Topuria moves top of men’s pound-for-pound rankings

Ilia Topuria has moved top of the UFC’s men’s pound-for-pound rankings for the first time after winning the vacant lightweight title.

The Georgian-Spaniard knocked out Charles Oliveira in ruthless fashion at UFC 317 in Las Vegas on Saturday to become the promotion’s 10th two-division champion.

Topuria, 28, replaces former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at the top of the rankings after the Russian relinquished the belt to move up to welterweight.

Topuria, who has won all 17 of his fights, vacated his featherweight title earlier this year to move up to lightweight.

The pair traded words before Topuria shoved Pimblett, building speculation about a potential title bout between the pair.

They have been rivals for over three years after Pimblett threw a bottle of hand sanitiser at Topuria during a confrontation at a London hotel.

Both Topuria and Pimblett have said they want the fight, but second-ranked Armenian Arman Tsarukyan and fourth-ranked American Justin Gaethje are also contenders.

Britain’s Tom Aspinall, who was upgraded to undisputed heavyweight champion after Jon Jones retired last week, is ninth in the pound-for-pound rankings.