UFC 317: Topuria vs Oliveira - Full Card Analysis

UFC 317: Topuria vs Oliveira – 6.28.2025 – Fight Predictions and Analysis

Welcome to our collaborative coverage of UFC 317: Topuria vs Oliveira. We’re being treated to a stacked pay-per-view this Saturday as is to be expected closing out International Fight Week in Las Vegas. It is exciting to have two-great title fights closing out the event. Be sure to check out our full reasoning for every pick as our records will not reflect confidence in each selection. We will be picking every fight, but likely only recommend betting on a select few.

Current Record

Anthony: 156-95-1 (Last Year 321-191-0, 63%)
Nick: 161-90-1 (Last Year 316-196-0, 62%)

*Fight odds were last updated from Bet99 on 6-27-2025 at 7pm EST

Early Prelims- Start 7:00pm EST

Jhonata Diniz -400 vs Alvin Hines +300

Anthony: The event begins at heavyweight with Jhonata Diniz facing Alvin Hines. This is a short notice appearance for Hines who is making his promotional debut here today. Diniz was originally scheduled to be facing Justin Tafa here on International Fight Week. The promotion seems to be looking to build up Diniz once more after losing in his last fight for the first time ever. Marcin Tybura was able to stop the previously undefeated Diniz by utilizing his great offensive grappling. There is a clear game plan now in place to best Diniz and his incredible kickboxing skills. Hines himself is an undefeated fighter but I do not expect that to continue as he runs into Jhonata here. Hines is not known for his wrestling offense and I do not think it will be easy for him to score takedowns. Diniz is so much quicker and more powerful when landing his attacks. He should target Hines’ legs in this spot and land damage to separate himself very early on. Diniz can normally fight through adversity and hurt opponents even after getting taken down. It should be a competitive first round of action but I do not expect Hines to hold up for long. This is a massive step-up in competition and Hines deserves credit for even taking this bout. I am confidently choosing Diniz to get the victory via knockout. Jhonata Diniz by Round One KO
Nick: At 34-years old Diaz is getting a relatively late start to his MMA career, but he already has an extensive professional kickboxing background fighting for the likes of Glory and WGP Kickboxing. He is 2-1 in the UFC, most recently falling via KO to a tough out in Marcin Tybura. Diniz is 8-1 professionally, with seven of his eight professional wins coming via KO. He has better footwork than the back half of the division and his aggressive striking style can be overwhelming for lower level opponents. He has decent cardio and durability, but if he finds himself on his back he does tend to struggle to work his way back to his feet. Alvin Hines will be making his UFC debut here, filling in as a late replacement for the injured Justin Tafa. Hines is 33 years old and 7-0 professionally. He’s one of the main training partners of ranked heavyweight Thomas Petersen, and he’s spent most of his career fighting for a respectable regional promotion in LFA. He’s relatively well rounded with three wins via KO and three via submission, but he seems to find most of his success on the feet. He throws a lot of volume for a heavyweight and he does a good job mixing kicks into his combinations. While his record is impressive, he really hasn’t taken on anyone close to UFC level. Hines likes to throw high kicks, which I expect creates an opening for Diniz here to find a counter and a finish. Even if Hines finds takedowns early, I don’t expect he can keep things grounded long enough to pull off the upset. Jhonata Diniz by Round Two KO

