David Akhaladze

Two Georgians in the UFC’s Top 5?

Ilia Topuria and Merab Dvalishvili are at the peak of their respective careers.

Topuria knocked down two of the greatest featherweights in UFC history (Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway) last year and decided to challenge Islam Makhachev, thus to move up to lightweight. Topuria vacated his title and now awaits for his next opponent.

Dvalishvili went through Umar Nurmagomedov in January and defended his bantamweight belt in style. A cardio machine, that never ever stops. He just made the oddsmakers look fool again. And he is on a hell of a run.

Where do these two machines rank in UFC pound-for-pound rankings?

Well, in an unofficial rankings, both Topuria and Dvalishvili could very well be in the Top 5. Outside Islam, Jon Jones and Alex Pereira, who else would you put higher than these two bone crushers?

Islam is a machine. And, the real number 1. Probably, the greatest lightweight of all time. By beating a helpless Moicano at UFC 311, he made a history. It was his record-breaking fourth title defense and Islam also tied Kamaru Usman’s record in the longest winning streak column (15).

The wait could be over, if UFC CEO Dana White finally lets Ilia and Islam fight each other.

The titans will enter the cage. Only one will remain standing.