10 Best UFC Lightweight Fighters of All Time

The UFC's lightweight division has been ultra competitive for well over a decade now, and has seen some of the most talented fighters in MMA history stake their claim for the 155-pounds title. Names such as Khabib Nurmagomedov, B.J Penn and Rafael Dos Anjos spring to mind when you talk about the best UFC lightweight fighters of all time. But, current elite fighters such as Islam Makhachev, the current champion, and Charles Oliveira, the former champ, are also making their mark on the sport.

With the use of SportsBoom’s MetaScale and other statistical data, we have ranked the ten best lightweight in UFC history…

Methodology

To rank the 10 Best UFC Lightweight Fighters of All Time, we began by creating an aggregate view of rankings from four authoritative sources: Fight Matrix, Tapology, Bovada, and the official UFC Stat Leader. These rankings were combined into SportsBoom’s Critical Consensus Table, offering a balanced perspective on each fighter’s legacy based on expert evaluations.

To go beyond the critical consensus, we incorporated key performance metrics such as title fight wins, overall career wins, and losses, along with broader popularity indicators like SERP points and search volume data. This additional layer, referred to as the SportsBoom MetaScale, refines the rankings by evaluating not only the fighters’ achievements in the octagon but also their global impact and influence in the MMA world.

This two-step methodology ensures a comprehensive and data-driven ranking, combining expert consensus with performance analytics for a unique and definitive list of the best UFC lightweight fighters.

Top 10 UFC Lightweights Fighters According to Web Critics

Frankie Edgar punches Benson Henderson//Getty

Based on expert rankings from multiple sources, here’s the Critical Consensus Table:

Data Driven Rankings of the Best UFC Lightweights

The SportsBoom MetaScale refines the rankings by integrating performance metrics, providing a unique perspective:

Here's a brief look into each fighter's background, skills and legacy…

1. Khabib Nurmagomedov 

• Background: Finishing his career with an unbeaten record of 29-0, Khabib Nurmagomedov retired after making three successful defences of his lightweight title, tied for most in UFC lightweight history. All three of his title defences were won via submission. 

"The Eagle” had a big rivalry with Conor McGregor, which he was able to put to bed by ending the fight with a face crank. Another rivalry Khabib had was with Tony Ferguson, however, they were never able to get the fight on, after five cancelled bouts, leaving MMA fans wondering what a matchup between a prime Tony Ferguson and Khabib would've looked like.

• Achievements: The Russian successfully defended his title three times, earning him an undefeated career. 

• Skills: Khabib Nurmagomedov is regarded as one of the best Sambo wrestlers in MMA history due to his knack of getting his opponents to the mat with ease, and trapping them against the cage.

• Legacy: Khabib's impact on the UFC was huge. Because of his success with the Sambo style, this has since led to several Dagestani fighters coming over to the UFC and dominating, much like Khabib did.

2. B.J Penn 

• Background: Although B.J Penn finished his career with a record of 16-14-2, this does not take anything away from the fact he is tied for the UFC record of most successful title defences in the lightweight division with three. Penn also has the most UFC lightweight title bouts in history with eight. Additionally, he was one of the first multi-division champions in the organisation.

Penn had an epic rivalry with Frankie Edgar, who would defeat Penn for the lightweight title in 2010, and he also won the immediate rematch. Nevertheless, the fights were still thrillers.

• Achievements: B.J Penn is one of the icons of the early days of the UFC having won four title fights in the promotion.

• Skills: He had heavy hands coupled with elite Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, meaning he could win wherever the fight goes.

• Legacy: B.J Penn's dominance helped grow the UFC lightweight division's popularity amongst MMA fans.

3. Frankie Edgar 

• Background: Frankie Edgar was an absolute savage in his prime. He had incredible cardio and toughness which enabled him to constantly push the pace in fights. “The Answer” is tied for the most successful title defences in UFC lightweight history with three. He also recorded eight Fight of The Night bonuses due to his outrageous work-rate and willingness to trade blow for blow with his opponents.

• Achievements: After taking the title off of B.J Penn, and defending it in an immediate rematch, Edgar also had an awesome trilogy with Gray Maynard.

• Skills: Frankie Edgar had solid boxing as well as a great wrestling background. But, his resilience and gas tank were arguably his best attributes.

• Legacy: The American fought at several weights throughout his UFC career, but he will always be best remembered for his dominant reign in the UFC lightweight division.

4. Islam Makhachev 

• Background: Islam Makhachev has very much followed in the footsteps of his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov thus far. He is the reigning and defending UFC lightweight champion, having defended it three times. If the Russian successfully defends it one more time then he will hold the record for the most consecutive lightweight title defences in UFC history.

• Achievements: Makhachev won UFC gold in 2022 when he made easy work of Charles Oliveira, defeating him by arm triangle in the second round. Since then, he has not looked back.

• Skills: Like his mentor, Islam has unbelievable Sambo skills. But, he seems to be far more equipped at striking than Khabib ever was in his career.

• Legacy: Islam Makhachev is already one of the best lightweight fighters in history. When his career is finished, he may well go down as the best of all time in the 155-pounds division.

