'Bigger than Conor McGregor': Ilia Topuria sets MMA world afire with history-making KO at UFC 317
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Even Ilia Topuria's peers can't believe what the UFC's newest lightweight champion is doing. After repeatedly promising to knock out Charles Oliveira in the first round, "El Matador" did exactly that on Saturday at UFC 317, rampaging right through the former champ to capture a second divisional title and cement himself as one of the biggest stars in all of MMA.
Topuria (17-0) has now knocked out three future Hall of Famers in a row, having entered UFC 317 on a run that saw him demolish featherweight legends Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in back-to-back bouts to capture Uncrowned's 2024 Fight of the Year award. With a perfect 9-0 promotional record and a fast-growing hit-list of all-star victims, Topuria is ascending at a rate few UFC champions have before him — so perhaps it shouldn't come as a surprise that his latest masterclass evoked comparisons to fellow former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor, who rose to become the biggest star MMA had ever seen with his successful pursuit of a second divisional title in 2016.
Check out how the MMA world reacted to Topuria's historic UFC 317 win over Oliveira below.
@Topuriailia well done brother! This man is a special fighter #ufc317— Dricus Du Plessis (@dricusduplessis) June 29, 2025
Ilia Topuria is the UFC’s biggest superstar in the world right now #UFC317— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) June 29, 2025
Omg! 😳 #ufc317— Tatiana Suarez (@tatianaufc) June 29, 2025
Illia vs Francis next— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) June 29, 2025
This path to greatness is bigger than Connor McGregor. #UFC317— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) June 29, 2025
Is Topuria in the GOAT conversation now?— Natan Levy ✡︎ (@Natan_Levy) June 29, 2025
Topuria hits so hard!
https://t.co/nGOIABocuu— bjpenndotcom (@bjpenndotcom) June 29, 2025
That was absolutely nuts 😳 #ufc— Adrian Yañez (@yanezmma) June 29, 2025
No one has ever done this at this level! #UFC317— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) June 29, 2025
I actually want to see this https://t.co/xgK7CKuk8j— Aiemann Zahabi (@Aiemannzahabi) June 29, 2025
@Topuriailia is 1000% the Legend Killer. Stamping his own legend status in the process. WOW Just WOW #UFC317— Zak Cummings (@ZakCummings) June 29, 2025
That was a nasty elbow! WOW! The biggest superstar is here! #ufc317— Julian marquez (@JMarquezMMA) June 29, 2025
Wow Topuria is different 👀👀 #UFC317— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) June 29, 2025
Ran right into the propeller blade.— Jake Ellenberger (@EllenbergerMMA) June 29, 2025
Didn’t expect anything different but at the same time it’s surprising? 🤣 https://t.co/0g1r5HK266— Arnold billy allen (@Arnoldbfa) June 29, 2025
This @Topuriailia got trinitrotoluene in his gloves. If you know what that is, you’re already on a list.— Jason Mayhem Miller (@mayhemmiller) June 29, 2025
Yoo poor Armand man. Paddy doesn’t get past him. I do want to see ilia put him— Al Iaquinta🗽 (@ALIAQUINTA) June 29, 2025
Paddy jumping Gaethje is criminal https://t.co/nbjJlLYqvH— Al Iaquinta🗽 (@ALIAQUINTA) June 29, 2025
Totally underestimate standup from Charles and strong, beautiful combination from Ilia.
Beautiful fights tonight.
News are coming ⚡️#Letsgoforthat!!!— Jiri BJP Prochazka (@jiri_bjp) June 29, 2025
😯#ufc317— Corey 'Overtime' Anderson (@CoreyA_MMA) June 29, 2025
Tried to tell ya kids. @Topuriailia is special 🤷🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/hnOqHtK1FE— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) June 29, 2025
🙃 #ufc317pic.twitter.com/gS2HUDnVnX— Joe Joe Giannetti 💀 (@Giannettimma) June 29, 2025
Topuria is different ! What a legend.— Sergio Pettis (@sergiopettis) June 29, 2025
Pushing without dropping the belt is difficult. #UFC317— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) June 29, 2025
