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Lightweight
1. Khabib Nurmagomedov (29-0) [1]
Maybe 30-0 won’t become a reality, but Nurmagomedov put about a perfect a stamp as one could on his mixed martial arts career with a second-round submission of Justin Gaethje in the UFC 254 headliner on Oct. 24. “The Eagle” withstood some heavy artillery from his opponent — including some powerful low kicks — while continuing to apply constant pressure. Eventually, Gaethje wilted on the canvas, as Nurmagomedov choked him unconscious at the 1:34 mark of Round 2. In the aftermath, Nurmagomedov announced his retirement, leaving behind a legacy that includes a 13-0 UFC mark and a record-tying four championship victories in the brutal lightweight division. In March, Dana White and the promotion finally accepted Nurmagomedov’s retirement and vacated the 155-pound belt.2. Dustin Poirier (27-6, 1 NC) [2]
A much more mature version of Poirier took the Octagon at UFC 257 and it showed, as he dispatched Conor McGregor by knockout 2:32 into the second round of their headlining encounter in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 23. It was a far cry from their first meeting over six years ago, when “The Diamond” was stopped by McGregor inside of a round at UFC 178. Since being submitted by Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242, Poirier has rebounded to post victories over McGregor and Dan Hooker. Instead of a title shot, a lucrative trilogy with McGregor awaits at UFC 264 on July 10.3. Justin Gaethje (22-3) [3]
Gaethje attacked as best he could against Khabib Nurmagomedov, but he was no match for “The Eagle” on the ground. Although the former World Series of Fighting title holder had some success on the feet, particularly with low kicks, the grappling exchanges were another matter entirely, as Gaethje fell victim to a triangle choke 1:34 into Round 2 of the UFC 254 headliner at the Flash Forum in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 24. Gaethje had a four-bout winning streak snapped in defeat.4. Charles Oliveira (30-8, 1 NC) [4]
Oliveira came into UFC 256 feeling overlooked in the lightweight title picture. He left having established himself as one of the division’s top contenders after dominating Tony Ferguson for three rounds in the evening’s co-main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Dec. 12. That makes eight consecutive Octagon triumphs for “Do Bronx,” who will vie for the vacant lightweight strap against Michael Chandler at UFC 262 in Houston.5. Tony Ferguson (25-5) [5]
Ferguson had no answers for the ground prowess of Charles Oliveira at UFC 256, as he was dominated on the canvas for three rounds in a lopsided unanimous decision defeat in the evening’s co-main event on Dec. 12. Once the author of an amazing 12-fight winning streak, “El Cucuy” didn’t look like he was fully recovered from the beating he absorbed at the hands of Justin Gaethje in an interim lightweight title bout at UFC 249. Ferguson will attempt to get back on the winning track with a matchup against the surging Beneil Dariush at UFC 262.6. Patricio Freire (32-4) [6]
After using the entire five rounds to defeat Emmanuel Sanchez in their first meeting in November 2018, Freire blasted the Roufusport product with a left hook and choked him out 3:35 into the opening round of their clash in the Bellator 255 headliner on April 2 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. That makes seven consecutive wins for the Bellator’s reigning 145- and 155-pound champion, who advances to the finals of the promotion’s featherweight grand prix for an enticing matchup against the undefeated A.J. McKee..7. Michael Chandler (22-5) [7]
Chandler’s Octagon debut went about as well as one could possibly hope, as he starched Dan Hooker with punches 2:30 into the opening round of their co-main event clash at UFC 257. The former Bellator lightweight champion received plenty of exposure fighting on what is sure to be one of the promotion’s biggest cards of the year, which certainly didn’t hurt in securing him a matchup with Charles Oliveira for the vacant 155-pound belt at UFC 262 on May 15.8. Dan Hooker (20-10) [8]
Hooker never got going at UFC 257, and as a result, he served as highlight-reel fodder for recent free-agent acquisition Michael Chandler in a first-round technical knockout loss. After winning seven of eight promotional appearances from June 2017 to February 2020, “The Hangman” has dropped back-to-back bouts against Chandler and Dustin Poirier. His reputation as an action fighter should keep him in interesting bookings for the foreseeable future, however.9. Rafael dos Anjos (30-13) [9]
In his first lightweight bout in more than four years, dos Anjos showed that he’s ready to contend at 155 pounds again when he dispatched Paul Felder in the UFC Fight Night 182 headliner on Nov. 14. The 36-year-old Brazilian was coming off a stint at 170 pounds in which he had lost four of his previous five Octagon appearances, but it appears that he is ready to make another run at championship gold in the division he once ruled.10. Beneil Dariush (20-4-1) [10]
Dariush improved to 2-0 against fellow lightweight contender Diego Ferreira at UFC Fight Night 184, blending striking and grappling to capture a hard-fought split decision at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Feb. 6. With a six-fight winning streak under his belt, the Kings MMA product is one of the division’s unsung talents. Next, Dariush will square off against Tony Ferguson at UFC 262.Other Contenders: Islam Makhachev, Kevin Lee, Paul Felder, Diego Ferreira, Thiago Moises.
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