UFC 317 – A Night of Unbelievable Results : Topuria Knocks Out Olivera!

Undoubtedly, UFC 317 delivered electrifying fight action, headlined by a thrilling showdown between Topuria and Olivera. This blockbuster event was packed with unforgettable moments, decisive finishes, and game-changing performances. From the jaw-dropping knockout in the main event to the intense battles throughout the card, UFC 317 provided fans with top-tier MMA entertainment. In this blog, we’ll break down the full results of every fight, analyze how each fighter secured victory, and examine how Topuria, in particular, made history by defeating Olivera in spectacular fashion.

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1. Main Event: Topuria vs. Olivera – Lightweight Title Clash

In the marquee UFC 317 fight, Topuria stunned the MMA world by dethroning Charles Olivera for the vacant lightweight belt. After transitioning from featherweight, Topuria showed incredible poise. Despite Olivera attempting a takedown early, Topuria defended well, reversed position, and regained standing control. Subsequently, he launched a lightning-quick right hook followed by a powerful left—knocking Olivera out in just 2:27 of Round 1.

Granted, this upset wasn’t just physical; strategically, Topuria executed his plan flawlessly. He anticipated Olivera’s grappling, disengaged, and transitioned to heavy striking. Moreover, he had promised a first-round knockout—and he delivered. It was reported that Topuria represented the “new generation of mixed martial arts”. Immediately after the win, tensions flared: Topuria confronted Paddy Pimblett, shoving him during post-fight celebrations .

In essence, the headline fight at UFC 317 became one of the night’s most iconic results.

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2. Co‑Main Event: Pantoja vs. Kara‑France – Flyweight Showdown

Continuing the momentum, the co‑main event featured Alexandre Pantoja defending his flyweight title against Kai Kara‑France. Initially, Kara‑France tried controlling the pace. However, around the second round, Pantoja transitioned from striking to grappling, secured back control, and unleashed a rear-naked choke at 1:55 of Round 3. With the opponent subdued, Pantoja locked in the choke, forcing Kara‑France to tap—another highlight result of UFC 317.

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3. Main Card Bouts: Decisions and Mixed Outcomes

• Brandon Royval vs. Joshua Van (Flyweight)

In a matchup filled with energy, Joshua Van maintained consistent pressure with strikes and takedowns. Despite Royval’s resilience, Van controlled tempo and volume, earning a unanimous decision (29–28, twice; 30–27). This result showed how strategy and pacing can secure victories.

• Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano (Lightweight)

This tactical fight saw Dariush dominate clinches and ground control. Even though Moicano attempted submissions, Dariush stifled them and outpointed his opponent, securing a unanimous decision win—all scorecards reading 29–28.

• Payton Talbott vs. Felipe Lima (Bantamweight)

Talbott used aggression and effective wrestling to control the fight. With solid strikes and takedowns, Talbott won on all three judges’ scorecards (29–28 unanimously). It was a textbook example of using pressure to outwork an opponent.

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4. Prelims: Quick Finishes and Rapid Results

• Gregory Rodrigues vs. Jack Hermansson (Middleweight)

Rodrigues stunned the crowd, scoring a knockout at 4:21 of Round 1 with a clean right hand . For his performance, he earned a Performance of the Night bonus, underlining how a single punch can define a fight.

• Jose Miguel Delgado vs. Hyder Amil (Featherweight)

Debuting sharply, Delgado landed a knee and elbow combo that crumpled Amil in just 26 seconds. As a result, UFC 317 was off to an explosive start.

• Tracy Cortez vs. Viviane Araújo (Women’s Flyweight)

Displaying strong wrestling control and crisp striking, Cortez dominated all three rounds, earning a unanimous decision victory (30–27 across the board).

• Terrance McKinney vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (Lightweight)

Incredibly, McKinney submitted Borshchev with a guillotine choke just 55 seconds into Round 1. This put emphasis on how swiftly a well-timed submission can swing a fight.

• Jacobe Smith vs. Niko Price (Welterweight)

Smith used patient groundwork and clinch control to endure Price’s early offense. In Round 2, Smith locked in a rear-naked choke and forced a tap at 4:03.

• Jhonata Diniz vs. Alvin Hines (Heavyweight)

This heavyweight fight went the full distance. Diniz used reach and aggression to outstrike Hines, earning a unanimous decision (29–28 across all judges) .