Jacobe Smith -2200 vs Niko Price +1100

Anthony: Next is a bout at welterweight between Jacobe Smith and Niko Price. When the cage door locks, Smith will be entering tonight’s matchup as one of the biggest favorites in UFC history. The undefeated prospect has been dominating his competition thus far and certainly looks the part of a top contender. He trains with a great team at Fortis MMA and blends great wrestling skills with his elite power. Smith has really developed into a lethal boxer when he fights on the feet. He should have an edge striking against Price here thanks to his speed and power. Price has always been a rather solid technical striker but at this stage of his career there is not very much to like. Since 2019, Price has only won on two occasions and neither victory came in high-level tilts. He should not be getting disrespected as much as odds show, but absolutely nobody trusts him with their money at this juncture. The 35-year-old has too much wear on his body and no clear path to victory in this matchup with Smith. I am confidently picking Smith to win by stoppage here today. Jacobe Smith by Round Two KO
Nick: Jacobe Smith is 10-0 professionally, with eight of those wins coming via KO. Smith fights out of a solid camp via Fortis MMA, and at 29-years old he’s entering his athletic prime. While most of his wins have come via KO, Smith is an All-American D-1 wrestler who had found his initial success at Oklahoma State University. He’s shown solid cardio and durability and he does a good job transitioning between his striking and grappling. He’s coming off an impressive win in his UFC debut, where he KO’d Preston Parsons just over one minute into the fight. Niko Price will have a massive experience advantage in this match-up. He’s fairly well-rounded, but he’s found most of his UFC success trading on the feet with notable wins over Alex Oliveira, Tim Means, Randy Brown, and most recently Alex Morono. Ten of his sixteen professional wins have come via KO. In his prime, he was quick and explosive. However, there’s no denying he’s in the twilight of his career. Price will have a size and power advantage here, but his durability is a major concern as he’s getting up there in age. He’s taken a lot of damage in most of his fights, and there’s no denying he’s a step slower both in striking exchanges and in scrambles. The price is somewhat ridiculous, but the UFC is doing all they can to add to Smith’s highlight reel here. He’s going to be the much better finish no matter where this one goes. I expect he can end this quickly. Price was never a top athlete, even in his prime – and he’s far past his prime. Jacobe Smith by Round One KO

Preliminary Card- Starts 8:00pm EST

Terrance McKinney -175 vs Viacheslav Borshchev +140

Anthony: This should be a fun fight at lightweight between Terrance McKinney and Viacheslav Borshchev. McKinney fights are generally easy to handicap because of his unmatched aggression in round one. He only has the gas tank to fight in short bursts. 15 of 16 professional wins for McKinney have come inside of the first five minutes. He is going to crash the distance immediately and look to put hands on Borshchev. McKinney can normally score the first takedown by slamming opponents down to the mat. He is a very high-level wrestler and certainly holds the edge grappling here. Borshchev may not match McKinney in terms of power but I expect him to get the better of these exchanges standing. I have to favor the better technical striker in this fight. Borshchev cannot be taken lightly with his wealth of kickboxing experience and the durability he has shown. Years of training has rewarded him with impeccable timing and a great variety of attacks from range. I like how Borshchev strings together his combinations and attacks all levels when his foes are hurt. He will need to survive an onslaught from McKinney in round one but after that this should be Borshchev’s fight to lose. I expect him to put his striking on display and find a knockout against McKinney. Viacheslav Borshchev by Round Two KO
Nick: Terrance McKinney is known as a knockout artist, but he has underrated wrestling ability as well. He is 16-7 professionally and all of his wins have come inside the distance. He is 5-4 in the UFC, most recently securing a KO win over Damir Hadzovic back in February. In most of McKinney’s fights he pushes a ridiculous pace. He overwhelms most of his opponents early, but if he can’t find a quick finish he’s usually dominated late as his cardio/gas tank fails. Viacheslav Borschev is primarily a kickboxer. He throws extremely powerful shots with all of his limbs and he seems to have excellent head movement and footwork. As talented as he is on the feet, his grappling leaves a lot to be desired. He trains at a grappling focused camp via Team Alpha Male where he serves as a striking coach. It can be expected his wrestling will continue to improve, but he’s going to have trouble against the stronger grapplers in this division. Additionally, at 33-years old it seems he could be surpassing his athletic prime. McKinney has been fragile at the UFC level, but this does feel like the type of match-up in which he can find success. I expect he can drag Borschev to the mat and find a quick finish via ground-and-pound, but if this fight is extended Borschev will be very live to pull off the upset. McKinney early, or Borschev late, but more likely than not I expect McKinney can get it done. Terrance McKinney by Round One KO

