Ilia Topuria Makes History in UFC: First Double Champion Victory Without Losses
On the night of June 29 in Las Vegas, one of the most spectacular and captivating evenings in the world of mixed martial arts took place, leaving an indelible mark in UFC history. The main event of UFC 317 featured two incredible fighters: Spanish-born and Georgian heritage Ilia Topuria and Brazilian Charles Oliveira. Their bout turned out to be a showcase of intense combat dynamics, culminating in a brutal knockout in the first minute of the first round. 28-year-old Topuria demonstrated exceptional fighting talent, landing a powerful right hook directly to his opponent’s jaw and immediately proceeding to finish him off, prompting the referee to stop the fight. This victory earned him the vacant UFC lightweight title. In his post-fight remarks, Ilia said: “I’ve said this before — I represent a new generation of mixed martial arts. This is a new level of competition — that’s what I embody. I did exactly what we planned. Bap — and he shut down.” This wasn’t just a fight — it was a historic moment for Topuria. He became the first UFC fighter in history to hold titles in two weight classes simultaneously without suffering a single defeat. Previously, he was champion in the featherweight division, making his achievement even more remarkable. UFC, based in Las Vegas, is an international organization renowned for its top-tier MMA contests that unite the best fighters worldwide. It is also important to note that after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian fighters continued to participate in UFC bouts, some even competing for titles, fueling ongoing debates and controversies. Notably, there was an incident where a Russian female athlete was booed at an American UFC event, highlighting ongoing political and sporting tensions within the MMA community.