When deciding to tune in to watch a regular Fight Night or shell out a considerable amount of money for a one-night pay-per-view event, fans always take into consideration just who is fighting on that night. Indeed, shows have been bought or passed on based on the amount of star power that they possessed, as will be the case for UFC 317. For many viewers, seeing their favorite fighters compete could be all they need to open the ESPN app to find out just how they’ll perform and if they’ll deliver a rip-roaring Octagon outing.
Whether it is because of their trash talk, signature stoppages or enduring grit and fun fighting style, there are some fighters that tend to move the needle more than others in terms of ticket sales, with some fans going out of their way to purchase whole cards just to see their one preferred athlete throw down. And it’s not just ticket sales — some fighters have the brand to impact betting odds and numbers of people taking advantage of various bonus codes available.
At UFC 317, a small handful of some of the most popular and charming competitors in the promotion will take center stage to not only log another fantastic win, but also to entertain audiences from around the world.
These are four most charismatic fighters appearing at UFC 317
Terrance McKinney
Eight days after scoring a big victory over Michael Irizarry Ortiz at LFA 109 in 2021, Terrance McKinney stepped into the UFC cage for the very first time. Fighting on the early preliminary segment of UFC 263, the Washington native positively bulldozed Matt Frevola in round one, starching the New Yorker in just seven seconds. The stoppage still stands today as the fastest knockout by strikes in the history of the promotion’s lightweight division. In the four years since his monumental debut, McKinney has garnered a UFC record of 5-4, with all his wins and losses ending inside the distance and with none of them going to the third round.
While his resume in the company may seem very up and down, McKinney has always been known as a man who lives by his sword or dies by it. In fact, across his entire 23-bout career, “T Wrecks” has not once gone to the judge’s scorecards. This dedication to both putting on electrifying scraps, while more often than not finding a highlight-reel finish makes McKinney one of the more unranked 155-lb fan-favorites.
Coming off of a first round TKO against Damir Hadžović this past February, the previous standout Division II wrestler will look to make it two in a row when he locks horns with fellow lightweight prospect Viacheslav Borshchev at UFC 317.
Also known for his aesthetically-pleasing fighting style, the Team Alpha Male product has recorded several thrilling fights inside the Octagon, including a 2023 Fight of the Year candidate when he faced off with Nazim Sadykhov at UFC 295. Eager to continue his rise towards the rankings, McKinney is aiming for another eye-opening stoppage that will undoubtedly keep audiences glued to their television screens.
Hyder Amil
At 35-years of age, most competitors in his age bracket are normally closer to retirement than embarking on any meaningful runs in a major promotion. For Hyder Amil, he only seems to be entering his prime as an undefeated juggernaut in the incredibly stacked UFC featherweight category.
Fighting mainly in California for the first five years of his professional mixed martial arts journey, he largely fought for a couple of high-profile organizations like LFA and Bellator, stacking up a perfect 7-0 record before being called to fight on Dana White’s Contender Series. There, he would earn his promotional contract with a one-sided dismantling of Emrah Sonmez.
Making his first UFC appearance at UFC Vegas 86, Amil put on one of the most grizzly beatdowns of 2024, dominating Fernie Garcia enroute to a second round knockout. It was in his next bout against Lee Jeong-yeong where he truly became a fan-favorite name. Living up to his nickname, “The Hurricane,” Amil rushed down his opponent with a blistering flurry of punches, knocking out Jeong-yeong in just over a minute after throwing 42 significant strikes.
He then faced his first real test since joining the company in the form of France’s William Gomis, just barely edging out the split decision win over a man who had not tasted defeat in nearly a decade.
With his relentless style of constant pressure and seemingly endless reserves of stamina despite his age, Amil has catapulted himself into becoming one of the 145-lb division’s more fan-pleasing names.
This weekend, he goes toe-to-toe with another young phenom in Jose Delgado. Standing as another touted finisher himself, he is currently in the midst of a six-fight winning streak, with all of them ending via stoppage. Should he manage to halt the advance of a talented bruiser like Delgado, especially in dramatic fashion, Amil can raise his legitimacy for contender status even further in the eyes of the fans.
Charles Oliveira
Although his recent record of going 2-2 in his past four contests would suggest he may be hitting a middling slump, Charles Oliveira remains as one of the most popular fighters on the UFC roster today. Known for his wide collection of stunning and impeccable finishes, the Brazilian titan has elevated himself to becoming an icon of the sport.
Blasting into the organization all the way back in 2010, Oliveira has fought and bested a large bevy of the lightweight class’s utmost elite over the years, such as Tony Ferguson, Michael Chandler (twice), Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje.
From 2018 to 2022, “Do Bronx” embarked on a blistering warpath through the division, collecting 11 victories in a row, becoming the 155-lb champion in the process with one title defense. While he did end up losing his strap to Islam Makhachev at UFC 280, Oliveira’s standing with the mixed martial arts fanbase never appeared to waver, as the Brazilian was able to secure a third title shot after dominating Chandler in their rematch at UFC 309.
Going into UFC 317, Oliveira finds himself as a world-wide superstar in the sport as he steps up to challenge for the vacant title opposite former featherweight gold standard Ilia Topuria. After a highly successful stint at 145-lb, which saw him claim and defend the championship against Alexander Vokkanovski and Max Holloway in quick succession, Topuria is now heading up to a new weight class to chase further rewards and a second belt.
At the time of this writing, Oliveira stands as a sizable betting underdog to the Spainiard, with some pundits picking Topuria to stop him. Throughout his UFC journey, however, the Chute Boxe Academy representative has more often than not found a way to defy the odds, proven by his exemplary run towards nabbing the lightweight throne. With a deafening roar from audience members watching him make the walk to the Octagon, Oliveira is seeking to stamp his legacy with another resounding championship triumph.
Ilia Topuria
At just 28-years old, Ilia Topuria has managed to accomplish a great deal within the sport of mixed martial arts, earning a world title in the biggest promotion of the sport and also defending it over two of the most legendary athletes in his weight class.
Following an unstoppable run on the European regional scene, Topuria made his way into the UFC in late 2020. Over the course of his next seven bouts, the undefeated Georgia-born steamroller ran through the best of the best that the featherweight ladder had to offer. This conquest included a scrap with Jai Herbert at 155-lb, who momentarily rocked Topuria with a head kick before the smaller man recovered and delivered on a sensational comeback knockout, leaving Herbert lifeless on the ground.
His stay in the division would be capped off with two mind-boggling stoppage wins over the aforementioned Volkanovski and Holloway, notably becoming the first fighter to finish Holloway with strikes.
Although his boxing heavy approach to his matches have garnered him massive appeal among the UFC fanbase, Topuria has also gripped viewers with his social media presence. Sometimes taking jabs against his potential and upcoming opposition, the previous 145-lb apex is never too shy to converse with other competitors online. This includes his UFC 317 adversary, Oliveira, whom “La Leyenda” has thrown barbs at earlier this year before their fight was even made official.
It is this confident and blunt approach towards trash talking his foes, alongside his rousing Octagon presence that has propelled Topuria into the limelight as a top pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
Charles, it’s better if you stay quiet. You have 10 losses: 5 by knockout, 4 by submission, and 1 by decision. You are the contender, while I am the champion, the father of the entire division. I haven’t come here to ask anything. Here, I am the one in charge.
— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) March 22, 2025
Main photo credit: IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire
