Makhachev-Topuria could be bigger than Jones-Aspinall

Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman have opposing views on the potential biggest UFC fight in 2025.

Usman thinks if the heavyweight title-unification bout between champion Jon Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) and interim champ Tom Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) materializes, the lure of Jones never being beaten makes it the biggest fight.

However, Cejudo says UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) chasing dual-champ status against the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) is more exciting.

“I personally believe that (Makhachev vs. Topuria) could potentially be bigger than Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall,” Cejudo said on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Kamaru Usman. “Competitively, of course, man. It’s not just that – it’s the simple fact that Ilia Topuria has a chance to become champ-champ.

“The heavyweight division, we’ll just know who’s the real undisputed champion. But in this position, if Ilia does win, that puts him in a category of, f*ck, you beat the former pound-for-pound (best) in (Alexander) Volkanovski, you’re beating the current pound-for-pound in a guy like Islam Makhachev. Give him his flowers.”

Despite Jones’ reluctance, UFC CEO Dana White guaranteed that Jones vs. Aspinall happens next year. As for Makhachev vs. Topuria, Makhachev dismissed the matchup, explaining that he’s not interested in defending his belt against another featherweight. Makhachev is currently slated to run things back with Arman Tsarukyan in the UFC 311 headliner on Jan. 18.