The highly anticipated Charles Oliveira lightweight title fight is set to take place at UFC 317 on Saturday night in Las Vegas, where Oliveira will face off against the undefeated Ilia Topuria for the vacant lightweight championship at T-Mobile Arena. This main event is scheduled to begin around 10 p.m. ET and has generated significant attention from fans and analysts alike.
Oliveira, a former lightweight champion with a record of 35 wins and 10 losses, is preparing intensely for the bout against Topuria, who remains undefeated at 16-0. The betting odds favor Topuria at -420, while Oliveira enters the fight as the underdog at +310. In the days leading up to the event, Oliveira’s training camp shared a striking photo on social media showing the fighter in the midst of an intense weight cut, drawing widespread attention and sparking varied fan reactions.
In the photo, Oliveira can be seen surrounded by his team in a sauna as they help him shed weight ahead of the fight. ESPN captioned the image:
“Charles Oliveira’s team are by his side for his #UFC317 weight cut.”
The picture captured a raw, vulnerable moment that highlighted the physical demands Oliveira is facing in the lead-up to this crucial contest.
Fans responded to the image with a range of reactions, questioning the necessity of such an extreme weight cut. One asked,
“What style of weight cut is this,”
while another expressed surprise with a simple “Wow,” accompanied by an emoji. Additional comments reflected skepticism, including remarks such as,
“If you need this many people to make weight, maybe move up a weight class,”
and,
“Unpopular opinion: If you gotta do all this you probably need to switch categories.”
Other reactions included a mix of concern and criticism, as one fan wrote,
“Why are they trying to scare us brah,”
and another predicted a quick defeat for Oliveira, stating,
“Won’t stop him from the inevitable. A devastating KO loss within three minutes.”
Oliveira’s recent fight history has been a mix of successes and setbacks. He has won three of his last five bouts, with losses coming against Arman Tsarukyan in a regular match and Islam Makachev in a title fight. His upcoming match against Topuria represents a pivotal moment in his career as he looks to reclaim the lightweight crown.
The intense preparations and emotional photo have added another layer of intrigue to this fight, underscoring the challenges Oliveira faces both physically and mentally as he aims to overcome a formidable challenger in Topuria. Fans and commentators will be watching closely on Saturday night to see if Oliveira’s efforts will pay off or if the champion title will pass to the rising star in this high-stakes UFC event.