5. Ben Henderson

• Background: Ben Henderson in the late 2000's to early 2010's was an absolute beast. His explosive style of wrestling and striking saw him win the UFC lightweight title at UFC 144, and he would defend it three times before losing it to Anthony Pettis in 2013. What made Henderson's prime years even better was the fact he was dominant in an era which was riddled with elite lightweight talent.

• Achievements: “Smooth” claimed the lightweight belt in 2012 by defeating Frankie Edgar. He would defend it against UFC legend Nate Diaz and Gilbert Melendez.

• Skills: Henderson's best attribute was the fact he could mix up his explosive striking and wrestling effortlessly in any fight.

• Legacy: Ben Henderson's legacy will always be remembered as a fighter who reigned supreme in the lightweight division, during a time when there were several top fighters in contention for the UFC title.

6. Charles Oliveira 

• Background: Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira is one of the best fighters in the UFC today, and for good reason. He is electric to watch because of his ability to finish fights by knockout or submission, and even if he is hurt he is still extremely dangerous. The Brazilian won the 155-pounds UFC title in 2021 against Michael Chandler in an absolute brawl. He would defend it once against Dustin Poirier before being stripped of the title at UFC 274 after he failed to make weight. 

• Achievements: Oliveira has already been a UFC lightweight champion, and there's a high chance he'll win it again in the future. “Do Bronx” holds the record for the most submission wins in UFC history (16).

• Skills: Charles Oliveira is a highly skilled kickboxer and arguably has the best submission game in MMA history.

• Legacy: Oliveira has built up an incredible legacy because of the amount of epic fights he has been in and came out on top in. He has consistently been a top five lightweight fighter for the last four or five years.

7. Rafael Dos Anjos 

• Background: Rafael Dos Anjos is one of the most well-rounded fighters in UFC history. Because his game was overall very good across the board, he barely showed any weakness during his run between 2008 and 2015, where he eventually won the lightweight title and defended it once. During his prime, his relentless front foot pressure often saw his opponents crumble right before him.

• Achievements: RDA won the lightweight title in 2015, defeating Anthony Pettis, and he successfully defended it against Donald Cerrone. The Brazilian holds the record for the longest total fight time in UFC history (8 hours, 43 minutes and 19 seconds).

• Skills: A prime Dos Anjos had very good striking and wrestling to go along with his elite Brazilian Jiu-jitsu skills. He also had legendary cardio and chin.

• Legacy: Dos Anjos is regarded as one of the most iconic UFC fighters in history because of how technically and fundamentally sound he was during his prime years. Winning the lightweight title also helps cement his legacy.

8. Eddie Alvarez 

• Background: If you wanted to see violence, you'd come to see a prime Eddie Alvarez fight. The Philadelphia native would flat out beat people up using his power from boxing range, the clinch and he loved to dump people on their backs. This gruelling style of fighting saw him claim the UFC lightweight title in 2016.

• Achievements: Eddie Alvarez wiped out Rafael Dos Anjos in the very first round in 2016 to claim the UFC lightweight championship. 

• Skills: “The Underground King” had a brawling style to couple up with his strong wrestling game and toughness. This allowed him to win most of his fights by a war of attrition.

• Legacy: Although he was unable to successfully defend his UFC lightweight title, because of his successful days in Bellator and the UFC, he is regarded as a top ten best lightweight fighter ever.

9. Conor McGregor 

• Background: Conor McGregor will likely go down as the most famous MMA fighter ever. But before his fame and his historic boxing bout with Floyd Mayweather, he went on a tear in the UFC featherweight division, and then he later became a two-weight UFC champion after knocking out Eddie Alvarez to claim the lightweight strap.

• Achievements: McGregor became the UFC's first simultaneous champion after defeating Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205, claiming the 155-pounds belt. Before that, he wiped out featherweight icon Jose Aldo to win the featherweight title, and this remains one of the most iconic finishes in the company's history.

• Skills: The very best version of “The Notorious” had exceptional timing and speed in his kicking game and boxing. This allowed him to counter-strike very efficiently and finish fights in brutal fashion.

• Legacy: McGregor's influence on the sport of MMA has been huge. His charisma and his fighting style brought millions of new eyes to the sport. Nowadays, McGregor's MMA career has pretty much come to a standstill.

10. Dustin Poirier

• Background: Dustin Poirier has been a staple name in the UFC's lightweight division for many years. His heavy boxing style and close quarters brawling has made fans fall in love with his fighting style. Poirier has ducked absolutely nobody in the lightweight division, and win, lose, or draw, people want to tune into his fights.

• Achievements: “The Diamond” has never won any full version of a UFC title, but he did win the interim UFC lightweight title. He has several notable wins such as: Conor McGregor ×2, Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway.

• Skills: Poirier has excellent boxing, particularly his counter-boxing from close range. He also has a ridiculous chin which has paid dividends in many of his most entertaining fights.

• Legacy: Even though he is the only fighter on this list to never win the lightweight title, Dustin Poirier has carved out a long, successful, and highly entertaining career.