Ilia Topuria is now the lightweight champion, holding a name that resonates throughout the division.
At UFC 317 on Saturday, Topuria achieved history, becoming the tenth fighter in UFC history to hold two titles simultaneously. He secured the vacant lightweight belt by delivering a knockout performance against Charles Oliveira. This spectacular win extends his already legendary run and has the MMA community buzzing with excitement about his potential future.
Earlier in the event, Alexandre Pantoja also made history in his own right, successfully defending his flyweight title for the fourth consecutive time with a submission victory over Kai Kara-France in the co-main event. This fourth defense places Pantoja in elite company, solidifying his position as arguably the second-greatest flyweight competitor of all time. When the undisputed greatest is Demetrious Johnson, being second is a remarkable achievement.
With plenty of significant developments from the event, let`s dive into your questions.
How much of a threat is Ilia’s KO streak to Jon Jones GOAT status?
Firstly, regarding Jon Jones and the discussion of GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) status, it`s important to approach the term itself with nuance. While Jones is undoubtedly a strong candidate for the MMA GOAT, it`s not a definitive, settled debate.
Addressing your question directly, Topuria`s recent run of knockout victories doesn`t pose an immediate, massive threat to anyone`s claim for GOAT status, as greatness in MMA isn`t typically established by just a few impressive wins. True GOAT status is built incrementally, performance by performance, over an entire career of exceptional accomplishments. Based on what he`s achieved so far, Topuria is certainly on the right trajectory, but he is still very early in that long journey. Despite his immense talent and the MMA community`s enthusiasm to label him, he still has to walk that incredibly difficult path.
That being said, Topuria appears as well-equipped to pursue All-Time Great status as any fighter I`ve ever witnessed. His talent is obvious, and he has already achieved an extraordinary amount at the young age of 28 – arguably more than many predecessors at the same stage. His timing also seems beneficial; if he remains at lightweight, there are several prominent fighters nearing the end of their careers whom he could potentially overcome. This perfect storm of talent, accomplishment, and timing positions him excellently to carve his name among the sport`s legends. But the challenge remains for him to execute it.
It will be compelling to watch him try.
Out of all the double champs, Topuria has the best chance to become triple champion, am I right?
He might have the best chance in terms of realistically *getting* the opportunity, but I would estimate his actual chances of *winning* the welterweight title as extremely low. Topuria looked like a natural featherweight competing at lightweight on Saturday, which is effectively what he is. He can perhaps manage this at 155 lbs, but I don`t anticipate the same level of success at 170 lbs. Even in a hypothetical scenario where Islam Makhachev wins the welterweight belt and the UFC somehow booked that fight, a Topuria knockout would be hard to envision.
Instead, I would place my bet on Alex Pereira. “Poatan” already holds two titles, and the heavyweight division is currently quite unpredictable. While I would favor Tom Aspinall in a potential heavyweight clash with Pereira, it wouldn`t be entirely shocking if “Poatan” managed to land a fight-ending blow and achieve the feat.
Do you think that impromptu face-off with Paddy Pimblett in the cage will force the UFC’s hand? And is it even that bad? Dana is mad at Arman and does Justin deserve another title shot? Who else is there?
Yes. The UFC is likely to prioritize the financial implications and book the Topuria vs. Pimblett fight, which from a business perspective, makes sense for them.
While I am a big admirer of Justin Gaethje, he suffered a title loss relatively recently, so it wouldn`t be surprising if he were passed over for now. Similarly, Arman Tsarukyan is arguably the most deserving contender based on performance, but he faced issues surrounding UFC 311 which could impact his immediate title prospects, potentially requiring him to secure another win first. This situation creates an opportunity for Pimblett.
Does Pimblett deserve the title shot purely based on rankings or traditional contender criteria? Probably not. However, “deserve” often takes a backseat to marketability in promotional decisions. Pimblett is on a good win streak, there`s built-in history and animosity for this specific matchup, and it represents arguably the biggest commercial fight the promotion can currently put together in the lightweight division.
Furthermore, while I strongly believe Topuria would win against Pimblett, I am genuinely interested in seeing how he fares against a physically larger lightweight known for his ability to absorb damage.
This fight should be booked.
