Jun 28, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Ilia Topuria (red gloves) prior to the fight against Charles Oliveira (blue gloves) during UFC 317 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

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Combat Sport Analyst Takes A Dive Into Ilia Topuria’s Marvellous Achievements This Early In His Career

Veteran combat sports analyst breaks down double UFC champion Ilia Topuria’s rapid rise and early career victories!

Comparing fighter records has become the norm in MMA. Everyone has their favorite, and nobody changes their mind easily. But every once in a while, someone comes along with such a ridiculous run of dominance that even the harshest critics have to tip their hats. Ilia Topuria, the Georgian-Spanish phenom is just that. At just 29 years old with a perfect 17-0 record, he is making combat sports analysts scratch their heads and wonder if they’re witnessing something truly special.

Luke Thomas, one of the most respected voices in MMA analysis, recently gave his take on Topuria. He claimed that Topuria’s 17-0 record might be the most impressive start to any fighter’s career in modern MMA history!

Luke Thomas Delves Into Ilia Topuria’s Elite Opposition

When Thomas broke down Topuria’s resume, the quality of competition jumps off the page immediately. Topuria has now knocked out three future Hall of Famers in a row, having demolished featherweight legends Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in back-to-back bouts, before adding Charles Oliveira to that list at UFC 317. Most fighters spend their entire careers hoping to face one future Hall of Famer, and Topuria has knocked out three in consecutive fights. That’s not just impressive, that’s almost unfair to everyone else trying to make their mark in the sport.

The level of competition Topuria has faced becomes even more remarkable when fans consider his age and experience. At 29, he’s still in his athletic prime, but he’s already facing the absolute elite of two different weight classes. Most fighters at this stage of their careers are still working their way up the rankings, fighting gatekeepers and fringe contenders. Topuria skipped that entire process and went straight to fighting champions and legends. His knockout of Oliveira to capture the lightweight title made him a two-division champion, joining an extremely exclusive club that includes fighters like Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, and Amanda Nunes.

It’s worth considering the trajectory Ilia Topuria is on.

I don’t know if he’ll even win his next fight, but through 17 fights, Topuria’s on one of the greatest runs the sport has ever seen.

*IF* he keeps this up, he’s headed to Mt. Rushmore territory. pic.twitter.com/FtycmL9owZ
— Luke Thomas🏋️‍♀️ (@lthomasnews) July 1, 2025

What makes Thomas’s analysis particularly compelling is his comparison to other legendary starts. Georges St-Pierre, considered the greatest fighter ever bu many, had an incredible early run, but even his first 17 fights didn’t feature the same level of elite opposition that Topuria has faced. Anderson Silva and Demeterious Johnson both had phenomenal careers, but their early fights were against regional competition before they reached the UFC’s elite level. Topuria, by contrast, has been fighting killers from almost the beginning of his UFC run.

Luke Thomas Weighs In On Ilia Topuria’s Next Opponent

Thomas also weighed in on what should come next for the newly crowned two-division champion. He believes Arman Tsarukyan deserves the first shot at Topuria’s lightweight title, which makes perfect sense from a competitive standpoint. Tsarukyan has been on a tear through the lightweight division and represents the kind of wrestling-heavy challenge that could test different aspects of Topuria’s game. The Armenian fighter’s relentless pace and grappling skills would force Topuria to show whether his takedown defense and cardio can hold up against elite-level wrestling pressure.

Interestingly, Thomas suggested that fighters like Justin Gaethje should step aside and fight younger contenders at this point. Gaethje has been a fantastic fighter and provided countless entertaining moments, but at 36 years old, he might be better served giving opportunities to the next generation according to Thomas. The sport moves fast, and sometimes the hardest part is knowing when to pass the torch.

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Ilia Topuria

Luke Thomas

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!