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Lightweight
1. Islam Makhachev (26-1) | UFC [1]
It was far from an easy night at the office for Makhachev at UFC 302, but the reigning lightweight champion weathered a spirited test from Dustin Poirier, ultimately submitting his opponent with a brabo choke in the fifth round of their encounter at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on June 1. Makhachev’s winning streak currently sits at 14, the third-longest in UFC history. While another lightweight title defense looms in the form of a rematch against top contender Arman Tsarukyan, the Dagestani standout has repeatedly expressed interest in a two-division championship bid at 170 pounds.2. Arman Tsarukyan (22-3) UFC [2]
Tsarukyan relied on a strong top game and submission defense to earn a split-decision triumph over ex-lightweight champ Charles Oliveira at UFC 300. The American Top Team product has won four straight and nine of his last 10 UFC appearances overall, potentially setting the stage for a title shot in his next outing.3. Charles Oliveira (34-10, 1 NC) | UFC [3]
Oliveira had his moments against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300 — including a pair of tight submissions in Rounds 1 and 3 — but “do Bronx” ultimately didn’t do enough to sway the scorecards in his favor, as he dropped a split decision in a No. 1 contender’s bout at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Brazilian showed why he remains one of the division’s top talents, but the setback moves his dream of a rematch with Islam Makhachev further away from becoming a reality. Oliveira will return to action in a rematch against Michael Chandler at UFC 309 on Nov. 16.4. Max Holloway (26-8) | UFC [4]
Holloway looked sharp for two rounds against Ilia Topuria, but “Blessed” ultimately succumbed to his opponent’s otherworldly power at the 1:34 mark of Round 3 in the UFC 308 main event at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 26. Holloway is now winless in his last four bids for featherweight gold, but his status as perpetual fan favorite and reigning BMF champ likely means there will be no shortage of interesting matchups in the future for the Hawaiian star.5. Justin Gaethje (25-5) | UFC [5]
Gaethje relinquished his BMF crown to Max Holloway at UFC 300, suffering a knockout loss at the 4:59 mark of Round 5 in what will go down as one of the most memorable bouts in the history of the Las Vegas-based promotion. The Colorado native struggled after having his nose broken at the end of Round 1, and outside of a late surge in the fourth frame, was largely outgunned by his Hawaiian adversary. While Gaethje is one of the sport’s most beloved all-action fighters, one must wonder how much of a toll a career of battles has taken on him at this point in time.6. Dustin Poirier (30-9, 1 NC) | UFC [6]
If this was Poirier’s farewell, he went down with guns blazing before falling to Islam Makhachev via fifth-round submission in the UFC 302 headliner. While it ultimately was Poirier’s third failed attempt at capturing undisputed UFC lightweight gold, he got stronger as the fight progressed and gave Makhachev a much more difficult test than many expected. Poirier didn’t make a clear decision regarding retirement in the immediate aftermath, and if he does decide to stick around, there figure to be plenty of interesting options for the Louisiana native.7. Beneil Dariush (22-6-1) | UFC [7]
Dariush probably didn’t know what hit him in the UFC on ESPN 52 headliner, where he fell victim to an Arman Tsarukyan right hand and follow-up punches just 64 seconds into the opening round of their clash at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas on Dec. 2. Dariush has now suffered back-to-back first-round KO/TKO defeats at the hands of Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira, pushing him down the ranks of contenders at 155 pounds.8.Dan Hooker (24-12) UFC [8]
Hooker blended improved takedown defense with his typically dangerous striking to earn a hard-fought split decision triumph against Mateusz Gamrot in a featured bout at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia, on Aug. 17. By besting a contender who had been victorious in seven of his previous eight promotional appearances, “The Hangman” should be in line for another interesting matchup when he’s ready to return. Always one of the UFC’s most reliable action fighters, Hooker has won three straight contests.9. Mateusz Gamrot (24-3, 1 NC) | UFC [9]
While Gamrot fought admirably against Dan Hooker at UFC 305, the optics weren’t always great and that resulted in a split-decision loss for the former KSW champion. “Gamer” showcased improved striking in the bout, but his vaunted wrestling faded down the stretch. Still, Gamrot is 7-2 in his last nine UFC appearances and remains a tough out for virtually anyone in the lightweight division.10. Rafael Fiziev (12-3) | UFC [10]
In what was shaping up to be an intriguing clash of lightweight contenders, Fiziev suffered an unfortunate knee injury early in the second round of his headlining clash against Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Fight Night 228. Not only is Fiziev mired in the first two-bout skid of his professional career, but he’ll likely face a fairly lengthy recovery process before he can return to action within the Las Vegas-based promotion.Other Contenders: Renato Carneiro, Paddy Pimblett, Bobby Green, Jalin Turner, Usman Nurmagomedov.
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