Ilia Topuria shakes up the pound-for-pound rankings following UFC 298 title win

By Harry Kettle - February 21, 2024

UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has made quite the debut in the pound-for-pound rankings.

Ilia Topuria

Last weekend at UFC 298, Ilia Topuria won the UFC featherweight championship. He did so by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski, a man who is widely considered to be one of the best fighters on the planet. It served as the latest in a string of memorable wins in his MMA career, as he fulfilled the prophecy he set out for himself years ago.

RELATED: Demetrious Johnson doesn’t like Alexander Volkanovski’s chances in a rematch with Ilia Topuria: “All Ilia has to do is touch him”

Now, the Georgian-Spaniard has plenty of options ahead of him. As the UFC’s latest international superstar, he’s likely to have plenty of offers coming his way both in and outside of the Octagon.

In terms of his pound-for-pound ranking, he’s clearly made quite the impression as he debuts in top five, as per UFC.com.

Topuria rises in UFC P4P rankings

1. Islam Makhachev
2. Jon Jones
3. Leon Edwards (+1)
4. Alex Pereira (+1)
5. Ilia Topuria (NR)
6. Charles Oliveira
7. Alexander Volkanovski (-4)
8. Sean O’Malley (-1)
9. Dricus du Plessis (-1)
10. Alexandre Pantoja (-1)
11. Israel Adesanya (-1)
12. Tom Aspinall
13. Sean Strickland (-2)
14. Max Holloway
15. Aljamain Sterling (-3)

It’s been a whirlwind week for Ilia Topuria. He has become an even greater star in Spain, he’s one of the most dangerous fighters on the planet, and he seems to be getting better and better every time he steps in the cage. Plus, at the age of just 27, it feels as if we haven’t even scratched the surface of what’s possible with his upper-bound limit yet.

Do you agree with Ilia Topuria debuting at 5th place in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings? If not, where do you think he should’ve been placed? Should he give Alexander Volkanovski an immediate rematch or focus on a new challenger? Let us know, BJPENN Nation!


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Ilia Topuria UFC