July 2025 MMA Rankings: Topuria Vs. Makhachev - Who's The Best?

James

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Post on Jul 01, 2025

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July 2025 MMA Rankings: Topuria vs. Makhachev - Who's the Next Lightweight King?

The lightweight division in the UFC is arguably the most stacked and exciting in all of mixed martial arts. With the departure of former champion Islam Makhachev, a power vacuum has opened, and a new contender is rising to claim the throne: Ilia Topuria. But who truly reigns supreme? This July 2025, the MMA world is buzzing with debates surrounding the potential clash between these two titans. Let's dive deep into their respective strengths and weaknesses to determine who holds the edge.

Ilia Topuria: The Rising Star

Topuria’s meteoric rise through the UFC ranks has been nothing short of spectacular. His devastating striking, combined with a rapidly improving grappling game, has made him a nightmare matchup for nearly every opponent. His recent victories have showcased a well-rounded skillset, leaving many analysts predicting a championship run.

• Strengths: Exceptional striking precision and power, improving grappling and wrestling defense, incredible cardio, and a relentless fighting style.
• Weaknesses: Relatively limited experience against top-tier competition at lightweight, although this is rapidly changing. His chin, while durable, hasn't faced the ultimate test against elite power punchers.

Islam Makhachev (Former Champion): The Reigning Legacy

While no longer holding the belt, Islam Makhachev's legacy remains firmly intact. His dominant wrestling and suffocating ground game made him a formidable champion. Even in defeat (should he have one prior to this hypothetical matchup), his experience and tactical prowess remain significant factors.

• Strengths: Unmatched wrestling dominance, exceptional ground control, suffocating grappling pressure, and a high fight IQ.
• Weaknesses: Potential vulnerability to high-level strikers who can keep the fight standing, a slightly less diverse striking game compared to Topuria.

The Hypothetical Clash: Topuria vs. Makhachev

A matchup between Topuria and Makhachev promises a compelling stylistic clash. Topuria's potent striking presents a significant threat to Makhachev's grappling game. Can Topuria keep the fight standing and utilize his superior striking to secure a victory? Or will Makhachev's wrestling prowess negate Topuria’s advantage, dragging the fight to the ground where he excels?

The key to victory for Topuria lies in his ability to maintain distance, land powerful strikes, and avoid the takedown. For Makhachev, success hinges on securing early takedowns and controlling the pace on the ground. The fight's outcome hinges on which fighter can successfully impose their preferred style.

Prediction & Conclusion:

Predicting the outcome of such a high-stakes fight is always challenging. However, considering Topuria's recent performance and rapid improvement, combined with Makhachev's potential vulnerabilities on the feet, we see a slight edge for Topuria. This is not to downplay Makhachev's capabilities; he remains an elite fighter. However, Topuria's diverse skillset and increasingly refined game give him the potential to secure a decisive victory. This hypothetical matchup is one that the MMA world is eagerly anticipating. It’s a fight that could redefine the lightweight division and crown a new champion. Stay tuned for updates as the UFC continues to shape its future cards!

Keywords: Ilia Topuria, Islam Makhachev, UFC, MMA, Lightweight, Rankings, July 2025, MMA rankings 2025, Topuria vs Makhachev, UFC Lightweight Champion, Mixed Martial Arts.