Jon Jones might be avoiding Tom Aspinall, and Islam Makhachev could be steering clear of Ilia Topuria. But former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira has made it clear: he’s not ducking anyone—just ready to face whatever big names come his way. After UFC 315 wrapped up last week, UFC head honcho Dana White appeared on Instagram Live, delivering news in his trademark style.

With Makhachev moving up to the 170-pound division, the 155lb title will be on the line at UFC 317 during International Fight Week in late June, pitting the Georgian native against Charles Oliveira. For 28-year-old Ilia Topuria, this is a prime opportunity to capture the 155-pound belt and become a two-division champion. Meanwhile, the 35-year-old ‘Do Bronxs’ aims to claim the lightweight title for the second time.

Facing a younger, hungry challenger in Ilia Topuria, Oliveira left no doubts about his mindset in a recent interview with MMA Today. He said:

“Honestly, if you say you never get butterflies, you’re lying. It’s a game—you’ve got to be ready for it. We know our weight. It’s not just Brazilians, but thousands of fans worldwide. I’m so grateful. I’m sure the arena in Vegas will be packed with people cheering for me on the 28th. I’ll see you all—my family—that’s what I want. Let’s bring that massive support, have a huge celebration, and leave with the belt around our waists.”

Meanwhile, Charles Oliveira heads into this clash riding the momentum of a gritty win over Michael Chandler last November at UFC’s annual Madison Square Garden card. In what was a hard-fought war, the Brazilian edged out Chandler by unanimous decision, ultimately earning himself a shot at the vacant lightweight title. On the other hand, his opponent Ilia Topuria enters the bout after vacating his featherweight strap earlier this year, following a successful title defense against Max Holloway.

Now, with the clock ticking down to fight night, El Matador’ appears laser-focused—leaving no stone unturned in his pursuit of becoming a two-division champion. With both fighters locked in and the stakes higher than ever, let’s hear what “El Matador” has to say ahead of this highly anticipated showdown.

Ilia Topuria issued an unusual vow ahead of his showdown with Charles Oliveira at UFC 317

Initially, Charles Oliveira wanted to face and dethrone reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, which led Dana White and company to begin planning the bout. However, things took a sudden turn last month at UFC 315 when Belal Muhammad’s loss changed everything. With Muhammad no longer the champion, the idea of Islam hesitating to fight his friend was off the table.

Now, the Dagestani native has shifted his focus to newly crowned welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena—something that didn’t sit well with Ilia Topuria. ‘El Matador’ had his eyes set on defeating Islam Makhachev, but with Charles Oliveira stepping up instead, the matchup wasn’t originally part of his plan. Still, he expressed gratitude to ‘Do Bronxs’ for accepting the challenge. At the same time, he didn’t hold back on issuing the following warning:

“First of all, I’d like to thank Charles for accepting the challenge, something Islam didn’t do, and he has to pay the price for Islam. Honestly, I feel really sorry for Charles, but at the end of the day, it’s my job.” When asked how he envisions the fight ending, “El Matador” responded, “I don’t know. With Oliveira, the truth is, whatever is least painful for him, that’s what I’ll do because I like him a lot.”

With sharp words and confidence to match, ‘El Matador’ has set the stage for a fiery showdown. As UFC 317 approaches, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Who do you think walks away with the lightweight belt—Ilia Topuria or Charles Oliveira? Share your pick below.