Tracy Cortez -250 vs Viviane Araujo +200

Anthony: Next is a fight at women’s flyweight between Viviane Araujo and Tracy Cortez. These ranked athletes will likely produce a fun stylistic clash today. Cortez has been fighting well lately and improving drastically as a fighter these past two years. Her last bout was a loss against Rose Namajunas but nonetheless a close fight that did see Cortez fight valiantly. She has a decisive advantage wrestling and grappling Araujo in this matchup. The Brazilian is now 38 years old and starting to show more signs of wear. She has been failing to eclipse 50 significant strikes landed and too often lately Araujo has been dropping the third round. Her cardio is solid for the first ten minutes of each bout before long we normally see a steep decline in output. Araujo has 80 percent takedown defense but has not been tested against many skilled wrestlers like this. Cortez should have no problem getting Araujo into her grasp and dragging this fight to the mat. I think she is the rightful favorite in this matchup although I probably won’t get to the window betting on her. Tracy Cortez by Decision
Nick: Prior to her recent loss to Rose Namajunas, Cortez was on an eleven fight win-streak. She has notable UFC Wins over Stephanie Egger, Melissa Gatto, and most impressively Jasmine Jasudavicius. She’s fairly well-rounded, but her greatest strength is certainly her grappling ability. She has a solid wrestling base, impressive ground-and-pound and she averages nearly three successful takedowns per fifteen minutes. She trains out of an excellent camp in Fight Ready. Viviane Araujo should have a power advantage here. Her strikes are explosive, she has an excellent front kick and throws powerful combinations. She works well behind her jab and her footwork is advanced. She is a talented offensive grappler as a BJJ black belt, but she doesn’t really have the wrestling base or takedown ability to get the fight to the mat consistently. Araujo has a considerable advantage in experience here, but this feels like two fighters’ who are seeing their careers head in opposite directions. The line is far too wide, but Cortez’s skills should be enough to pass this litmus test. Tracy Cortez by Decision

Jose Delgado -150 vs Hyder Amil +125

Anthony: This is a fight at featherweight between Jose Delgado and Hyder Amil. These are two exciting prospects at this weight, possessing real power and knockout skills. Delgado is the longer and more dynamic athlete. He has more diverse kickboxing skills and a great feel for finishing his fights with highlights. Amil meanwhile is 35 years old and still undefeated as a professional. Seven of Amil’s wins have come by finish. His late start in the sport is bad news for all of us because Amil is the definition of “fan friendly” style. He is a real throwback fighter, brawling recklessly and fighting like a man who has never tasted defeat. Last time out Delgado was an easy bet against Connor Mathews who I always will fade. He is a big power threat like Amil, but Delgado has not faced very tough competition thus far. I am sure we will see at least one knockdown early from the fighter who sets the pace here. Amil is going to do what he needs to do, pressuring forward and forcing Delgado to brawl. Although undersized, Amil will close the distance and make this a fight in a phone booth. He is an easy pick as the betting underdog, always fighting damn hard for your money. Hyder Amil by Round Two KO
Nick: Jose Delgado is 27 years-old and 9-1 professionally, coming off an impressive KO win in his UFC debut over Conor Matthews back in February. He’s well rounded, fighting out of an excellent camp via MMA Lab in Arizona. Delgado is an explosive striker who fights at a torrid pace. He’s extremely aggressive, which can make him vulnerable to counters. Additionally, his kill-or-be-killed style makes him a risky fighter to back as a favorite if he can’t finish his opponent quickly. He has a dangerous BJJ game if he finds himself on the mat, but it’s rare we see him aggressively chase takedowns. Hyder Amil is 11-0 professionally, but getting a late start to his career as a 35-year old featherweight. He recorded knockout victories in his first two fights in the UFC, and he most recently secured an impressive decision over a tough out in William Gomis. Amil is primarily a striker and he uses his range well. He has decent BJJ, but it’s tough to gauge how effective his grappling will be against UFC level opponents as he has favored his striking in his last few fights. Amil pushes at a serious pace and he throws a lot of volume on his feet. These are two similar fighters that are willing to exchange in a fire fight. I slightly prefer the Amil side as we’ve seen him endure adversity against a higher level of opponent. There is value on him as the underdog here. Hyder Amil by Decision

