Sean O’Malley made a statement that quickly drew attention from across the sport. The outspoken former bantamweight titleholder has openly crowned Ilia Topuria as the greatest pound-for-pound fighter ever, placing him ahead of established legends such as Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Conor McGregor.
The rivalry between O’Malley and Topuria stretches back several years. At one point, their competitive paths seemed destined to collide when O’Malley ruled the 135-pound division and discussed a potential move up to featherweight. Even after losing his belt to Merab Dvalishvili, “Suga” kept Topuria in his sights for a future super fight.
Ilia Topuria’s Meteoric Rise
Topuria joined the UFC roster in 2020 and quickly showed star potential. By February 2024, he had stunned fans with a knockout victory over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 to capture the featherweight title, extending his unbeaten record.
Eight months later, he defended the belt by stopping Max Holloway in another emphatic finish. His momentum peaked in June 2025 at UFC 317, when he moved up to lightweight and defeated Charles Oliveira in the opening round, adding a second world title to his résumé.
At just 28 years old, “El Matador” stands at 17-0 overall, with nine UFC wins — all showcasing his finishing ability. His victories have positioned him as the promotion’s top pound-for-pound ranked fighter.
O’Malley Declares Topuria the Best
On his YouTube channel, O’Malley shared why he believes Topuria now sits atop the all-time list.
“Ilia is pound-for-pound the greatest fighter to ever walk this earth. The greatest fighter pound-for-pound, ever,” O’Malley said.
“Yeah, even over Jon Jones I think. Dude, his last three fights, KO’s Volkanovski, KO’s Max Holloway, KO’s Charles Oliveira. He’s not beating guys by decision, he’s not taking them down and holding them down and these guys can’t get up, he’s knocking them out. It’s f—g sweet,” O’Malley continued.
This praise comes despite their past rivalry, underscoring just how impressive Topuria’s performances have been.
Potential Fights and Legacy Talk
While O’Malley’s endorsement is significant, Topuria’s career is still unfolding. Many fans and analysts believe he must secure a few more signature victories to firmly establish himself as the greatest fighter of all time.
One bout often discussed is a matchup with Islam Makhachev, the former lightweight champion. A win over Makhachev would likely cement Topuria’s place at the very top of historical rankings.
O’Malley has even floated the idea of Topuria facing Conor McGregor at next year’s planned UFC White House card, an event that is expected to mark McGregor’s long-awaited return.
While Topuria rides a wave of dominance, O’Malley finds himself looking to rebuild momentum. He’s coming off two straight losses: a unanimous decision defeat in September 2024 followed by a submission in June 2025, both at the hands of Merab Dvalishvili.
The 30-year-old remains one of the division’s most popular names, and potential matchups include a rematch with Petr Yan, or bouts against Umar Nurmagomedov, Song Yadong, or Henry Cejudo. A strong comeback could revive his ambitions of facing Topuria down the line.
Ilia Topuria’s ability to capture titles in two weight divisions within a short period has transformed him into one of the UFC’s most talked-about figures. His unbeaten record, combined with his finishing streak against elite opposition, has prompted fighters like O’Malley to consider him the most skilled and dangerous competitor ever to step inside the Octagon.
