Who Will Be The Next UFC G.O.A.T?
Jon Jones officially announced his retirement just days ago, leaving behind one of the most dominant legacies in UFC history. With an incredible 28-1 record, his only loss being a controversial disqualification, Jones held championships in both the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight divisions. He was dominant in every aspect of the fight game. Few fighters even belong in the GOAT conversation, and while names like Georges St Pierre, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Anderson Silva are often mentioned, the majority of fans still point to Jon Jones as the true greatest. Now that he is gone, the question looms large — who will be the next GOAT?
Many names are thrown into the conversation, but most can be dismissed just as quickly. Fighters like Tom Aspinall and Merab Dvalishvili are talented and exciting, but it is clear to most fans that the chances of them building a true GOAT legacy are low. This leads many to believe that the next all-time great might not even be in the UFC yet. That is why fans are always searching for the next rising prospect, someone who takes out the competition with dominance and style. This is probably the most realistic option, but it is also the most boring.
Islam Makhachev has taken over the pound-for-pound number-one spot following Jon Jones and has looked dominant in doing so. Now, he is aiming to conquer a second weight class in a matchup that many believe favors him. With a record of 27 wins and just one loss, Makhachev has already secured impressive victories over elite names like Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier, and Alexander Volkanovski. His striking is sharp, his takedowns are strong, and his ground game is elite. If he continues this run and adds a few more wins across some of the toughest divisions in the sport, surpassing thirty wins in the process, it would not be crazy to consider him the next GOAT.
This is my favorite option. I believe Ilia Topuria will defeat Charles Oliveira this weekend and do it dominantly. He already holds massive wins over legends like Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski. His striking is elite, his wrestling is solid, and his Brazilian jiu-jitsu is dangerous. He is a terrifying presence inside the cage, and right now, he looks completely unstoppable. With a perfect record of 16-0, it may still be early to crown him, but if he continues this run, collects a few more great wins, and retires undefeated while competing in some of the sport's most stacked divisions, he could very well be the man to call the GOAT of MMA.
The GOAT conversation in the UFC is and always will be wide open. What makes it even more interesting is the cloud of controversy that surrounds Jon Jones, from failed drug tests to long layoffs. That leaves room for a new name to rise. I believe we will eventually see Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev face-off, and the winner of that fight will enter the GOAT conversation very quickly. In my eyes, either man could surpass Jon Jones. However, if I had to pick one, I believe Ilia Topuria will be the next greatest fighter the sport has ever seen.
