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Sports Illustrated

Justin Barrasso

Debate About UFC Pound-for-Pound Rankings Rages On

Alexander Volkanovski Islam Makhachev UFC Erin Blanchfield Jéssica Andrade Valentina Shevchenko Yair Rodriguez Alex Pereira Israel Adesanya

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Welcome to The Weekly Takedown, Sports Illustrated’s in-depth look at MMA. Every week, this column offers insight and information on the most noteworthy stories in the fight world.

Islam Makhachev could be the UFC’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter.

Or Alexander Volkanovski.

It all depends on who you ask.

Makhachev defeated Volkanovski by unanimous decision this past weekend at UFC 284. Though Volkanovski won two rounds, the other three were clearly controlled by Makhachev. It was a closely contested bout, and it should be noted that Volkanovski moved up a weight class for the fight.

Despite the loss, Volkanovski is still ranked by the UFC as its No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, followed by Makhachev in the second spot. It is a complicated list–Leon Edwards is third, Kamaru Usman is fourth, and Israel Adesanya is fifth, rounding out the top five. But sitting in sixth is Alex Pereira, which causes an instant quagmire considering Pereira just defeated Adesanya only a few months ago.

Unlike the champion of a division, the list is entirely subjective. And therein lies its beauty. It is a debate with no end. Similarly, who is the pound-for-pound best boxer ever? To me, it isn’t a question: it is Evander Holyfield. But “Sugar” Ray Robinson and Rocky Marciano both make compelling arguments. So do Floyd Mayweather, Marvin Hagler and Roberto Durán. That is a topic for endless argument, no different than the UFC’s current pound-for-pound list.

The biggest takeaway from this past weekend’s main event is that there will be a sequel. In the aftermath of the fight, there have been shots hurled at Makhachev claiming that he cheated with illegal I.V. use that allowed him to rehydrate after his weight cut. Volkanovski used Twitter to claim that he should have won the fight by decision. In a battle of social media sites, Makhachev expressed his disappointment in his Instagram story, sharing his belief that justice was not served.

All roads lead to a rematch. Perhaps even in their next fight. Right now, there is no other clear-cut challenger for Makhachev in the lightweight division. Dustin Poirier has a claim, but realistically, he is still another win away from a title shot. If Beneil Dariush and Charles Oliveira fight, then the winner of that bout certainly makes a convincing claim. But that’s it.

It is different in featherweight, where Yair Rodriguez just won the interim title. A fight pitting Volkanovski against Rodriguez, however, does not need to be imminent. Rodriguez could defend the interim belt against someone like undefeated force Ilia Topuria, creating even more interest in the looming title unification bout against Volkanovski.

So enjoy the controversy, and stay confident in your choice for the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world. This discussion is ongoing, but the one element of debate that has been settled is that Makhachev and Volkanovski need another fight to settle their score.

Blanchfield Looking for Her Most Significant Win

If Erin Blanchfield defeats Jéssica Andrade at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, she will immediately become the top contender for Valentina Shevchenko’s flyweight title.

Shevchenko’s next title defense is only a few weeks away, so the timing is perfect. She defends the belt against Alexa Grasso at UFC 285 only two weeks after this weekend’s bout pitting Blanchfield against Andrade. Whether Blanchfield is ready for Shevchenko is an entirely different matter, but she will have the resume, hype, and skillset to put herself in position for a title shot if she is able to solve the puzzle that Andrade presents in the cage.

Andrade has world-class power and cardio, and she is a far better striker than Blanchfield, all critical advantages. But what if Blanchfield keeps the striking edge competitive? Or, if she can bring Andrade to the ground early, what if she negates it entirely? This is a significant test for Blanchfield, one she has yet to face in her career.

Only 23, Blanchfield has not competed against anyone even close to Andrade’s level. Despite the challenge ahead of her, the outcome is clear: if she wins, she instantly elevates herself into the title picture.