The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has wrapped up its UFC 317 pay-per-view (PPV) card, which showcased Ilia Topuria’s first-round knockout to secure the vacant lightweight championship. Additionally, Alexandre Pantoja defended his flyweight title by submitting longtime contender Kai Kara-France in the co-main event of UFC 317.
On other bouts in the card, Beneil Dariush made a comeback by defeating veteran Renato Moicano, while 23-year-old flyweight prospect Joshua Van achieved a decision win against Brandon Royval. Furthermore, Payton Talbott secured a victory in the bantamweight division at the cost of Felipe Lima.
It’s now time to consider matchups for the five winners from the card.
Winner: Ilia Topuria
Next Fight To Make: Paddy Pimblett
In the lightweight division, Arman Tsarukyan is currently ranked No. 1 while Justin Gaethje holds the No. 3 spot, making it seem unusual to give the No. 8-ranked Paddy Pimblett a title shot. However, UFC CEO Dana White has blacklisted Tsarukyan and Topuria is not keen on fighting Gaethje. Given Pimblett’s history with Topuria, a bout between them could be marketable, especially since the promotion has created a precedent for awarding title shots to lower-ranked contenders.
Winner: Alexandre Pantoja
Next Fight To Make: Joshua Van
This suggestion involves two winners from the UFC 317 main card. Pantoja has defended his flyweight title by defeating Kai Kara-France and has cleared out most of the 125-pound division. Joshua Van, having recently won five straight fights including a win over Royval, should have a good case for the next title chance against Pantoja.
Winner: Beneil Dariush
Next Fight To Make: Dan Hooker
Dariush’s win against Renato Moicano at UFC 317 ended a two-fight losing streak and keeps him relevant in the Top 10 of lightweight rankings. Dan Hooker, who is ranked slightly above him, has expressed interest in a fight with Dariush. Alternatively, Michael Chandler might also be a suitable opponent, but fans may prefer to see Chandler fight Rafael Fiziev instead, leaving Tsarukyan and Gaethje to vie for the next lightweight title shot.
Winner: Payton Talbott
Next Fight To Make: Chris Gutierrez
Talbott bounced back from his initial loss by outpointing Felipe Lima, and a good way to follow up is by taking on veteran Chris Gutierrez, who is on a winning streak. Although Cody Garbrandt could be an interesting choice, his recent performances may overshadow Talbott’s improvement. Another potential matchup could be with Adrian Yanez, who has struggled in recent bouts.
For the latest updates on UFC 317: “Topuria vs. Oliveira,” visit our comprehensive event archive here.
