UFC 317 takeaways: Joshua Van, Ilia Topuria signify thrilling adjustments at light-weight and flyweight

UFC 317 established a new champion, new title contenders and offered followers with fight-of-the-year-worthy motion Saturday.

In the principle occasion, former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria claimed a brand new throne, beating former light-weight titleholder Charles Oliveira by first-round knockout for the 155-pound belt. After the win, Topuria was face-to-face with potential subsequent challenger Paddy Pimblett.

And Alexandre Pantoja continued his dominant males’s flyweight title run with a submission win over Kai Kara-France within the co-main occasion. He was met by Joshua Van within the Octagon after the victory. Van had simply pulled off a formidable flyweight win within the bout earlier than, beating Brandon Royval in a struggle of the yr front-runner, to determine himself as the highest contender at 125 kilos.

Brett Okamoto and Jeff Wagenheim provide their prime takeaways from the largest fights at UFC 317.

Ilia Topuria is totally different

I wished to watch out about doubting Oliveira. We have seen it too many occasions — Oliveira is the underdog however pulls off some magic in a light-weight title struggle.

However the second I noticed Topuria come out of the tunnel on Saturday, I knew that was a person who wasn’t going to lose. I’ve had the privilege of watching the very best fighters in UFC historical past up shut — and talking to them afterward — and I do know what the very best of the very best appears to be like and appears like. Topuria is totally different. He jogged my memory of Conor McGregor when he knocked out Dustin Poirier of their first struggle on the MGM Grand Backyard in Las Vegas in 2014 with what felt like half of Eire within the stands. McGregor’s self perception — coupled with the work he was doing within the fitness center — made him unbeatable that evening. Topuria was the identical at UFC 317.

The struggle recreation is a world of hyperbole and superlatives, and generally it could possibly get carried away. However I can say with full confidence, what we’re witnessing with Topuria is particular. He did not simply knock out Oliveira on Saturday. He left Oliveira staring into area within the middle of the Octagon with a shot he mentioned he vividly pictured throwing beforehand. He hosted a celebration social gathering for his victory in Las Vegas — on Friday … the day earlier than the struggle. Even probably the most assured, cockiest fighters of all time do not dare issues like that. Topuria is probably the most fascinating factor occurring in MMA proper now. –Okamoto

Alexandre Pantoja will get a brand new challenger, fortunately

Pantoja has an extended solution to go earlier than his flyweight legacy can stand as much as Demetrious Johnson, who set the UFC document with 11 consecutive title defenses. However Pantoja is second to none on the subject of present belt holders. His 4 title defenses are greater than every other UFC champion.

Past that, Pantoja and his work-in-progress legacy obtained a present on Saturday evening, and it was not in his title struggle in opposition to Kai Kara-France. The champion had defeated Kara-France earlier than, and though that was 9 years in the past and it was solely an exhibition on “The Final Fighter,” the drama main as much as the rematch was minimal.

It was no shock that Pantoja dealt with enterprise. Inside 30 seconds of the struggle beginning, he had again management on the canvas and was fishing for a submission. Kara-France survived the spherical and saved the struggle standing in Spherical 2. However within the third spherical, Pantoja as soon as once more seized again management early, and this time he secured the end. Simple work.

Pantoja most benefited within the struggle proper earlier than his, when Joshua Van beat Brandon Royval in the very best struggle of the evening and presumably the yr. The UFC declared that the winner would get the following shot on the flyweight champ, and Van successful allowed Pantoja to keep away from having to struggle one other rematch. He is overwhelmed Royval twice already, and nobody desires to see that matchup once more.

However Van? The 23-year-old obtained an enormous pop from the gang after his victory, and when he was introduced into the cage to face off with Pantoja. That is a struggle with vital enchantment, which is what the champion wants in a division he’s dominating, and a lot the higher if that challenger is an rising star. Each champ wants a rival who can push him and increase his public profile, and Van appears to be like like that man. –Wagenheim

The Joshua Van, Max Holloway comparability is clear however good

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Joshua Van, Brandon Royval lay all of it out in epic end

Joshua Van and Brandon Royval unleash fury on one another to finish their bout, with Van taking the win by unanimous determination.

Every part about Van says fan favourite. First is the exercise. When Holloway joined the UFC in 2012, he fought 4 occasions in 11 months. Van is reduce from the identical material. Saturday was his fifth struggle previously 9 months. He carries himself in a similar way to Holloway. There is a calm confidence about him that is not loud or boisterous, simply harmful. He is very composed. The up-and-comer simply picked up his eighth UFC win and beat the highest flyweight contender on three weeks’ discover. Holloway had 11 wins by the point he turned 24.

There’s nonetheless quite a bit to kind out, after all, nevertheless it’s a very good wager that Van will make loads of “BMF” worthy actions and struggle each flyweight of his period over the following decade. He will probably be in loads of powerful fights, as he was on Saturday, and followers will love him for it. There will probably be loads of memorable moments, as he had with the late knockdown of Royval. He’ll vie for a UFC title, and whether or not he wins or not, he’ll depart his mark on the game. — Okamoto