The UFC caps off its Worldwide Struggle Week with UFC 317 at T-Cell Area in Las Vegas on Saturday night time (10 ET on ESPN+ PPV; prelims at 8 ET on ESPN/ESPN+/Disney+; early prelims at 6:30 ET on ESPN+/Disney+).
The principle occasion will function former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria taking up former light-weight titleholder Charles Oliveira for the 155-pound belt not too long ago vacated by Islam Makhachev. Topuria is ESPN’s No. 2-ranked pound-for-pound fighter, whereas Oliveira is ESPN’s second-ranked lightweight.
Within the co-main occasion, Alexandre Pantoja returns to the Octagon in search of his fourth consecutive males’s flyweight title protection in opposition to Kai Kara-France. Pantoja, ranked No. 7 in ESPN’s P4P rankings, has not misplaced since July 2020. Kara-France, No. 4 in ESPN’s flyweight rankings, earned a title shot following an impressive first-round knockout win over Steve Erceg at UFC 305 this previous August.
On Friday, the PFL hosts the final occasion of its 2025 semifinals, that includes the middleweight, mild heavyweight and heavyweight divisions.
Fabian Edwards will sq. off with Josh Silveira in the principle occasion. Additionally on the principle card, former Bellator bantamweight champions Sergio Pettis and Raufeon Stots go face to face.
A UFC Corridor of Famer, MMA coach, ESPN MMA analysts and commentators give their UFC title battle predictions. ESPN betting knowledgeable Ian Parker provides perception and evaluation on intriguing bets from each battle playing cards.
Light-weight championship
Every part I take a look at on this matchup tells me to select Ilia. He is a greater technical boxer. In opposition to Josh Emmett in 2023, he confirmed he was defensively accountable, despite the fact that he had no drawback standing within the pocket. Most individuals who keep away from taking a giant shot from Emmett do it by refusing to have interaction with him and backing away. Ilia is so technically sound, which is extraordinarily spectacular. And if he will get on high of Charles on the bottom, I feel he’ll do critical injury. — Anthony Smith
I feel it is going to be fairly one-sided. I feel Ilia will harm him within the first spherical and have him hesitant the remainder of the battle. Ilia will begin choosing Charles aside and put him away within the third spherical. — Din Thomas
Betting evaluation
Odds correct as of June 26. For essentially the most up-to-date odds, go to ESPN BET.
Parker: Topuria to win by TKO/KO; over 1.5 rounds. Topuria makes the bounce up from featherweight to light-weight in opposition to Oliveira, hoping to seize his second championship. The oddsmakers appear to anticipate Topuria (-525) to win simply. That line is approach too large for me, contemplating Topuria solely has one UFC battle at light-weight, and although he received, he was dropped within the first spherical by Jai Herbert in July 2021. This battle can be extra aggressive than the percentages recommend, so in case you take Topuria, the KO/TKO prop is the best way to go. One other line that caught my eye is the over 1.5 rounds. Oliveira hasn’t been knocked out since 2017 and could have the attain to maintain distance between them if he chooses to. So if a end occurs, I see it taking part in out just like the best way Topuria completed Max Holloway in Spherical 3 of their UFC 308 featherweight title battle.
Males’s flyweight championship
I see this one as fairly one-sided, too. In the end, Kai will not be capable of cease the takedown and that is the distinction on this battle. As soon as Pantoja has him on the mat, he’ll take the again and choke him out earlier than the third spherical begins. — Din Thomas
Kara-France using a powerful streak proper now. Pantoja does not shut distance nicely typically. He is a bit clumsy doing it, and Kara-France has seemed actually clear in his hanging. His evading and countering look significantly better, and his footwork appears so much higher. — Anthony Smith
Betting evaluation
Parker: Pantoja to win (-250). Pretty much as good a striker and as a lot knockout energy as Kara-France has proven, I nonetheless do not anticipate it to be sufficient to beat the champion. Pantoja can match the ability of Kara-France and has the sturdiness to outlive any large pictures that come his approach. The largest disparity total is the bottom recreation of Pantoja. Time and time once more, Pantoja has been capable of dictate fights by advancing with strikes to arrange his world-class jiu-jitsu, and I anticipate him to grapple his solution to one other profitable title protection in opposition to Kara-France.
Parker’s finest bets on the remainder of the cardboard
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Felipe Lima defeats Muhammad Naimov through submission in Spherical 3
Felipe Lima makes his UFC debut and defeats Muhammad Naimov with a rear-naked choke in Spherical 3.
Males’s bantamweight: Felipe Lima vs Payton Talbott
Lima to win (-195). Talbott was dominated from begin to end by Raoni Barcelos in his final battle. He was the largest betting favourite on the cardboard, however his poor takedown protection was uncovered, and now he returns in opposition to one other extremely touted prospect who’s a stylistic nightmare for him. On the toes, Lima throws extra quantity than Talbott and has proven good sturdiness to date. So long as he can keep away from Talbott’s energy, search for Lima to make use of his wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu expertise to get the win right here.
Middleweight: Jack Hermansson vs. Gregory Rodrigues
Rodrigues to win (-220). Greater than a yr after his choice win over Joe Pyfer in February 2024, Hermansson returns in opposition to Rodrigues, the betting favourite, despite the fact that he’s coming off a loss to Jared Cannonier in his first most important occasion. I like Rodrigues on this matchup as a result of he’s the higher striker and carries super knockout energy. Hermansson normally has the higher hand in grappling, however on this matchup, Rodrigues is the higher jiu-jitsu practitioner. Search for Rodrigues to maintain this battle standing and get again on the successful monitor.
Parker’s finest bets for the PFL semifinals
Middleweight: Fabian Edwards vs. Josh Silveira
Over 2.5 rounds. Edwards let the MMA world know that he’s nonetheless amongst the very best middleweights within the PFL together with his knockout win over Impa Kasanganay within the first spherical. He now takes on PFL mainstay Silveira, who’s as sturdy a fighter because it will get. That is an attention-grabbing battle as a result of Edwards is a -550 favourite, however Silveira has the sting in wrestling and floor recreation if he can get the battle there. The wager right here is for the battle to go over 2.5 rounds or — for a greater value — the gap, as a result of it’s unattainable to place Silveira away. 4 of Silveira’s previous 5 fights have gone to choice, as have two of Edwards’ final 4. I anticipate a troublesome battle from bell to bell.
Middleweight: Dalton Rosta vs. Aaron Jeffery
Rosta to win (-140). Rosta seemed flawless in his battle in opposition to Sadibou Sy within the first spherical, and now will get a rematch in opposition to the one fighter who has overwhelmed him in his skilled profession. Jeffery is a troublesome fighter, however his final battle in opposition to Murad Ramazanov confirmed little or no evolution to his recreation. If he fights the identical approach in opposition to Rosta, he is in for an extended night time. If Rosta can keep off the fence and off his again, he’ll win.
Gentle heavyweight: Rafael Xavier vs Karl Albrektsson
Xavier to win (-170). Albrektsson is coming off a brutal TKO loss solely six weeks in the past, his second TKO loss in a row. He takes on Xavier subsequent, who has a 69% KO/TKO charge and narrowly misplaced to Simeon Powell in his final battle. Until Albrektsson takes down Xavier and holds him there, I anticipate Xavier to have a showcase second.