Analyzing Potential UFC 317 Main Events
UFC 317 comes to us live on June 28th, from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The event headlines the biggest week in MMA, International Fight Week. Every year, the UFC stacks their International Fight Week card with their biggest stars. Stars like Israel Adesanya, Alex Pereira, Alexander Volkanovski, and Conor McGregor have headlined International Fight Week events in years past. Now, with UFC 317 being only three months away, there are a few blockbuster fights the UFC could make.
Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria
This is possibly the biggest fight the UFC could make. Undefeated Ilia Topuria is vacating his UFC Featherweight Championship to make the move up to lightweight. The current UFC Lightweight Champion just so happens to be the best fighter in the world. Islam Makhachev has been unbeatable after suffering his only loss in 2015. Topuria moved up to lightweight for one reason: to take Makhachev’s championship. Topuria has been calling for this fight, even before he vacated the championship. On the other hand, the champion has been adamant that the Spaniard should have to earn his way to a title fight. However, even though the champion seems uninterested in a fight with Topuria, if the UFC makes the right offer to Makhachev we could be looking at the next super fight.
Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Following his second win against Sean Strickland, Dana White confirmed that Khamzat Chimaev is next for UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis. Du Plessis has solidified himself as an all-time great in his division with wins over Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker, and Sean Strickland twice. The South African will be looking to defend his belt for the third time, but he faces his toughest challenge yet. Khamzat Chimaev has destroyed nearly every opponent he has faced. Coming off of a first-round submission victory over Robert Whittaker that left Whittaker with a broken jaw, Chimaev is perhaps the most dominant fighter in the world. Dricus Du Plessis will fight Khamzat Chimaev, so what better time to do it than during International Fight Week?
Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley
As every day passes, it seems we grow closer and closer to a Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley fight announcement. If International Fight Week is the biggest week in MMA, then a star of Sean O’Malley's caliber would make a perfect choice for the main event. Merab Dvalishvili’s fame has been growing in his own right, after his historic performance against Umar Nurmagomedov. Sean O’Malley would be looking for redemption after losing to Dvalishvili in 2024.
Of course, other fights could main event UFC 317 other than the three I listed. Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall seemed to be the surefire main event. However, after a fight contract remains unsigned, and Jon Jones asking for six months to train for the fight, this seems highly unlikely. International Fight Week is a time when MMA fans all over the globe can celebrate the sport they love. Hopefully, the UFC will give us fans a reason to rejoice, with the highly anticipated UFC 317.