Gregory Rodrigues -220 vs Jack Hermansson +180

Anthony: The preliminary card ends with this fight at middleweight between Gregory Rodrigues and Jack Hermansson. Closing the prelims with two great fights like this will surely sell more pay-per-views. Rodrigues always fights with violence and urgency to score at all times. Robocop is quick to impose his size on opponents, landing with accuracy and throwing with all of his strength. He tends to struggle in later rounds due to his aggressive approach early. I think Rodrigues benefits from returning to fighting just three rounds here. He is much better suited for three rounds while Hermansson is normally thankful to see his fights booked for longer. Hermansson’s last win came late against Joe Pyfer after losing both of the first two rounds. Rodrigues will swarm Hermansson with the same pressure boxing from the very start. Hermansson can be difficult to corral and hit but he does not respond well when forced to retreat and absorb powerful strikes. He is most comfortable utilizing his grappling, an aspect of his game likely to be neutralized by Rodrigues’ elite jiu jitsu. It will be another uphill battle if Hermansson plans on cashing as the underdog in this spot. Gregory Rodrigues by Round Two KO
Nick: Jack Hermansson, is one of the best offensive grapplers in the UFC at Middleweight. His style is fairly unconventional, but he has more brute strength than most do on the mat so he can pull off Submissions that most others couldn’t. He can look awkward on the feet, but he throws powerful and accurate strikes and he does an excellent job circling away from the power of his opponents. His awkward style makes him a difficult target to find, and his striking continues to improve. Gregory Rodrigues has a BJJ black belt, but he’s found most of his success just standing and striking at range. He’s massive for the division, but he carries so much muscle that it seems he fades if his fights get into the later rounds. Rodrigues is extremely dangerous offensively, but he telegraphs many of his strikes which leads him open to be countered in chaotic exchanges. Regardless, he’s a potent finisher with a well-rounded overall game. This is one of the more competitive fights on the card and one I could certainly see going either way. I see value in Hermansson here, but I still expect Rodrigues to win the first two rounds and then survive through the third on his way to a narrow decision. Gregory Rodrigues by Decision

Main Card- Starts 10:00pm EST

Felipe Lima -185 vs Payton Talbott +150

Anthony: The main card opens in the bantamweight division for this fight between Felipe Lima and Payton Talbott. This is a great piece of matchmaking as both these young prospects have so much ahead of them in the promotion. Talbott’s last appearance came at UFC 311. He lost to Raoni Barcelos there as the -1100 betting favorite. The hype surrounding Talbott was perhaps a bit too much as he spent that fight controlled handily by Barcelos on the ground. Talbott will need to continue to develop better takedown defenses but thankfully this is a less rigorous stylistic test today. Lima is a much better grappler than Talbott but he does not often prioritize taking down opponents. A large portion of this bout should take place on the feet where Talbott has the decisive advantage. In terms of boxing, Talbott is much faster and better at landing combination attacks. He should be able to get early reads here facing Lima and take over with his volume as this fight wears on. Watch for Talbott to touch up Lima from range and land kicks very frequently. This is a great buy-low spot and I am eager to grab Talbott as the betting underdog. It appears to be a classic instance of a betting market overcorrecting after one result. Payton Talbott by Round Three KO
Nick: Felipe Lima is coming off impressive wins over Muhammed Naimov and Miles John.. He carries a solid 13-1 professional record into this match-up, and he hasn’t lost a fight since his professional debut back in 2015. Training out of the same camp as Khamzat Chimaev via Allstars in Sweden, Lima generally does a good job fighting moving backwards. He has technically sound striking, a solid understanding of footwork, and his takedown defense has mostly held up to this point in his career. He scored a surprising submission win in his UFC debut against Naimov, which tells us he’s been rounding out his game. He’s certainly a prospect worth keeping an eye on as he enters this match-up at just 27-years-old, and while he does prefer to stand and trade he’s going to have a considerable grappling advantage in this match-up. Payton Talbott is a gifted striker with surprising power for his frame. He has excellent cardio and does a good job circling away from the power of his opponents in exchanges. His defensive grappling was exposed his last time out against a talented vet in Raoni Barcelos. However, Talbott is still one of the more exciting prospects in the world at 135 lbs. This is a binary match-up in which Talbott will look like a favorite if he can mostly keep this fight standing. If he can’t, Lima has a good chance to dominate. These are two excellent prospects, but the value seems to be on Talbott as the underdog. The market seems to have overcorrected coming off his loss to Barcelos. Lima could dominate if he can secure early takedowns, but I expect we see an improved version of Talbott this time around. He should be able to edge this one out if he can keep this fight standing. A low confidence play, but I’ll buy low on Talbott. Payton Talbott by Decision

