Charles Oliveira Has “Big Chance” of Upsetting Ilia Topuria This Weekend, Per Islam Makhachev

Either Ilia Topuria or Charles Oliveira will make history at this weekend's PPV headliner; Islam Makhachev gives his take on the title fight.

Charles Oliveira Has “Big Chance” of Upsetting Ilia Topuria This Weekend, Per Islam Makhachev

Charles Oliveira projected to be potent against the crisp Ilia Topuria, per Islam Makhachev (Source: X)

This Saturday’s PPV main event between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira is a literal puncher’s chance and coin toss, and Islam Makhachev sees it much the same. This would be Topuria’s second coming as a 155-pounder, but he’s yet undefeated (16-0) and packs a punch and tact with a buff natural hydration; part of the reason to shift to lightweight. Meanwhile, ‘Do Bronx’ is the most prolific finisher in UFC 155-pound competition.

Ilia Topuria and Oliveira will compete for the 155-pound title vacated by Makhachev when he moved to the welterweight division. They will meet in the PPV main event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Out of those two, only Islam Makhachev has gone up against Charles Oliveira, paving it a good bet to become the promotion’s #1 pound-for-pound fighter.

While ‘El Matador’ is the heavy favorite on the money line, the Dagestani sees the fighter sticking to their game plan, having more wiggle. But he does stand by the notion that Charles Oliveira is potent enough to cause some serious problems for the ex-featherweight champ.

It depend who can follow his game plan, …If Charles can take him down, he can finish him easy on the ground. Or, if Topuria can catch him, he’s going to sleep. It’s two options. Who is going to make game plan work? …[Oliveira] has big chance…He always fights good against strikers…Against Poirier he fought good, against Chandler he fought good – both have good punch, both very good at stand up. But if you give him small chance, he’s going to finish. That’s why Charles is always dangerous. So I’ll go 50/50.

Islam Makhachev to MMAJunkie’s Mike Bohn

Per Deaftkings and FanDuel Sportsbooks, Topuria opened as an early and sizable -345 favorite; he touts a one-of-one double KO title campaign over top names that got him here with a top shot at gold straight off the bat. But after the October 2022 title stint with Islam Makhachev, Oliveira has won two of three and is also a safe bet.

Moreover, historically, he is potent in banking against UFC lightweight competition boxers; recently, Beneil Dariush also presented much the same. His bouts against interim belt holder Dustin Poirier, UFC 309 PPV co-feature rival Michael Chandler, and Justin Gaethje, in their standup, have had pockets of success. If the Team Chute Boxe fighter has any say about it, Makhachev’s prediction might come dangerously close to becoming a reality.

Ilia Topuria ‘going to fold’, says UFC 317’s Charles Oliveira

#2 lightweight on the athletes’ listings, and ex-titleholder Charles Oliveira has the rare chance to become a two-time undisputed lightweight king, given the crown had been housed by Islam Makhachev for a historic reign. Hence, he is carrying all the gut, grit, and motivation he can into it.

This weekend's PPV headliner could have Charles Oliveira emerging as champ vs. Ilia Topuria
This weekend’s PPV headliner could have Charles Oliveira emerging as champ vs. Ilia Topuria (Source: X)

Having accumulated nearly 15 years of experience in the realm and made an appearance in 34 octagon bouts, Oliveira says at this juncture he wants to stretch his résumé. If he gets to do that against a new blood and a big draw like Topuria, it’s quite a thing. Hence, he is keeping all the resolve and has challenged that the rival will fold, on this Saturday’s headliner at T-Mobile Arena.

[I’m HIM…who] …guy that continues to stay thirsty, …is always for the win, …This is for my legacy, for my history. I’m ready for this fight…ready for war…Every fighter has different levels of things, different approaches to things [Ilia too]…Ilia’s just coming out there very young, very hungry. He’s also undefeated. But there’s a lot to prove still. In reality, everyone knows what’s going to happen. He’s another dude that’s talking that’s going to fold in front of me.

Charles ‘Do Bronx’ Oliveira during Wednesday’s UFC 317 PPV media day

Much has been made about his UFC 317 PPV top bill opponent Ilia Topuria; the Spaniard deserves his dues and can become the first in UFC history to win titles in two weight classes with undefeated stats. However, Charles Oliveira is his own machine when it comes to UFC competition.

Per statleaders.ufc.com, AKA the Record Books, Oliveira’s 14 stoppage victories as a competition 155-pounder and 20 overall are the most in history. Do Bronx touts 16 submission victories with four guillotine-choke [#2 behind Nate Diaz], three anaconda choke [#1], and is one of two fighters to earn submission in six different ways.

Safe to say, he has an all-around pound-for-pound arsenal; other than Brett Johns, only Oliveira has logged a calf-slicer submission win. Much like Islam Makhachev presented from their history, he also boasts sound standup success. Per UFC and MMA fight center stats, Oliveira has a 55% striking accuracy and averages 3.40 SLpM (Significant Strikes Landed per Minute).

With a TD defense at 56 percent and solid stance, the Diego Lima top product is both a shiv and a tank. Come this weekend, Oliveira means to prove the naysayers wrong and that the champ has always had a name.

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