Former champions Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira will clash for the vacant UFC lightweight title in the headline fight of UFC 317, it has been confirmed.

The bout, which will serve as the featured attraction for the UFC’s annual ‘International Fight Week’ event, was confirmed as part of a series of fight announcements late on Tuesday – and comes after it was announced that Islam Makhachev will vacate the UFC lightweight title ahead of a move to welterweight to challenge the recently-crowned 170-pound champ Jack Della Maddalena.

The fight was confirmed by UFC boss Dana White on social media.

Topuria’s opportunity at the lightweight title comes after he vacated the organisation’s 145-pound not long after he knocked out Max Holloway last October, after which he made clear his intention of being the latest member of the UFC’s two-division champion club.

Writing on social media, Topuria said: “On June 28, another dream will come true. I’ll be the champion of the lightweight division. Charles, my apologies in advance… I’m just fighting for my dreams. It’s unfortunate that Makhachev ran away. 17-0.”

Former 155-pound champ Oliveira for the first time since October 2022 where he was defeated by Makhachev. The Brazilian submission expert is regarded as one of the most effective finishers on the UFC roster, having ended 31 of his 35 career wins inside the distance.

Oliveira was stripped of the lightweight championship in advance of a scheduled defence against Justin Gaethje in May 2022 after he missed the championship weight of 155-pounds by a half-pound.

Elsewhere, it was also announced that Alexandre Pantoja will defend his UFC flyweight title against Kai Kara-France in the UFC 317 main event, which takes place on June 28 inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.