, he vacated the 145-pound strap to fully commit to lightweight. Whereas, Oliveira, arguably the most dangerous submission artist in UFC history, aims to reclaim the belt and cement his legacy.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">ONLY ONE CAN WEAR THE CROWN &#128081;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Topuriailia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"trk-cta-link\" data-cta-trk='{\"ctaType\":\"Link\",\"ctaSubType\":\"main\"}'>@TopuriaIlia<\/a> vs <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CharlesDoBronxs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"trk-cta-link\" data-cta-trk='{\"ctaType\":\"Link\",\"ctaSubType\":\"main\"}'>@CharlesDoBronxs<\/a><br><br>[ <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/UFC317?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"trk-cta-link\" data-cta-trk='{\"ctaType\":\"Link\",\"ctaSubType\":\"main\"}'>#UFC317<\/a> | TOMORROW on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ESPNPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"trk-cta-link\" data-cta-trk='{\"ctaType\":\"Link\",\"ctaSubType\":\"main\"}'>@ESPNPlus<\/a> PPV | 10pmET ] <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Nq9EzMLFZp\" class=\"trk-cta-link\" data-cta-trk='{\"ctaType\":\"Link\",\"ctaSubType\":\"main\"}'>pic.twitter.com\/Nq9EzMLFZp<\/a><\/p>&mdash; UFC (@ufc) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ufc\/status\/1938758385970880975?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"trk-cta-link\" data-cta-trk='{\"ctaType\":\"Link\",\"ctaSubType\":\"main\"}'>June 28, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Volkanovski Picks His Former Opponent to Win<\/h2><p>Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, who faced Topuria firsthand, has a clear opinion and is confidently choosing a side. He&rsquo;s backing Ilia Topuria to walk away with the win. Speaking on <em>The Ariel Helwani Show<\/em>, Volk emphasized how Oliveira&rsquo;s aggression could play into Topuria&rsquo;s counterstriking hands. <strong><em>&ldquo;If he comes aggressive like that, there&rsquo;s going to be opportunities for Ilia&hellip; Ilia can bang,&rdquo; <\/em><\/strong>Volk said, praising the young star&rsquo;s precision and power in exchanges. <\/p><p>Volk broke down the stylistic matchup, suggesting that Oliveira&rsquo;s linear pressure and forward momentum might lead him into trouble against someone like Topuria, who excels at capitalizing on openings. He also raised questions about whether Oliveira might mix in takedowns to offset Topuria&rsquo;s powerful striking, but since he&rsquo;s faced the Georgian, he leaned on his own experience to support his prediction; Topuria by knockout.<\/p><blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DLYVHhZoEVF\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DLYVHhZoEVF\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"trk-cta-link\" data-cta-trk='{\"ctaType\":\"Link\",\"ctaSubType\":\"main\"}'> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewbox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DLYVHhZoEVF\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"trk-cta-link\" data-cta-trk='{\"ctaType\":\"Link\",\"ctaSubType\":\"main\"}'>A post shared by Uncrowned (@uncrowned)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><p>Beyond the title picture, Volkanovski also discussed Islam Makhachev&rsquo;s exit from the division, about how he had long anticipated, and also teased a possible return to lightweight himself in the future. For now, he&rsquo;s closely watching, featherweight contenders like Movsar Evloev, Yair Rodriguez, and even Aaron Pico as potential future opponents at 145 pounds. <\/p>\n<div class=\"mm-layout mm-layout-type-post mm-layout-slot4\">\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The lightweight division has found new life with a blockbuster title clash set for UFC 317, as Ilia Topuria squares off against former champion Charles Oliveira for the vacant crown. The belt was left up for grabs following Islam Makhachev&rsquo;s bold move to chase welterweight gold, vacating his spot atop the 155-pound division. That decision [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":69075,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_mux_skip_reasons":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1783],"tags":[2197,2581,1963,1983,6036],"class_list":["post-69073","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mma","tag-alexander-volkanovksi","tag-charles-oliveira","tag-ilia-topuria","tag-ufc","tag-ufc-317"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Topuria vs. Oliveira, and the Lightweight Throne - Volkanovski Weighs In on UFC 317 Showdown - The Playoffs<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Volkanovski offers insight on Topuria vs. Oliveira ahead of UFC 317&rsquo;s lightweight title showdown.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/volkanovski-weighs-in-on-ufc-317-showdown-between-topuria-vs-oliveira\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Topuria vs. Oliveira, and the Lightweight Throne - Volkanovski Weighs In on UFC 317 Showdown - The Playoffs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Volkanovski offers insight on Topuria vs. Oliveira ahead of UFC 317&rsquo;s lightweight title showdown.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/volkanovski-weighs-in-on-ufc-317-showdown-between-topuria-vs-oliveira\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Playoffs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-06-28T02:28:00+01:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/USATSI_22553390_168416100_lowres.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2521\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1681\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Eric Divakaran\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@https:\/\/x.com\/EricHar44584857\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@ThePlayoffsEN\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Eric Divakaran\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/volkanovski-weighs-in-on-ufc-317-showdown-between-topuria-vs-oliveira\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/volkanovski-weighs-in-on-ufc-317-showdown-between-topuria-vs-oliveira\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Eric Divakaran\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/98ac2e1774499fd4d7a7e37d04514940\"},\"headline\":\"Topuria vs. Oliveira, and the Lightweight Throne &#8211; 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