UFC 316 Headliner Sean O'Malley thinks the Pound-for-Pond Berg has more than one man at the top.
Not many debates consistently stirring the discussion in mixed martial arts and the UFC such as the pound-for-pound debate.
The conversation in recent years is largely focused on the claims of both Islam Makhachev and Jon Jones. Despite the long and dominant lightweight rule of the Dagestani, Dana White Jones picked over Makhachev.
That was until UFC 311 in January, when White made a U-turn in favor of Makhachev after his victory over Renato Moicano.
And with 'Bones' who defends the heavyweight title only once in more than two years and is currently flirting, the status of Makhachev as P4P King has long been safe.
But not according to O'Malley.
Sean O'Malley places Ilia Topuria level with the Islam Makhachev in the P4P debate of the UFC
O'Malley recently appeared on MightyCast, the podcast organized by UFC and one championship legend Demetrious Johnson.
In addition to viewing O'Malley's UFC 316 Rematch against Merab Dvalishvili, the couple discussed a number of other prominent topics in the MMA space.
This included the approaching welterweight switch from Makhachev, which led to accusations that the Dagestani actively dismissed a collision for the lightweight belt against the unbeaten Ilia Topuria.
O'Malley has been associated with Topuria itself in the past, and 'Sugar' is clearly extremely high on the Spaniard, which he regards as a level with Makhachev in the P4P race.
“I just imagined that Ilia went up to fight Islam,” said O'Malley. “That was a kind of fight I wanted to see. That was a big fight for me. That was huge.
“Both boys are number one and one, both bound to the best for pound-for-pound best in the world.”
Ilia Topuria is located in two places under Islam Makhachev in the official UFC P4P ranking
Before Topuria reaches one of his goals to become the undisputed P4P king, the former Federweight Champion must first surpass Jones to reach second place.
'El Matador' confirmed a place in the top three thanks to his brutal two-fight run in 2024, so that he came out Alexander Volkanovski to become UFC champion featherweight and to sleep Max Holloway in his first defense.
But that controversial did not raise him above Jones, whose only heavyweight defending defense since the beating of Ciryl Gane in 2023 in November 2024 came against the now retired Stipe Miocic.
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Topuria was able to stimulate his chances of climbing on the P4P ladder on UFC 317 on 28 June, when he gives the International Vechtweek in competition for the empty lightweight title against Charles Oliveira.
Makhachev is now expected to have the chance to increase his grip on the crown when he challenges Jack della Maddalena's welterweight title later this year.