Renato Moicano -120 vs Beneil Dariush +100

Anthony: Next is a matchup at lightweight between Beneil Dariush and Renato Moicano. The odds indicate that this is a very close matchup on paper between these two division veterans. Both men are 36 years old with a lot of cage time facing elite competition. Dariush has had a bit more success overall but he enters this matchup riding a streak of two straight losses. In each of those appearances Dariush was hurt and eventually stopped via TKO. Moicano is strong for this division but he does not present the same threat standing to Dariush here tonight. If his chin is not completely dust, Dariush should be able to control position and win this fight against Moicano. Dariush is the better technical striker with great counters and well-timed over hands. He would like to meet Moicano on the feet while the Brazilian may look for opportunities to shoot. I am very excited to see these two elite grapplers go at it on the mat. Dariush seems a bit more poised with his jiu jitsu, likely never ceding top position to Moicano here. I also slightly favor Dariush if this fight goes the full three round distance. The judges will score in favor of damage and Moicano will struggle to hurt Dariush unless he can get on top. Beneil Dariush by Decision
Nick: Beneil Dariush has an outstanding ground game, but his striking has been what has led to most of his success in the UFC. He’s a highly technical kick boxer who effectively mixes creative and timely spinning attacks into his combinations. Dariush is hyper-aggressive so he sometimes leaves himself open to damage, which is what cost him in his recent losses to Charles Oliviera and Arman Tsarukyan. Renato Moicano is an advanced BJJ black belt. He has outstanding offensive grappling and he does a good job scrambling into favorable positions against a wide-range of opponents. His greatest strengths are definitely shown on the mat, but he is comfortable striking both in the clinch and in open space. These are two extremely similar fighters which makes this a tough one to call. Nothing would surprise me here, but I slightly prefer the Dariush side as the better technical striker with a bit more power. Beneil Dariush by Decision

Joshua Van -120 vs Brandon Royval +100

Anthony: The featured bout is a flyweight matchup between Brandon Royval and Joshua Van. This will be Van’s ninth fight in just two years with the promotion. He last competed at UFC 316 only three weeks ago. Van’s boxing was on-point once again there as he beat Bruno Silva via knockout. He is young, incredibly active and developing into a better fighter with each and every performance. I have noticed drastic improvements in Van’s head movement and defensive awareness recently. He is often in position to get his since he lands 8.20 significant strikes per minute. This short notice matchup is so interesting since Royval is one fighter that can match Van’s crazy pace. Royval will be very quick to land strikes on Van and use his reach to advantage. From the southpaw stance I think Royval will do well touching up Van and potentially shooting for takedowns. Van has been taken down at least once in each of his previous three fights. Royval should be durable enough to withstand his great boxing and win minutes by making this a scrap. It is a big step-up in competition for the 23 year old prospect. I am not picking this fight with any confidence at all. I prefer Royval slightly in this coin-flip as he is also the slight betting underdog. Brandon Royval by Decision
Nick: Joshua Van is 14-2 professionally, with seven wins coming via KO and two coming via submission. For a 23-year old he is already very well-rounded and dangerous no matter where his fights go. He’s primarily a boxer and he’s crisp offensively. He fights at a torrid pace and puts out a lot of volume in exchanges. He’s still developing his skills, but it seems he’ll likely be a staple in the flyweight division for years to come. He’s quickly developed a reputation as a fighter who gets better as his fighters wear on and he enters this fight on a four fight win streak. Brandon Royval is one of the more aggressive fighters there is on the roster. He starts fights like he’s shot out of a cannon. He is well-rounded with a solid chin but his crafty BJJ and dangerous offensive grappling ability is certainly his greatest strength. He has notable wins over Kai Kara-France, Brandon Moreno and most recently, Tatsuro Taira. He thrives in chaos and he’s done a good job forcing opponents to fight at his ridiculous pace. This should be a competitive fight, but I expect Royval can secure the win in this one. He’s been taking on the much better level of competition, he’s the better grappler in this one and Van is taking a huge step up in competition here on very short notice. While I do rate Van as a future contender, it feels like a bit too much too soon in this matchup. Brandon Royval by Round Two Submission

