Dana White, president of the UFC, compares Ilia Topuria to Muhammad Ali

Last weekend, Ilia Topuria became the face of the world's largest mixed martial arts (MMA) league , the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), after winning his second belt by knocking out Brazilian Charles Oliveira in just 2 minutes and 27 seconds. With this victory, the Spanish-Georgian has managed to enter the select group of double UFC champions , something only nine athletes had achieved before, and none of them being undefeated in their professional careers.

In terms of his stature, El Matador became one of the most important athletes in our country after winning the world featherweight title, but now he's one of the most important athletes in the world. Just this Tuesday, Topuria positioned himself as the number one in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings , which classifies the best fighters in the world regardless of the weight class in which they compete.

"I'm collecting belts. I know how good I am. I see it in my training, in my sparring sessions. I've proven it. I'm the best fighter in the world," said the Madrid-based fighter after his victory over Oliveira last Saturday in the main event of UFC 317, which took place at T-Mobile in Las Vegas.

It may sound arrogant, but it's a true reflection of reality. The Topuria phenomenon is so insane that even the UFC president compared him to one of the most influential athletes in history, the late, legendary boxer Muhammad Ali . "For everything he's done, the way he's done it. Today was a celebration. He says what he's going to do, and he does it. I think we have a star on our hands," said Dana White after El Matador's triumph.

Now, he'll face the challenge of actively defending his UFC belt. "We know he's big there and that people care. We have a star on our hands," Dana White insisted to the press. Topuria is a legend and also wants to continue expanding his legacy. The best, they say, is yet to come.