If he keeps on his current run, Ilia Topuria has been backed to reach the greatness of Jon Jones, according to an ex-UFC star.
Winning his second Octagon crown in the space of just five years over the weekend, Topuria did so — in pre-fight predicted fashion.
Headlining UFC 317, the Spaniard made relatively light work of former gold holder, Charles Oliveira, in just the very first round.
Savagely knocking out Oliveira with a brutal combination, Topuria added to his ever-growing list of emphatic title fight finishes recently.
Drawing sizeable comparisons to sport greats before him, Topuria appears to be on a quick track to stardom, according to a former welterweight staple.
Matt Brown claims Ilia Topuria can match Jon Jones when it comes to achievements
Taking out the trio of Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski, and Max Holloway with stoppage wins inside a year, Topuria continues to stack his sizeable résumé quite high.
And as far as former top-contender Brown is concerned, if he continues this run — particularly with a win over Armenian star, Arman Tsarukyan — serious comparisons are justified.
“Ilia to me is on the verge of we start comparing him to like Jon Jones,” Brown told MMA Fighting.
“To me, if he goes out and beats an Arman (Tsarukyan) or maybe Islam (Makhachev)… we’re starting to talk about Jon Jones level greatness. Start making comparisons.
“The guy’s right on the verge. …Maybe hindsight is 20/20, but I don’t know [if Jon Jones’ run in the UFC is] as good as this run that Ilia is on.”
To boot, these are not the only sizeable comparisons Topuria has received this week, either.
Dana White holds Ilia Topuria in esteem with Muhammad Ali
Gushing over the unbeaten star’s win against Oliveira at UFC 317, promotional boss Dana White was left awestruck by the manner in which Topuria won his second Octagon title.
Calling his shot to a T against the Sao Paulo, Topuria brought memories of the late boxing icon, Muhammad Ali, to the forefront of White’s mind with his staggering victory.
“It’s like some [Muhammad] Ali s— saying ‘I’m going to knock him out in the first round’. And viciously knocks him (Charles Oliveira) out in the first round,” White told media after UFC 317.
“I think tonight was his (Ilia Topuria) big night. We have a star on our hands.”
While those comparisons to the late, great Ali are premature to many, if Topuria continues on his run, the status as the best UFC fighter is certainly up for grabs.