The Crown Has Changed Hands: How Ilia Topuria Ousted Islam Makhachev From UFC's Pound-For-Pound Top Three

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Salid Martik
July 2nd at 3:17pm
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P4P – An Abstract League of Champions

The pound-for-pound (P4P) rating is a kind of “weight utopia” in combat sports. Experts mentally equalize every fighter’s weight and try to figure out who would be the strongest under such a hypothetical parity. There is no official set of criteria, so some judge by current form and recent victories, others by overall legacy and championship belts, and still others emphasize pure skill. The outcome is inevitably subjective: for one person “number one” means absolute mastery, while for another it is a weighty résumé.

Who Gives the Points and Why Are They Criticized?

The judges in this “invisible” category are journalists listed on the UFC rankings page. Curiously, the promotion has distanced itself: it is more convenient for the league to shift responsibility to the media, keeping the right to disassociate itself from the most controversial decisions. The survey includes none of the usual giants like Sherdog or MMA Junkie; instead, there are niche outlets a fan might struggle to find via search. This irritated UFC president Dana White, especially when reporters refused to place Jon Jones above Makhachev. “Third? That’s the most ridiculous ranking ever,” the Octagon boss exploded.

After months of wrangling, White promised radical changes. In spring 2025 he announced a partnership with Mark Zuckerberg and the rollout of AI algorithms capable of analyzing data more comprehensively than any editor. Whether this becomes a transparent tool or another marketing showcase is something fans will learn soon.

A 602-Day Reign: Islam’s Legacy

Islam Makhachev topped the P4P list on , after an injury forced Jones out of his bout with Stipe Miocic. Paradoxically, even a dominating win over Alex Volkanovski in October did not convince the press right away; the shake-up came only when the heavyweight title fight was cancelled.

Over the next year and a half, Makhachev managed to:

  • become the second Russian leader after Khabib Nurmagomedov;
  • hold the summit for 602 days – longer than anyone except the same Jones (his record is 659 days);
  • join the ranks of nine historical No. 1s;
  • defend the belt twice while already ruling the consolidated ranking.

Fifty-seven more rotations of the Earth – and Islam would have caught the Predator from Albany. But the calendar was merciless: in the June 2025 update the top line went to Ilia Topuria, who had just shocked the world with a devastating knockout of Charles Oliveira and claimed the vacant lightweight title.

Topuria on the Throne: Is It Fair?

The Georgian-Spanish finisher reached the elite undefeated, ending most of his bouts early. His recent upset of “Do Bronx” sent his stock sky-high, and the freshness of the win was decisive. P4P lists thrive on emotional momentum: thunderous knockouts and media hype are often enough to “leapfrog” champions of other divisions, even if their winning streak is longer.

On the other hand, Makhachev has not yet lost his belt in the cage and is preparing to defend against Jack Della Maddalena. If the Dagestani smothers the Australian with wrestling power and a submission, we could see a reverse reshuffle. Only two fighters have returned to the top of the P4P table: Jon Jones and Demetrious Johnson. Islam could become the third.

Should Russian Fans Be Upset?

  • Practical value is zero: purses, matchmaking, and media clout are shaped primarily by belts and box-office potential.
  • Marketing-wise the change of leader is even profitable: in a future Makhachev–Topuria clash, the UFC gets an easy poster – “No. 2 tries to take back the throne from No. 1,” which means more PPV sales.
  • The calendar favors Islam: a win over Della Maddalena or a possible victory against Justin Gaethje will quickly reignite the debate about the true “king without weight classes.”

Looking Ahead: The Age of Artificial Intelligence

If the new AI system really goes live, analytics are expected to become more detailed: strike volume, ground control, significant actions per minute – all of this could replace the subjective sympathies of panel journalists. Yet no matter how many algorithms count jabs and takedowns, the debate over hybrid rankings will remain a matter of taste.

For now the takeaway is simple: the P4P throne has temporarily changed hands, but the intrigue is only growing. Makhachev is still the lightweight champion, Topuria is a rising superstar, and just one fight stands between them. For Russian fans the good news is – Islam is still in the game; for neutral viewers – we are on the verge of a colossal showdown where the stake is an unofficial but tremendously prestigious title of the planet’s best fighter.

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