Ilia Topuria is widely recognized as the best pound-for-pound fighter currently in the world. His recent performances have made it nearly impossible to question his status as the newly crowned UFC lightweight champion. In his last three bouts, Topuria secured knockout wins against featherweight champions Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, as well as former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira.
Topuria is noted for being bigger than his predecessor, Conor McGregor, particularly after his emphatic knockout of Oliveira in the main event of UFC 317. Ranked third in the current pound-for-pound list as of Monday, Topuria is close to overtaking Islam Makhachev for the top spot. Although he doesn’t yet have a numerical ranking beside his name, Topuria, nicknamed “El Matador,” is already seen as number one by some former pound-for-pound kings.
Following Topuria’s 17th consecutive victory over Oliveira, Kamaru Usman, one of the greatest welterweight champions ever, declared him the best fighter in the world today. Usman praised Topuria’s outstanding skill set, noting how he dominated Oliveira in all areas of the fight, including on the ground where Oliveira usually excels.
The question now is who will face Ilia Topuria next at UFC 317. There are several strong contenders, including Beneil Dariush and #1 contender Ahman Zarkian, who have solid cases for title shots. Similarly, third-ranked Justin Gaethje and #8 Paddy Pimblett, both of whom have impressive recent wins and have appeared in the UFC 317 octagon, are also in contention. Former UFC champion Aljamain Sterling described Topuria’s next opponent as being part of a “three-horse race” among these top contenders.
Fan Take: This news matters hugely to fight fans because it signals the rise of a new pound-for-pound king who is dismantling elite competition with undeniable skill and power. Topuria’s dominance could redefine the lightweight division and create fresh, high-stakes matchups that keep the sport thrilling and unpredictable.
