Ilia Topuria has surged ahead in the UFC’s star rankings after capturing the lightweight title at UFC 317, positioning himself above notable fighters such as Alex Pereira and Tom Aspinall. This rapid rise in popularity and success in 2024 has sparked debates among MMA experts regarding who currently carries the biggest star power in the organization.

The Georgian-Spaniard’s achievement marked his second divisional title win within the UFC, a significant milestone in his career that drew praise from veterans such as Josh Thomson and John McCarthy. These MMA figures endorse Topuria as a contender for the biggest star in the UFC landscape, crediting not only his fighting skills but also his character and fan engagement for his rising prominence. Meanwhile, heavyweight contender Tom Aspinall retains strong support as a future icon, though experts view Topuria as having the edge on star status at present.

Insight from MMA Experts on the Star Power Race Between Topuria and Aspinall

John McCarthy, respected former UFC referee and co-host of the Weighing In podcast, highlighted Tom Aspinall as one of the few fighters that might rival Ilia Topuria in popularity, noting Aspinall’s solid fanbase despite some limitations in his current storylines. During the discussion, he stated,

The only one [fighter] I can tell you right now [who might be a bigger star than Topuria] is sitting there with a popularity, that’s Tom Aspinall,

emphasizing the heavyweight’s growing appeal. Josh Thomson chimed in by bringing up Alex Pereira, one of the UFC’s active champions who has enjoyed notable success in 2024.

Alex Pereira, a multiple-time title defender who entered Bruce Buffer’s exclusive “The One, The Only” announcement club, secured a strong following last year. Despite Pereira’s recent dethronement, debates continue about his standing compared to rising figures like Topuria and Aspinall. McCarthy remarked on this dynamic, saying,

Off the fact that Alex lost his last fight and everything, yeah. I’m gonna say that Tom Aspinall is there, but Ilia Topuria, he’s the guy that you’re looking at as, ‘Hey, that’s the next one to hold that star status for a while,’

and added,

Even if he ended up losing, it’s just the way he conducts himself, the way that he gets prepared for a fight, the way he brings family and does things. There’s a whole lot that you can do with him.

What Makes Ilia Topuria Stand Out Amid Rising UFC Names

Topuria’s success in the lightweight division has opened promising opportunities for high-profile matchups, generating excitement among fans eager to see him face off against well-known peers like Paddy Pimblett, Arman Tsarukyan, Justin Gaethje, and Islam Makhachev. His ability to secure engaging contests and his connection with audiences suggest he could fill the void left by UFC legend Conor McGregor, who set a high bar for star power and drawing ability.

John McCarthy explained how Topuria has an advantage over Tom Aspinall in terms of charisma and narrative, pointing to a lack of a clear rival for Aspinall in the heavyweight division as a barrier to his full stardom. He said,

The problem for them with Tom Aspinall, in my opinion, is they just don’t have that f—ing nemesis to go across from him since Jon Jones has left. Or whether he has or not,

suggesting that the absence of a compelling adversary limits Aspinall’s rise at this time.

Despite these challenges, the UFC’s president Dana White remains confident in Aspinall’s potential, having referred to him as the man following Jon Jones’ brief retirement. This endorsement signals the organization’s belief in Aspinall’s future star status, even as Topuria currently maintains an edge in fan engagement and media attention.

Comparing UFC’s Emerging Icons: The Future of Star Power

The contrast between Topuria’s growing influence and Pereira’s declining momentum underscores the unpredictable nature of becoming a superstar in the UFC’s competitive ecosystem. Whereas Pereira dominated in activity and title defenses throughout 2024, his recent defeat shifted part of the spotlight toward other promising fighters like Topuria and Aspinall.

The conversation about these athletes reflects a larger trend in the UFC, where the search for the next global icon is ongoing amid a perceived star shortage since McGregor’s peak. Industry veterans like Josh Thomson and John McCarthy emphasize the importance of personality, fight preparation, and relatability in addition to in-cage achievements. They see Topuria as embodying these traits, which could translate into sustained popularity and influence within the sport.

As the UFC continues to develop its roster, fans and analysts alike will be watching whether Topuria can maintain momentum or whether fighters like Aspinall will find the rivalries and narrative arcs necessary to vault them into the same realm as household names like Jon Jones and Conor McGregor. With meaningful fights on the horizon across multiple divisions, the landscape for UFC star power remains dynamic and full of potential shifts.