Charles Oliveira Finding Ilia Topuria’s Fatal Weakness: Will UFC 317 Be a Nightmare for ‘El Matador’?

The UFC landscape is once again undergoing a seismic shift. With belts changing hands and champions chasing greatness, the spotlight now falls on two dominant forces—Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev—as they prepare for new chapters in their careers.

Ilia Topuria, the undefeated featherweight champion, has set his sights on the lightweight division, aiming to dethrone none other than Islam Makhachev, the current 155-pound king. But in a parallel twist, Makhachev himself is eager to test the waters in the welterweight division, chasing legacy and a potential second title.

However, standing in his way was a major obstacle: his longtime friend and ally, Belal Muhammad, the reigning welterweight champion—until recently. The throne has now changed hands, and with Jack Della Maddalena snatching the title from Muhammad, Makhachev’s path to welterweight gold may finally be clear.

Ilia Topuria’s Lightweight Ambitions Begin with Charles Oliveira

Since winning the UFC featherweight championship, Ilia Topuria has become one of the promotion’s brightest stars. His 18-0 record speaks volumes, and now, he’s chasing a legacy move—entering the lightweight division to face top-tier opponents, with hopes of eventually claiming a second belt.

His first step in this journey? A high-stakes showdown at UFC 317 against former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira.

Topuria is already deep into training camp, taking time away from his longtime coaches, the Climent Brothers, to focus on evolving his game. Meanwhile, Oliveira has brought in Jean Silva, a former Fighting Nerds prospect and an upcoming Brazilian star, to help him mimic Topuria’s explosive style.

Jean Silva Claims to Imitate Ilia Topuria “Perfectly” in Camp

In preparation for his fight against the undefeated Topuria, Charles Oliveira has found an unusual training advantage in the form of Jean Silva. Speaking to AG Fight, Silva expressed supreme confidence in his ability to emulate Topuria inside the gym.

“I can imitate Topuria perfectly. Even his facial expressions—I’ve got them down,” Silva said, highlighting his commitment to detail.

The similarities between Silva and Topuria are striking. Both share similar builds and explosiveness, making Silva a fitting stand-in for Oliveira’s training. Beyond just mimicking movement, Silva has gone deeper, analyzing Topuria’s weaknesses frame by frame.

Breaking Down Ilia Topuria’s Weaknesses: What Silva Observed

While Ilia Topuria has dazzled fans with knockout power and slick grappling, Silva believes there are glaring weaknesses that elite fighters can exploit. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Silva gave a precise breakdown of Topuria’s habits that may spell danger in a fight against a veteran like Oliveira.

“Topuria has powerful hips,” Silva began, “but when he throws a heavy hook, it often causes him to turn so much that he gives up his back. This happened multiple times in the fight with Bryce Mitchell.”

This could be crucial information for Oliveira, a master of back takes and submissions. Silva also noticed a clear tell in Topuria’s striking patterns.

“He pulls his rear leg far back and hides it, his stance becomes very sideways. He throws a jab, takes a step back, his eyes look under his left arm, then comes a small feint, some movement, and he fires the right straight. Even when he throws that right straight, it looks more like an overhand.”

In high-level MMA, these details matter. A fighter like Oliveira, with sharp instincts and the most submission finishes in UFC history, can capitalize on even a fraction of a second of exposure.

Topuria’s Defensive Lapses Could Cost Him at Lightweight

Silva didn’t stop at striking tells. He also pointed out that Topuria’s defense, while aggressive and forward-pressing, leaves holes—especially during counter exchanges.

“When he got knocked down by Jai Herbert, he threw a right overhand, then leaned back and threw a left hook. But he dropped his hand while throwing the hook. It was a very wide shot, and he got caught,” Silva explained.

Though Topuria rallied back to win that fight, it revealed that he could be touched—and hurt—by well-placed counters.

Silva was careful to add that he wasn’t out to slander Topuria. “I don’t want to badmouth him,” Silva said. “But I fought better than him. That’s how I feel.”

Such candid remarks might raise eyebrows, but they reflect the deep competitive nature of fighters circling the UFC’s elite. And for Oliveira, such insights could mean everything in a match that’s likely to shape the lightweight division’s future.

Islam Makhachev’s Path to Double Champ Status Clears Up

While Topuria is preparing for war at lightweight, Islam Makhachev has his own grand ambitions. The reigning lightweight champion has long expressed interest in moving up to welterweight. The problem? His friend and training partner Belal Muhammad held the belt.

But now, things have changed.

With Jack Della Maddalena defeating Muhammad and capturing the welterweight crown, Islam Makhachev is finally free to pursue the historic dream of becoming a two-division UFC champion.

Makhachev, who has dominated names like Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski, and Dustin Poirier, is now arguably the most dominant fighter on the roster. Moving up would not only test his greatness but cement his legacy alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov, Georges St-Pierre, and other multi-division legends.

What’s Next for Makhachev and Topuria? Potential Superfights Await

If Ilia Topuria defeats Charles Oliveira, it will send shockwaves through the UFC. Not only would it put him on the verge of a lightweight title shot, but it also brings the long-speculated superfight against Islam Makhachev closer to reality.

A Topuria vs Makhachev bout would be a stylistic clash of epic proportions. Topuria’s aggressive boxing and elite ground game vs Makhachev’s smothering sambo and chain wrestling