Charles Oliveira has dropped a bold statement, naming a UFC 320 standout as the true number one in the pound-for-pound rankings—and it’s not who you might expect. Despite never reaching the top of these rankings himself, Oliveira firmly believes that someone else deserves that spot already.
This weekend, Oliveira steps back into the Octagon just over 100 days after suffering a brutal knockout against Ilia Topuria during their lightweight title showdown this past summer. Fighting back on his home turf at UFC Rio, the former lightweight champion is set to face an unexpected challenger, Mateusz Gamrot, in a revamped main event.
Following the trail blazed by his fellow Brazilian star Alex Pereira, who recently climbed the pound-for-pound list with a stunning knockout at UFC 320, Oliveira is raising eyebrows by picking another fighter from that very event as the rightful pound-for-pound king. But here’s where it gets controversial: Oliveira claims that Merab Dvalishvili, who co-headlined UFC 320, is the most deserving fighter at the top right now.
Oliveira expressed his admiration for Dvalishvili in an interview with TNT Sports, saying, “The guy who has been doing a great job out there, who I really like to watch, is Merab.” This praise is notable because while Pereira has surged up the rankings due to his spectacular finish over Magomed Ankalaev, he hasn’t yet claimed the top spot in the official rankings.
Adding even more weight to his opinions, Oliveira also declared himself the greatest Brazilian to ever fight in the UFC, highlighting his legendary submission victories as evidence, including what many regard as the most remarkable submission in UFC history.
Meanwhile, Dvalishvili is already planning to stay active, aiming to fight again by December following his impressive performance against former title challenger Cory Sandhagen. The bantamweight champion intends to defend his belt multiple times, potentially setting new records for title defenses in the division. Speculation has linked him to possible bouts against notable contenders like Umar Nurmagomedov and Petr Yan.
However, in a twist that might spark debate among fans, Dvalishvili’s coach has hinted at a super fight in a higher weight class against a former pound-for-pound leader sooner rather than later. This possibility raises interesting questions about rankings, divisions, and what it really takes to be considered the best fighter in the UFC today.
So, what do you think? Is Merab Dvalishvili the rightful pound-for-pound number one, as Oliveira suggests? Or does someone else deserve that crown? Drop your thoughts and let’s get the debate started!
