On June 28 at UFC 317, Charles Oliveira will return to the Octagon with a chance to make history. The former champion is aiming to become the first fighter in UFC history to reclaim the lightweight title twice. Standing in his way is undefeated rising star Ilia Topuria, who’s stepping up to 155 pounds after vacating his featherweight title. With Islam Makhachev officially relinquishing the lightweight belt to move up and chase welterweight gold, the spotlight now shifts to Oliveira vs. Topuria in what promises to be a defining moment for both fighters.

Interestingly, Ilia Topuria’s move mirrors that of Makhachev, which is, vacating a title to pursue greatness in another division. But as Topuria prepares for the biggest fight of his career, there’s a new twist in the narrative. Boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. has publicly expressed interest in joining Topuria’s training camp ahead of UFC 317. Just hours ago, @mmaorbit lit up Instagram with the news. “Boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. wants to train Ilia Topuria for his #UFC317 clash with Charles Oliveira 😳🥊” they announced in the caption.

“I would make a lot of difference [to Ilia Topuria’s camp for Charles Oliveira],” Jones told Prime Casino. Why? “Because I teach how to get the most out of the striking, how to stay set while you’re doing it.” You see, Roy Jones Jr. isn’t just offering his name. He’s offering his fight IQ, honed over decades across boxing and combat sports.

“Because in MMA you gotta always be set because guys can take your legs out,” Jones explained. “But the way I fight you always stay set, so I think what I teach would be advantageous to anybody who chose to indulge in it and get what I really teach.” According to the former four-weight boxing world champion, it’s about more than just striking. It’s about understanding movement and mechanics across disciplines. “Roy understands the mechanics of all boxing, all fighting, not just boxing, all arts of fighting,” he added, highlighting why he believes he could elevate Ilia Topuria’s game at UFC 317.

“Roy understands the mechanics of MMA totally well and totally understands what’s necessary and what’s not necessary to make you a better fighter,” he added. Jones retired from professional boxing in February 2018 with a stellar record of 66 wins and 9 losses, only to step back into the spotlight for a high-profile exhibition bout against heavyweight legend Mike Tyson in 2020. However, his final appearance came in 2023, when he faced former UFC star Anthony Pettis in a crossover boxing match before officially hanging up the gloves for good.

You see, his offer to train Topuria comes at a pivotal time. The 28-year-old Spanish-Georgian has recently made significant changes to his camp. Parting ways with his longtime coaches in Alicante and relocating with his brother Aleksandre to Madrid. Moreover, Topuria’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. In February 2024, he knocked out Alexander Volkanovski to claim the featherweight crown. On top of it, he followed it up by handing Max Holloway the first knockout loss of his career, cementing his place as one of the most dangerous finishers in the sport.

Now ranked No. 3 on the UFC pound-for-pound list, ‘El Matador‘ is eyeing greatness across divisions. Should he get past Oliveira at UFC 317, a blockbuster title defense against rival Paddy Pimblett could be next. But Charles Oliveira has no plans to play the stepping stone. Despite Topuria’s momentum and physical power, the Brazilian is confident in his own path to victory. Why, you ask?

Charles Oliveira fires warning shot at Ilia Topuria

Charles Oliveira isn’t showing even a hint of hesitation ahead of his high-stakes showdown with Ilia Topuria at UFC 317. In fact, the former lightweight champion is brimming with confidence. Oliveira has boldly predicted that he’ll knock Topuria out when they meet in the Octagon, citing his advantage in size and experience as key factors. With Topuria moving up from featherweight, Oliveira believes the power and durability that come with his natural frame will be too much for the rising star to handle.

As part of his preparation, Oliveira has been sparring with Jean Silva, a fellow Brazilian and standout from the Fighting Nerds team. And, according to Oliveira’s camp, Silva has been instrumental in helping Charles sharpen his timing and adapt to the specific style that Topuria brings to the cage. Speaking to Full Violence, the former champion made his intentions crystal clear. “It’s a great fight. He’s a great fighter, but I don’t need to prove anything to anyone about who I am, what I’ve done, what I’ve done in the fight business. The fight came at a huge opportunity. I will knock out this guy. That’s for real”. 

With Oliveira’s combination of confidence and calculated preparation, it’s clear he sees this bout not just as a challenge, but as a golden opportunity to make history. Ilia Topuria, on the other hand, isn’t backing down either.

The undefeated fighter has taken shots at Oliveira’s past losses and insisted that moving up in weight won’t blunt his power. Without the harsh weight cut at featherweight, Topuria says he’ll be even stronger at 155 lbs. With both fighters gunning for a finish, UFC 317 might not go the distance. So, with two of the best in the game, both with something to prove, who do you think walks away with the gold?