Islam Makhachev Aims for P4P Glory if He Claims Welterweight Title, Says Close Friend and Veteran Analyst
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2024-09-05 07:10:15
Ilia Topuria
grabbed the vacant UFC 155-pound crown and the #1 pound-for-pound spot on his first 2025 outing at UFC 317. In doing so, Topuria has edged out former longtime reigning lightweight
Islam Makhachev
, whom he wanted to face for long.
Islam Makhachev is a 170-pound entrant and is projected to be the divisional champ’s maiden defense, right off the bat. “El Matador”, a division apart, has made it a point to assure UFC execs and the boss after UFC 317, that he won’t abandon the lineup to chase the Dagestani.
Makhachev had a stellar reign with five ballot 155-pound title fights logged, and a 15-fight win streak. He was the #1 pound-for-pound fighter for 602 days. Now, it’s up to successor Ilia Topuria to be a brand value champ and
garner more stats and records
. Close friend and training partner
Daniel Cormier
agrees with the P4P ranking, but only for so long.
Topuria, he is the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter today, …But if Islam is able to beat Jack Della Maddalena, it flips again and Islam goes back to No. 1. Only because of this, …fighting style will then be proven to go up to the next weight class; Islam will have done everything Topuria has done at a heavier weight. Four title defenses at 155, and then the new champion at welterweight. So yes, I agree, he is pound-for-pound No. 1 [for] today.
Daniel Cormier on his
Official YT Channel (@DC_MMA) | 3 Rounds w/Din Thomas
Given his historic 155-pound reign and momentum as the promotion’s #1 pound-for-pound back then, Islam Makhachev warranted a
Jack Della Maddalena
fight, right off the bat. The consensus guess was it’d be for a Perth PPV title slot after summer. However, Makhachev is usually booked for an October PPV spot in Abu Dhabi.
His case is a tad bit jagged than Ilia Topuria; the Spaniard went through former champs/P4P topper like
Alexander Volkanovski,
Max Holloway,
and even former titleholder
Charles Oliveira
. ESPN post-fight panelist and UFC coach
Din Thomas,
Cormier’s co-host on the episode, disagreed with him due to Della Maddalena’s lack of high-stitch feats, unlike these. Cormier explained why he stood by his point.
Ilia right now will only fight fights he’s supposed to win until he fights Islam, …[like] Because every one of his challengers [see] – right now, he’s -600 against Paddy… He’s -300 against Arman (Tsarukyan). He’s -350 against Justin (Gaethje). The only person he’s an underdog to is Makhachev…So, if Makhachev becomes the welterweight champ, doesn’t he go back to pound-for-pound No. 1?
Daniel Cormier further said on his channel (@DC_MMA)
Despite their current feats or title trajectory, Topuria vs. Makhachev is still the PPV super fight to make on a skill-to-skill level. New champ Topuria defended TDs, and even masterfully adjusted to submission specialist Oliveira’s ankle pick.
Soon after the referee put them back on the feet, ‘El Matador’ plundered his rival with a
first-round KO
. While once considered a ‘little guy’ at lightweight (5’7″; 69″ reach), the guy who could do so to Oliveira is now a monstrous betting favorite.
But unlike most cases
(betonline.ag/bestfightodds
), Makhachev is
still ballooning up in fight odds
due to his all-around skill set. If he could have a similarly bountiful trajectory at welterweight, Cormier bills that there is no stopping him from reclaiming his crown. For now, though, Topuria is the ‘It’ man of violent KOs.
It’s probably not ‘possible not to’ put Ilia Topuria No. 1 pound-for-pound, per outspoken veteran voice
MMA’s self-proclaimed ‘Bad Guy’ and Cormier’s ESPN co-host,
Chael Sonnen
, tells tall tales and drives up narratives boldly, like others won’t. However, his assessment behind the fanfare that Ilia Topuria should and would get is more than spot on.
The Spanish fighter had a one-of-a-kind
double KO title reign in 2024
, with domination over two top names. The former UFC star-turned-analyst bills that the UFC’s official weekly updates on the Athletes’ Listings were correct in replacing Islam Makhachev with Topuria.
After all, at 17-0 MMA and 9-0 UFC, Ilia Topuria is the first-ever fighter to perch on a promotion’s pound-for-pound list and be a two-weight champ with an undefeated record!
They gave it to Topuria, …Now, it wouldn’t have been big news if they would’ve given it to Islam; it would’ve been a talking point. It would’ve been something that I might’ve come here today and discuss with you, or might not have. Instead, it’s my lead story. They gave it to Ilia and that put Ilia over Islam, and you know what? I don’t think it’s possible not to…How would you take a sitting world champion and tell us that he’s behind of a guy that doesn’t have a belt. That’s tough, isn’t it?
Chael Sonnen on his YouTube channel
Topuria holds the UFC 155-pound gold and is the undisputed champion of the division. However, Sonnen sees Topuria as worthy of a three-division belt holder, or at least
touting the imagery
to have UFC exec and media crew push for it, much like
Conor McGregor
once did. Topuria does run into the
argument of copying
from the “Notorious” template from time to time.
This originally sets him apart from any other ballot fighter on the roster and justifies his pound-for-pound standing. Meanwhile, without a strap yet, Islam Makhachev is only eligible for the Men’s Pound-for-pound rankings.
Also Read:
- 3 Reasons Ilia Topuria vs Islam Makhachev Superfight Is Still Not Dead
- “I Was Wrong…” After Arman Tsarukyan, UFC Legend Made to Eat Own Word as Ilia Topuria ‘Family Money’ Theory Disproven
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