The USA has the most UFC champs ever, but per person a country of 3.7M beats them 👀 Russia: 5 champs from 144M people, 1 for every 29 million. Brazil: 24 from 213M, 1 for every 8.9 million. USA: 73 from 340M, 1 for every 4.7 million. Georgia has two, Merab Dvalishvili and Ilia Topuria, from just 3.7M people. That’s 1 for every 1.9 million, about 2.5x the USA’s rate. Which country do you think makes the next one? #ufc #mma #georgia
A new per-capita breakdown of UFC champions has put Georgia, population 3.7 million, ahead of every major fighting nation on a champions-per-person basis. The figures were circulated on social media this week.
By that count, the United States has produced the most champions in UFC history, 73 from a population of 340 million, or one for every 4.7 million people. Brazil has 24 from 213 million, one per 8.9 million. Russia has five from 144 million, one per 29 million. Georgia has two, which works out to one champion for every 1.9 million citizens, roughly 2.5 times the American rate.
The two Georgian champions named are Merab Dvalishvili and Ilia Topuria. Dvalishvili, 35, is the bantamweight division's top-ranked fighter and the number two pound-for-pound fighter on AgentMMA's rankings. He carries a 21-6 record and competes out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team. His calling card is relentless wrestling: he averages 5.74 takedowns per 15 minutes, far above his 0.3 submission attempts and 4.48 significant strikes per minute. He has lost his last two recorded fights, both unanimous decisions to Petr Yan, the most recent on October 24, 2026 at UFC 333.
Topuria, 29, fights out of Climent Club and represents Spain in the UFC's records, though his Georgian roots are the basis for his inclusion in the tally. He is 17-1 at lightweight, where he is ranked first in the division and first pound-for-pound. He lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. His most recent recorded fight was a fourth-round TKO loss to Justin Gaethje in a title bout at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14, 2026. Before that he stopped Charles Oliveira in the first round at UFC 317 and Max Holloway in the third at UFC 308.
Why it matters
- Both Georgian champions have recent recorded losses in title fights, so the tally reflects past reigns rather than current belts.
- The gap between the two is stylistic: Dvalishvili's 5.74 takedowns per 15 minutes against Topuria's 1.96, with Topuria landing more strikes per minute.
- With just two champions, Georgia's rate is sensitive to small numbers; one more title holder would lift it further.
The post closed by asking fans which country will produce the next champion.
