Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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Ilia Topuria Gives His Take On Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Jon Jones GOAT Debate

Ilia Topuria gives his bold take on the heated Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Jon Jones GOAT debate, stirring up MMA discussions!

The debate over who deserves the title of “Greatest of All Time” in MMA never seems to end. Fans argue passionately online and fighters weigh in with strong opinions. Even retired champions can’t resist jumping into the fray. It’s the kind of discussion that heats up family dinners and causes friendships to fracture at local sports bars worldwide. Recently, UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria decided to throw his hat into this never-ending argument, and he didn’t mince words about where he stands.

Also Read: Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Heartwarming Gesture For A Cancer Patient Revealed On A Podcast

Topuria’s Bold Stance on Jones vs. Nurmagomedov Stance

When asked on the Fullsend Podcast about his pick for MMA’s GOAT, Topuria wasted no time declaring Jon Jones as his clear choice. But what raised eyebrows wasn’t just his pick – it was how dismissively he treated the comparison between Jones and the Dagestani champion. Topuria seemed almost amused by the idea of putting Khabib Nurmagomedov or Islam Makhachev in the same conversation as Jones.

“Has to be Jon Jones. You have to give the credit to that man because to me it’s too fun when I see people comparing him with the Dagestani guys, even with Khabib, with Islam [Makhachev]…Jon Jones has 15 title defenses. For me, he’s the number one.”

Ilia Topuria on fans including Khabib in the GOAT conversation 👀 pic.twitter.com/hTOFNHIxPg
— MMA On Point (@OnPointMMA) February 14, 2025

The numbers tell an interesting story in this debate. Topuria’s point about Jones’ longevity at the top stands. Jones has racked up 16 title fight wins; the most in UFC history – while clearing out multiple generations of light heavyweight contenders before moving up to capture the heavyweight crown. Meanwhile, Khabib Nurmagomedov retired with a perfect 29-0 record but only defended his lightweight title three times before walking away in his prime following his father’s death.

Different Fighters, Different Types Of Greatness

This debate has evolved significantly over the years. Back when Georges St-Pierre retired as welterweight champion, many considered him the GOAT. Then Anderson Silva’s incredible middleweight reign put him in the conversation.

Demetrious Johnson’s record-setting flyweight dominance earned him consideration too. But Jones and Khabib seem to have risen above the rest in recent years, dividing the MMA community like no other GOAT debate has. And with Islam Makhachev now breaking Khabib’s lightweight title defense record, a new chapter in this ongoing saga might just be beginning.

What makes this debate so heated is that both fighters dominated in completely different ways. Jones beat legends like Rampage Jackson, Shogun Rua, Lyoto Machida and Daniel Cormier while showing incredible versatility. Khabib Nurmagomedov, on the other hand, barely lost a round in his entire career, mauling opponents like Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje with his suffocating ground game. It is like comparing a Blade to a sledgehammer, both incredibly effective but in totally different ways.

(Image Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – Imagn Images)

Ilia Topuria

Jon Jones

Khabib Nurmagomedov

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!