Topuria became the 10th two-division champion in UFC history Ilia Topuria has moved top of the UFC's men's pound-for-pound rankings for the first time after winning the vacant lightweight title. The Georgian-Spaniardknocked out Charles Oliveira in ruthless fashionat UFC 317 in Las Vegas on Saturday to become the promotion's 10th two-division champion. Topuria, 28, replaces former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at the top of the rankings after the Russian relinquished the belt to move up to welterweight. Topuria, who has won all 17 of his fights, vacated his featherweight title earlier this year to move up to lightweight. Britain's Paddy Pimblett, who faced off inside the octagon with Topuria after his win over Brazil's Oliveira, has fallen from eighth to 10th in the lightweight rankings. The pair traded words before Topuria shoved Pimblett, building speculation about a potential title bout between the pair. They have been rivals for over three years after Pimblett threw a bottle of hand sanitiser at Topuria during a confrontation at a London hotel. Both Topuria and Pimblett have said they want the fight, but second-ranked Armenian Arman Tsarukyan and fourth-ranked American Justin Gaethje are also contenders. Britain's Tom Aspinall,who was upgraded to undisputed heavyweight championafter Jon Jones retired last week, is ninth in the pound-for-pound rankings. Brazil's Alexandre Pantoja, who beat New Zealand's Kai Kara-France on Saturday to make the fourth defence of his flyweight belt, has moved up to fifth.
Topuria moves top of men's pound-for-pound rankings
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"Ilia Topuria Becomes UFC's New Men's Pound-for-Pound Leader After Lightweight Title Win"
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TruthLens AI Summary
Ilia Topuria has made history by becoming the 10th two-division champion in UFC history and has ascended to the top of the men's pound-for-pound rankings for the first time. This remarkable achievement came after his decisive victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in Las Vegas, where Topuria secured the vacant lightweight title with a stunning knockout. At just 28 years old, Topuria has maintained an impeccable record of 17 wins without a loss, showcasing his prowess in the octagon. His rise to the top of the rankings comes as former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev moved up to welterweight, thus vacating the title and creating an opening for Topuria. Earlier in the year, Topuria had vacated his featherweight title to pursue opportunities in the lightweight division, demonstrating his ambition and skill in multiple weight classes.
The aftermath of Topuria's victory has stirred significant interest in potential matchups, particularly with Britain's Paddy Pimblett, who faced Topuria in a post-fight encounter. Their rivalry dates back over three years, marked by a confrontation where Pimblett threw a bottle of hand sanitizer at Topuria, leading to heightened tensions. Following Topuria's win, the two exchanged words and physical gestures, fueling speculation about a future title bout. However, the lightweight division remains competitive, with other contenders like second-ranked Arman Tsarukyan and fourth-ranked Justin Gaethje also vying for the title. In the broader pound-for-pound rankings, Britain's Tom Aspinall has moved up to ninth after being named the undisputed heavyweight champion following Jon Jones' retirement, while Brazil's Alexandre Pantoja has climbed to fifth after successfully defending his flyweight title against Kai Kara-France. These developments indicate a dynamic and evolving landscape in the UFC, with Topuria at the forefront of this exciting era.
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