Topuria PROVES He’s the NEW NIGHTMARE of the Lightweight Division!
At 11:00 PM +07 on Monday, June 23, 2025, the MMA world is abuzz following Ilia Topuria’s dominant performance at UFC 317, where he claimed the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship against Charles Oliveira in a stunning display of finishing prowess. With an astonishing 86.7% of his professional fights ending inside the distance, Topuria has solidified his reputation as the new nightmare of the 155-pound division.
The fight, held on June 28, 2025, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, saw Topuria, the undefeated 16-0 phenom, deliver on his pre-fight promise of a first-round finish. Just 2:14 into the bout, Topuria caught Oliveira with a vicious uppercut, followed by a flurry of ground-and-pound that forced the referee to stop the fight. Oliveira, a legend with 35-11 and a history of 20 finishes, had no answer for Topuria’s relentless aggression and precision. “I told you it’d be quick,” Topuria said post-fight, his hands raised in triumph.
The 86.7% finish rate—calculated from his 14 stoppages (6 knockouts, 8 submissions)—has fans and analysts reevaluating the lightweight landscape. Topuria’s transition from featherweight, where he dethroned Alexander Volkanovski, to lightweight has been seamless, with his knockout power and grappling making him a formidable threat. On X, reactions poured in, with one fan posting, “86.7%? Topuria’s a finishing machine—lightweight’s his now!” Another added, “Oliveira got owned—new king crowned!”
Oliveira, gracious in defeat, acknowledged Topuria’s dominance: “He’s the real deal. That power caught me off guard.” The Brazilian’s loss ends his second reign as champion, opening the door for Topuria to face interim champ Tom Aspinall in a potential unification bout. UFC President Dana White praised the performance, saying, “Ilia’s the future—lightweight just got a lot more dangerous.”
Topuria’s rise, marked by his brash confidence and technical mastery, has rewritten the division’s narrative. With his finishing rate as a badge of honor, he’s not just a champion—he’s a nightmare opponents can’t escape. As the MMA world digests this seismic shift, all eyes are on whether Topuria’s reign will continue to terrorize the lightweight elite.
