| Rank | Fighter | Record | Last 3 Results | ||
| #1 | Islam Makhachev | 24-1 | W-W-W | ||
| #2 | Charles Oliveira | 34-9 | W-L-W | ||
| #3 | Dustin Poirier | 29-7 | W-L-W | ||
| #4 | Justin Gaethje | 24-4 | W-L-W | ||
| #5 | Beniel Dariush | 22-5-1 | W-W-W | ||
| #6 | Michael Chandler | 23-8 | L-W-L | ||
| #7 | Rafael Fiziev | 12-2 | L-W-W | ||
| #8 | Mateusz Gamrot | 22-2 | W-L-W | ||
| #9 | Arman Tsarukyan | 20-3 | W-W-L | ||
| #10 | Dan Hooker | 23-12 | W-W-L |
The UFC lightweight rankings are a showcase of some of the very best talents in MMA. The division has long been the deepest and most talent-rich in the promotion and often several of its top competitors can also be found in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings.
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With that in mind, here are the official Sportsnaut rankings for the top 10 155-pound fighters in the best cage fighting promotion in all the land.
10. Dan Hooker (23-12)
Dan Hooker has had a memorable career in the UFC. He has fought at two divisions, been in the title contention conversation, and delivered some of the best fights in several years. However, after losing four of five it seemed like his best days may have been behind him. However, two straight victories including a wild come-from-behind win at UFC 290 have him back in the UFC lightweight rankings.
- Next fight: TBD
9. Arman Tsarukyan (20-3)
Arman Tsarukyan has quietly been a top-10 lightweight for quite some time. During his run in the UFC, he has won seven of nine and his only losses in the Octagon have come to the current champion Islam Makhachev and fellow ranked star Mateusz Gamrot. And both were decision defeats.
He proved his elite status again with a dominant win at UFC Vegas 75 in June. The 26-year-old is deserving of a big-name foe in his next UFC matchup.
- Next fight: TBD
8. Mateusz Gamrot (21-2)
Former KSW two-division champion Mateusz Gamrot has proven he is a top-10 level fighter in winning his first four Octagon appearances and his most recent in the main event of UFC Vegas 57 against Tsarukyan. In his biggest fight yet he came up short against Beniel Dariush at UFC 280. It was a big setback for Gamrot when he had a chance to leap several steps up the UFC lightweight rankings with a win.
In March he took a gamble by jumping in on short notice against a red-hot ranked right in Jalin Turner. He proved his elite skill by earning a hard-fought win. However, with it being a split decision and near-loss, he does not move up in the UFC lightweight rankings.
- Next fight: TBD
7. Rafael Fiziev (12-2)
At UFC Vegas 58, Rafael Fiziev stamped his place as one of the most dangerous fighters in the division. He did something Khabib Nurmagomedov and Kamaru Usman could not do in finishing Rafael dos Anjos, and he did so in the fifth frame. Proving his striking gifts are dangerous even into the championship rounds.
At UFC 286 he faced his biggest test yet in former interim champion Justin Gaethje. While “Atman” came up short, the bout was extremely close and many in MMA media did give him the nod after three hard-fought rounds. While it was a setback, his strong performance in defeat keeps him at his previous spot in our UFC lightweight rankings.
- Next fight: TBD
6. Michael Chandler (23-8)
Michael Chandler has been worth every penny the UFC used to bring him in from Bellator. Each bout he has been in has delivered in every way with action and highlight-reel moments. His showdown with Dustin Poirier at UFC 281 was the latest edition in his run of fight-of-the-year scraps. While he certainly pushed the former interim champ to the limit, “Iron” came up short in another big fight.
Despite the defeat, Chandler was rewarded with the fight he has been pushing to get for years: a scrap against UFC superstar Conor McGregor. The matchup is set to take place later this year after the pair faceoff as coaches on season 31 of “The Ultimate Fighter.”
- Next fight: vs. Conor McGregor (Date TBD)
5. Beniel Dariush (22-5-1)
Despite a longer-than-expected break as he recovered from a serious injury and failed bookings, Beneil Dariush scored another impressive win at UFC 280. Extending his win streak to eight and did so with a decisive victory over a very game and ranked talent in Mateusz Gamrot.
At UFC 288 he was given a fight that likely would have locked up a title fight against former titlist Charles Oliveira. Unfortunately, the Brazilian showed there’s levels to the game and defeated him soundly. Now, Dariush must go back to the drawing board and reclimb the mountain back into contention.
- Next fight: TBD
4. Justin Gaethje (24-4)
Justin Gaethje got a second chance at UFC lineal gold at UFC 274. Despite being the underdog on fight night, he was still a popular betting favorite. However, his night ended similar to his championship opportunity against Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2020: He tapped to a submission.
The road back to the title began at UFC 286 in a highly anticipated clash with Rafael Fiziev. While Gaethje did get the win, it was hotly contested and could have gone either way. It’s why he stays pat at four in the latest UFC lightweight rankings.
Next, he will face Dustin Poirier at UFC 291 in a rematch of one of the best bouts in division history. Chances are the winner lands a championship opportunity at some point later in the year.
- Justin Gaethje next fight: vs. Dustin Poirier at UFC 291 on July 29
3. Dustin Poirier (29-7)
Dustin Poirier is one of the very best lightweight fighters that has ever lived. However, with two title fight losses under his belt — both submission defeats — it seemed like his days of cutting weight to make 155 pounds could be over and he might move up to 170 pounds. However, he ended a nearly year-long hiatus at UFC 281 and returned to the lightweight division with a vengeance in scoring a third-round submission win over Michael Chandler.
Now, he will face Gaethje next in a rematch of one of the best fights in division history at UFC 291 with a title opportunity likely on the line.
- Next fight: vs. Justin Gaethje at UFC 291 on July 29
2. Charles Oliveira (32-9)
Heading into UFC 280, there was a debate around Charles Oliveira’s place in UFC lightweight history and if he was the new GOAT. However, he showed how hard it is to maintain the top spot when he suffered a submission loss to the new king of the weight class Islam Makhachev. The loss was so decisive that an immediate rematch was never in the cards for “Do Bronx.”
However, a rematch could be next after he soundly defeated a red-hot Beneil Dariush at UFC 289. It proved that he is still one of the best 155ers ever and as deserving of a title fight as anyone in the division.
1. Islam Makhachev (23-1)
Many doubted how good Islam Makhachev truly was, and there were some doubters of if he deserved a lightweight title opportunity against Charles Oliveira. However, he proved he truly is the heir apparent to lightweight GOAT Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 280 when he submitted Oliveira. The man with the most submissions in UFC history.
If there were any doubters of his talent, they were quieted again at UFC 284 when he showed he is far more than a dominant wrestler as he held his own on the feet against pound-for-pound superstar Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284. He was able to outpoint and outwork the best in the world, and successfully defend his title and spot at the top of the UFC lightweight rankings.