Alexandre Pantoja -250 vs Kai Kara-France +200

Anthony: In the co-main event flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja will defend his title against Kai Kara-France. Pantoja last fought in December with his best title defense to date, easily submitting Kai Asakura. He is a winner thanks to fighting with intense pressure and incredible cardio. Pantoja averages 4.57 takedowns landed per five rounds and I am sure he will grapple against Kara-France. While Kai does have elite kickboxing he lacks skills in terms of his grappling defense. He will need to scramble with high intensity throughout this fight and I am not sure he will be able to match Pantoja. The first meeting between these two was in 2016 and it only lasted two rounds on The Ultimate Fighter. Both men have substantially improved since then but Pantoja has always been further along. These odds are completely reasonable. Kara-France has a puncher’s chance against anyone in the division given his power and great kickboxing skills. He has numerous performance bonuses and the aura of a champion as he enters his second title fight. I believe Pantoja should be favored to win just like in their first meeting. He is the more well-rounded martial artist and far superior in terms of his jiu jitsu. Kara-France is a live underdog without doubt but I have to side with the reigning champion. Stylistically it is a fight that favors him. Pantoja still seems to be underrated by fans despite his incredible body of work. He is the model of consistency having never been finished in 34 professional fights. And Still. Alexandre Pantoja by Decision
Nick: Alexandre Pantoja is elite pretty much everywhere. He’s outstanding on the ground and his striking is crisp and explosive. He’s on a seven-fight winning streak, most recently defending his title against a dangerous opponent in Kai Asakura. This will be Pantoja’s fourth title defense since he captured it from Brandon Moreno back in 2023, and in all of his recent wins it seems he’s been a bit more reserved, and also more willing to lean on his wrestling to secure rounds on the scorecards. Kai Kara-France, out of City Kickboxing, is a talented and dangerous striker. He has a powerful overhand right and does a good job making sure that the strikes he throws are meaningful. The one real knock on him is that he tends to find himself in tough positions as he takes his foot off the gas at inopportune times. He’s 1-2 across his last three fights, but he’s only matched up against the highest level fighters in the division. Kara-France will be the more powerful striker in this match-up, but Pantoja has excellent durability. I expect the champion to lean on a grappling heavy gameplan as he secures another title defense. And Still. Alexandre Pantoja by Round Three Submission

Ilia Topuria -430 vs Charles Oliveira +320

Anthony: The main event will decide a lightweight champion with Charles Oliveira facing Ilia Topuria. El Matador vacated his featherweight title in pursuit of earning even more gold at lightweight. The title is currently vacant in this division due to Islam Makhachev pursuing a similar feat and moving up to welterweight. While the undefeated Topuria already has a massive following, he will be one of the sport’s biggest stars with another win to close out International Fight Week. He has already impressed in title fights against Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski. It is safe to include on the pound-for-pound list given his seismic power and elite skills all-around. Oliveira is one of the best ever on the mat but Topuria should actually have the wrestling and jiu jitsu to hold his own. Oliveira’s last win earned another of his record 20 total Fight Night Bonuses. With two high-action fighters like this I am expecting a stoppage early by one man or the other and another bonus tonight. Topuria has a clear edge standing and while Oliveira is certainly dangerous, he will be the one landing the more precise and damaging strikes. Oliveira puts himself in danger too often, rarely moving off of the centerline. He will expose himself to Topuria’s counters as he attempts to land kicks and jumping attacks. Oliveira is best suited getting Topuria in clinch positions where he can utilize his elbows and knees. I expect to see some great combinations from the champion and good work digging into Charles’ body too. He is also reckless but thus far nobody has hurt Topuria very badly. Oliveira’s chin has never been great and now at age 35 things will only get worse. He endured a hard time cutting weight this week while I’m sure Topuria is stronger and more comfortable fighting at 155 pounds. Topuria has a chance to be the tenth champion to win title belts in multiple divisions. Even fewer champs have ever won three title fights in a row via knockout. He would join the likes of Miocic, Liddell and Silva if he can find that shot against Oliveira tonight. And New. Ilia Topuria by Round One KO
Nick: Illia Topuria comes into this fight with a lot of momentum, undefeated at 16-0, and most recently defending the UFC Featherweight Title with a KO of Max Holloway back in October of 2024. Topuria will be moving up a weight class here in an attempt to capture the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship that was vacated by Islam Makhachev. He is an aggressive striker who packs a lot of power in his punches. He throws extremely fast combinations and his overall explosiveness has catapulted him into the pound-for-pound rankings as one of the best fighters in the world. Topuria has also shown a solid understanding of both wrestling and BJJ. Topuria is a black belt in BJJ with eight of his sixteen wins coming via submission. Charles Oliveira is a third-degree black belt in BJJ and pound-for-pound one of the best grapplers in the world. His striking has dramatically improved over the course of his career and he’s recently shown serious improvement in his ability to throw combinations. A former lightweight champion, Oliveira has been out of action since he recorded a dominant win over Michael Chandler back at UFC 309. The line feels a bit wide here, but Topuria is a brutal stylistic match-up for Oliveira. Oliveira is dangerous but extremely hittable, and Topuria is competent enough on the mat to stay safe if Oliveira does somehow manage to ground him. If Oliveira marches forward I don’t expect this fight to last very long. And New. Ilia Topuria by Round Two KO

-Nick Marro

Twitter: @NickMarroDFS

-Anthony Marro

Twitter: @AnthonyMarro_

Photo: UFC.com