UFC Best Ever Series: Lightweight GOATs
- Zak Drapeau
- 8 hours ago
- 6 min read
by Zak Drapeau
Sportz Nation - 3/18/26
1. Islam Makhachev
Lightweight Record: 16-1
Championship Record: 5-0
Best "Prime": 16-0 [2016-Pres.]
The big debate will be between Islam and Khabib for the #1 spot of the division and while Khabib was the bigger star because of McGregor, I have Islam by a hair. Now that he's Welterweight Champion It's likely we've seen the last of Islam at Lightweight where his final records include a 15-fight win streak and 5-0 in championship fights where he beat Oliveira, Volkanovski twice and Poirier, (as well as Renato Moicano on short notice.)
Makhachev would also finish his opponent in 8 of his last 9 fights at Lightweight. His only close fight was arguably the best fight of the last 3 years between himself and Volkanovski the first time. On top of being the #1 Lightweight in UFC history, Makhachev has also spent most of the last two and a half years as Pound-4-Pound #1 in the world.
2. Khabib Nurmagomedov
Lightweight Record: 13-0
Championship Record: 4-0
Best "Prime": 13-0 [2012-2020 ret.]
Khabib in my opinion, is the most dominant fighter in UFC history and truly never came close to losing a fight in 13 tries in the UFC. As a fighter Khabib can't be discredited by any means and would have easily been #1 on this list and possibly the greatest ever if not for his very short time in the UFC.
With only 8 years in the UFC, Khabib is tied for least amount of fights on this list. He may have won them all but he also has the least amount of championship fights in the Top-6. Before his legendary fight with Conor, Khabib was dominant but never fought anyone else truly great. Then he would end his career with wins over Conor, Poirier and Gaethje in such a fashion that it will forever be impossible to question his legacy.
3. Charles Oliveira
Lightweight Record: 18-6
Championship Record: 1-1 (1-0 BMF)
Best "Prime": 11-0 [2018-2022]
Oliveira had a stint at Featherweight before he moved up to Lightweight in 2017 and won 12 of his next 13 including his legendary 11-fight win streak that took him to Lightweight Champion and #2 on the P4P ranking in 2022.
Oliveira's late career resurgence at Lightweight any even more specifically his "strength of schedule" since 2020, (which I'd argue has been the single hardest of anybody in the UFC in that time no matter the division) has inspired awe. Currently the BMF, Oliveira may be 49 fights into his career at age 36 but seems to have no intention of slowing down.
Oh yeah, and he has the most finishes in UFC history and the only men to beat him in championship fights are currently ranked #1 and #2 in the Pound-4-Pound rankings.
4. Dustin Poirier
Lightweight Record: 13-6 (1 NC)
Championship Record: 1-3 (0-1 BMF)
Best "Prime": 9-1 (1 NC) [2017-2021]
Poirier is the best UFC fighter to never become Undisputed Champion and may be 1-3 in championship fights but all 3 of his losses came to the 3 men ranked above him on this list.
Poirier is one of the most favorite fighters in UFC history and that's no accident. It's easy for us to make light of some fighters who have fought other "not great" fighters but Poirier legitimately hasn't faced a great fighter since 2017. 15 fights in a row of either Main or Co-Main Events and always leaving the fans happy while being in the Top-5 of Lightweights for 10+ years until his retirement last year.
5. BJ Penn
Lightweight Record: 10-5-1
Championship Record: 4-1-1
Best "Prime": 10-1-1 [2001-2009]
Penn is one of the greatest Lightweights ever period. In the dark days, Penn came up from nowhere and ran this division until honestly, he was too bored and went to higher weight classes and different promotions to fight the best in the world.
In his time as a UFC Lightweight which was most notable from 2007 to 2010 when he beat the likes of Sherk, Florian, Sanchez and Pulver, he defended his 155-title 3 times. Since this article is about Lightweights only we won't talk about his battles with Hughes, St-Pierre or Machida but that only adds to the stigma of one of the greatest ever before the sport changed in 2010.
6. Benson Henderson
Lightweight Record: 11-3
Championship Record: 4-1
Best "Prime": 7-0 [2011-2013]
Henderson was a bolt of lightning in the UFC for his short time with the company between 2011 and 2015. Starting out 7-0 in the UFC with 4 championship fight wins including beating Guida, Edgar, Diaz and Melendez at the height of their powers was a wave that can not be understated back in 2012.
Then almost seemingly fallen from the UFC as quickly as he rose, his time within the division ended after losses to Pettis, Cerrone and dos Anjos as a signal of his legacy to only fighting the best of the best. For his rise and year and a half reign as Lightweight champion amidst one of the greatest periods the division ever had, Henderson deserves a spot on this list.
7. Justin Gaethje
Lightweight Record: 10-5
Championship Record: 2-1 (1-1 BMF)
Best "Prime": 5-1 [2018-2021]
Gaethje may be the easiest fighter there has ever been to route for in UFC history and now has become one of the greatest kickboxers we've ever seen too. Gaethe wasn't give the nickname "Highlight Reel" for nothing and has tied the record for most Fight of the Night bonuses in UFC history with 10.
One of the best leg kickers and knockout artists in history, Gaethje was like a meteor hitting the UFC in 2017 and immediately shot to the top of the division where he's stood to this day. With an Undisputed shot at the Lightweight title awaiting him at UFC "Freedom" in June, Gaethje will have a chance to cement his legacy and with a win... DRASTICALLY climb this list.
8. Rafael dos Anjos
Lightweight Record: 20-13
Championship Record: 2-1
Best "Prime": 10-1 [2012-2015]
Dos Anjos was an elite Lightweight fighter in his prime but stuck around for a little too long and lost a little too many fights at the end of his career. If not for the ending, Dos Anjos would be best known for his stint between 2012 and 2016 where he went 10-3 and had 8 fights with current or future Hall of Famers.
The Lightweight division at this time was debatably the best it has ever been besides 2019-2023 and RDA was right at the top. Only holding the title for a year and 1 defense, his only losses in this period were Khabib, Alvarez and Tony amongst the laundry list of amazing fights, tough victories and multiple POTN awards along the way.
9. Frankie Edgar
Lightweight Record: 9-3-1
Championship Record: 3-2-1
Best "Prime": 9-1-1 [2007-2012]
The peak period for the Lightweights in the mid-2010's may have single-handedly been started by Frankie Edgar. Along with Gray Maynard who had one of the greatest trilogies ever, Frankie Edgar carried the Lightweights from the discombobulated "BJ Penn times" to the undeniable mid-2010's.
Edgar started his UFC career 6-1 before beating BJ Penn for the title and defending it 3 times including the 2nd and 3rd fight with Maynard, the 2nd of which is one of the 10 greatest in the UFC's history. His latter years were spent at Featherweight and saw ups and downs but in his hay day at Lightweight, he was the biggest thing in town and arguably one of the biggest reasons this division is still regarded as one of the best to this day.
10. Tony Ferguson
Lightweight Record: 15-9
Championship Record: 1-1
Best "Prime": 12-0 [2013-2019]
With considerations to Donald Cerrone and even Armen Tsarukyan, I have Tony closing out my list. His 12-fight win streak and subsequent rivalry that never materialized with Khabib was the stuff of legend and the best thing going for the UFC before the Khabib-Conor saga.
Tony may have fallen off in his final year with the UFC after an 8-fight losing streak but directly before that saw 12 fights in a row where Tony was whooping everyone in fantastic fashion. Described as a "beautiful weirdo" by Joe Rogan, Tony was as good in the Octagon as he was memorable.
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-Z.D. (@DrapeauZak)
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