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5. UFC 317 Results Summary Table

Fight	Result	Method	Round	Time
Topuria vs. Olivera	Topuria def. Olivera	KO (strikes)	1	2:27
Pantoja vs. Kai Kara‑France	Pantoja def. Kara‑France	Submission (rear-naked choke)	3	1:55
Royval vs. Joshua Van	Van def. Royval	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00
Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano	Dariush def. Moicano	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00
Payton Talbott vs. Felipe Lima	Talbott def. Lima	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00
Greg Rodrigues vs. Jack Hermansson	Rodrigues def. Hermansson	KO (punch)	1	4:21
Jose Miguel Delgado vs. Hyder Amil	Delgado def. Amil	KO (knee & elbow)	1	0:26
Tracy Cortez vs. Viviane Araújo	Cortez def. Araújo	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00
Terrance McKinney vs. Viacheslav Borshchev	McKinney def. Borshchev	Submission (guillotine choke)	1	0:55
Jacobe Smith vs. Niko Price	Smith def. Price	Submission (rear-naked choke)	2	4:03
Jhonata Diniz vs. Alvin Hines	Diniz def. Hines	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00

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🧠 How Players Win: Techniques Behind the Results

Throughout UFC 317, a variety of methods—fight finishes and decision tactics—were on full display:

a) Knockouts (KO/TKO)

• Topuria vs. Olivera: Striking mastery—quick punch combinations lead to knockout.
• Rodrigues vs. Hermansson: Single clean shot (right hand) ended the bout.
• Delgado vs. Amil: Rapid knee followed by elbow caused early KO.

b) Submissions

• Pantoja vs. Kara‑France: Clinching, back control, and a rear-naked choke secured victory.
• McKinney vs. Borshchev: Guillotine choke during takedown transition.
• Smith vs. Price: Patient clinch, backtake, and rear-naked choke in Round 2.

c) Decisions

• Van vs. Royval, Dariush vs. Moicano, Talbott vs. Lima, Cortez vs. Araújo, Diniz vs. Hines: Controlled pacing, effective strikes, takedown defense, and cage control allowed fighters to edge out unanimous decisions. Cage awareness and octagon control proved decisive.

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🎯 Notable Narrative Themes

1. Topuria Continues Meteoric Rise

After dominating featherweight, Topuria transitioned flawlessly to lightweight. Against Olivera, he neutralized grappling, disengaged smartly, and landed knockout power. He became UFC’s 10th multi-division champion, marking a turning point in UFC history

2. Post-Fight Showdown Sparks Rivalries

Immediately after his KO, Topuria confronted Paddy Pimblett, shoving him cage-side—an incident adding drama and speculation to his next title defense.

3. Bonus-Worthy Performances

• Topuria and Rodrigues earned Performance of the Night bonuses for their spectacular finishes .
• Additionally, Van vs. Royval was awarded Fight of the Night, highlighting the back-and-forth nature of their clash .

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🧩 Post-Event Outlook

Following UFC 317, the lightweight scene is set for high drama:

• Topuria is expected to face either Paddy Pimblett—whose cage-side confrontation justifiably fuels demand—or other top contenders like Arman Tsarukyan. Either matchup promises fireworks.
• Pantoja, riding high after his finish, could unify or be challenged by top flyweights.
• Meanwhile, early prelim upsets—like Delgado’s rapid KO and Smith’s strong submission—have spotlighted rising talents to watch.

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✅ Final Thoughts

In summary, UFC 317 stands out for these reasons:

1. Topuria vs. Olivera resulted in a first-round knockout under 3 minutes, reshaping the lightweight division.
2. Topuria’s win showcased how player strategy and fight execution lead to results.
3. Co-main results included a slick submission from Pantoja.
4. Main card fights were a mix of decisions and finishes, highlighting technical mastery.
5. Prelim results reminded us of the depth of UFC talent, with lightning-fast KOs and submissions.

Ultimately, UFC 317 delivered on every promise. Whether fans sought knockout finishes, submission mastery, or strategic pacing, this event offered it. By weaving in high-profile finishes, technical battles, and future rivalries, UFC 317 remains a standout chapter in recent MMA history.

Want to know Ilia Topuria and Charles Olivera’s controversy before UFC 317 |CLICK HERE TO SEE|