Ilia Topuria is the new UFC Lightweight Champion!
Though that news isn’t shocking to the undefeated fighter. Topuria came into the bout extremely confident. In fact, he was so confident that he promised to knock out Charles Olivera in the first round and that’s exactly what happened. Olivera was first in trouble after a right hook and Topuria unloaded on the former UFC Lightweight Champion from there. Topuria won his second UFC title in a span of five years.
But there was no time to celebrate for Topuria as he immediately called out his next challenger - Paddy Pimblett. He called out the 30-year-old instantly.
“We have some f*cking p*ssies in this arena,” Topuria shouted. “There is a blonde bitch. There is a guy that when [it comes time] to deliver, his back hurts. Whoever is ready for me, I’m here.
And Pimblett had no issues getting in the champ's face. The two had a brief scuffle before Topuria walked away. Now this does seem as if Topuria’s next fight is confirmed, but Dana White doesn’t seem too keen on the match-up. In fact, White shut down that Topuria vs. Pimblett was happening next.
Nevertheless, Alexandre Pantoja successfully defended the flyweight belt in the co-main event as he put Kai Kara-France to sleep with a rear-naked choke in the third round. The fight was rather lopsided as Pantoja got the better of France on his feet and on the ground.
France showcased some good defense, but there was never a moment where Pantoja’s reign was in jeopardy. This was his fourth defense and his fifth one has already been confirmed as Joshua Van earned the right to challenge for the flyweight belt after beating Brandon Royval in the best fight of the night.
Check out the results below:
Main Card
Lightweight championship: Ilia Topuria def. Charles Oliveira via KO (punches)
Flyweight championship: Alexandre Pantoja def. Kai Kara-France via submission (rear-naked choke)
Flyweight: Joshua Van def. Brandon Royval via unanimous decision
Lightweight: Beneil Dariush def. Renato Moicano via unanimous decision
Bantamweight: Payton Talbott def. Felipe Lima via unanimous decision
Prelims
Middleweight: Gregory Rodrigues def. Jack Hermansson via KO (punch)
Featherweight: Jose Miguel Delgado def. Hyder Amil via KO (knee and punches)
Women's flyweight: Tracy Cortez def. Viviane Araujo via unanimous decision
Lightweight: Terrance McKinney def. Viacheslav Borshchev via submission (guillotine choke)
Early prelims
Welterweight: Jacobe Smith def. Niko Price via submission (rear-naked choke)
Heavyweight: Jhonata Diniz def. Alvin Hines via unanimous decision