Out of Paddy, Arman, and Gaethje….Arman probably has the best chance out of those 3 to beat Illia right?
Absolutely. Arman Tsarukyan is a truly elite fighter. While I would still predict Topuria to win that specific matchup, I would feel far from certain about the outcome.
Pimblett likely represents the second-most difficult stylistic challenge among the three mentioned. His significant size and proven toughness mean he could potentially withstand Topuria`s power longer, which is a crucial starting point for anyone facing him.
Gaethje, despite my admiration for him, is likely last in this comparison. Like some of Topuria`s other recent opponents, he appears to be past his absolute prime. Gaethje remains an elite competitor, but at this stage of his career, he seems more susceptible to being quickly knocked out.
How much would you pay for Prime DJ vs this Pantoja?
A substantial amount. Easily $200, perhaps more. It would be worth it.
Demetrious Johnson is widely recognized as one of the greatest fighters of all time, and yet I still sometimes feel he is underrated. In his prime, “Mighty Mouse” was operating on a completely different level from his competitors. Pantoja may not reach that historical tier, but he has clearly established himself as the best flyweight of the current generation and the only fighter who can truly be discussed in the same breath as prime DJ. Witnessing a fight between them would be incredible, particularly because their styles could make for a fascinating contest. DJ was incredibly intelligent and adaptable, while Pantoja possesses an unmatched grit and ability to push himself relentlessly. It would be a compelling clash of approaches.
Percentage chance of Josh Van beating Pants?
Speaking of impressive flyweights, Joshua Van has rapidly emerged.
At UFC 317, Van secured a hard-fought decision victory over Brandon Royval, seemingly out of nowhere, to position himself as a top contender. He is now set to face the challenge of overcoming Pantoja, and at this particular moment, I don`t favor his chances.
Van is a fantastic prospect, but he is still very much a developing fighter. At just 23 years old, he is gaining experience on the biggest stage. We saw glimpses of this development against Royval, where he was initially losing but managed to adapt and disrupt Royval`s rhythm with strategic oblique kicks later in the fight. This adaptability is a valuable trait that will serve him well, but his overall game is still somewhat raw. Currently, Van appears to lack the complete arsenal needed to defeat Pantoja.
However, this situation is highly likely to change over the next few years. While you never know exactly how careers will unfold, Pantoja`s reign at the top will eventually conclude, and Van is consistently improving. If these two were to face each other again in a couple of years, Van could very well be the one to end Pantoja`s time as champion. I fully expect Van to hold the flyweight title at some point in his career.
Greater career, Charles Oliveira or Shogun Rua?
First, this is an excellent question.
Second, acknowledging Charles Oliveira as an All-Time Great, his recent loss has now firmly placed him outside of the immediate title picture.
Third, after significant deliberation, I believe Shogun Rua had the greater career.
Oliveira`s career renaissance after moving back to the lightweight division was truly remarkable. His run of seven consecutive finishes, followed by impressive wins over Michael Chandler, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje, was incredible. Through this streak, he captured the UFC title and solidified his status as a future Hall of Famer. Yet, there are certain factors to consider.
(To be clear, everything I`m about to mention are minor points, but they are necessary when comparing the legacies of elite fighters at this level.)
The most significant factor is the nature of his losses. While every fighter experiences defeat, most of Oliveira`s 11 career losses were definitive stoppages (9 by KO/TKO or submission), and crucially, eight of these occurred *before* his career-defining lightweight title run. This pattern of being finished earlier in his career is difficult to completely overlook when evaluating his overall body of work.
In contrast, Shogun Rua primarily accumulated losses *after* his peak years in the sport. His legendary 2005 run is often considered the single greatest year any fighter has ever had. Even well after that prime period, Shogun was still involved in memorable fights for nearly another decade. While the losses towards the end of Shogun`s career might be viewed negatively, that extended period of competing is often simply part of a long career in MMA. If Oliveira were to continue competing for another six years, he might face similar outcomes. However, the absolute peak moments and achievements Shogun reached were arguably more significant than Oliveira`s highest points.
Regardless of the comparison, both men are undoubtedly within the top 50 greatest fighters in the sport`s history, and likely even within the top 25.
