Ilia Topuria recently reached the Pound-For-Pound Mountaintop of the UFC, but it was warned not to be too comfortable there.
Topuria continued his rapid charge for greatness on the largest stage in MMA by becoming the latest two -division champion on UFC 317 on 28 June.
In the main event, Topuria Charles Oliveira caught up to achieve that performance and to surpass his predecessor Islam Makhachev to rise to the P4P throne in the process.
That change has led to the debate between fans of the Spaniard and the Dagestani, but both have told that a new threat could both surpass them soon.
Aljamain Sterling says that Merab Dvalishvili should be number one if he wins again if he wins
Including the last place in the pound-for-pound top three is the rule of UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili.
After Dvalishhvili Sean O'Malley had submitted to UFC 316 in their headlining -rematch, the Georgian is only one victory removed from his teammate Aljamain Sterling's Record for the most successful Bantamweight title defenses.
And more than just that achievement by beating Cory Sandhagen in their expected fight later this year, Sterling believes that the champion would be unmistakable as the P4P king.
“I would say it is a three -headed race between Ilia, Merab and Islam,” said Sterling Mma Crazy during the International Fight Week.
“I think that if (dvalishvili) just wins one, I think he is (number one). I think you can't deny him, especially if he gets a finish again.
“If you place Merab the same size, pound-for-pound, with one of these guys with his skills, I think he is doing the same for everyone,” sterling added.
“You can argue and claim that he would actually be number one – and should be.”
Daniel Cormier made the same claim about Islam Makhachev
Sterling is not the only one who comes for the P4P top position after a potential victory later this year.
During a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, former two-division champion Daniel Cormier insisted that Makhachev had to be number one again if he can take the Welterweight title of Jack della Maddalena.
“He (Topuria) is today the number one pound-for-pound hunter,” said Cormier. “But if Islam can beat Jack della Maddalena, it turns again and Islam returns to number one.
“Only because of this will (his) fighting style be proven that it is going to the next weight class. Islam will have done everything that Topuria has done with a heavier weight. Four title defense at 155, and then the new champion at Welterweight.
“So yes, I agree, he (Topuria) is today pound-for-pound number one,” Cormier added. “But I think the moment that Islam can win, he will go back to pound-for-pound number one.”
If both 'DC' and 'Funk Master' are right, the pound-for-pound order could be set for a turbulent movement period, especially if Topuria successfully defends its lightweight title in the coming months.