Updating the MMA UFC Lightweight Rankings after Islam Makhachev rematched Alexander Volkonovski and Mateusz Gamrot moving up the rankings

Honorable Mention

Arman Tsarukyan

Promotion: UFC

Arman Tsarukyan is a professional MMA fighter from Russia with a record of 20 wins and 3 losses. 

Tsarukyan is ranked #8 in the UFC Lightweight Rankings, and he has won 7 out of 9 fights in the company. He has notable wins over Olivier Aubin-Mercier and Davi Ramos. 

In his most recent fight, Tsarukyan defeated Joaquim Silva via TKO, and his next fight has not been announced yet.

Top 10 MMA Lightweight Rankings

10. A.J. McKee

Promotion: Bellator

AJ McKee is an American MMA fighter with a record of 20 wins and 1 loss. AJ McKee is the former Bellator Featherweight champion and made his debut in the Lightweight division recently.

He faced Roberto de Souza in his debut Lightweight fight and won by unanimous decision. His next fight is against Sidney Outlaw on November 17th at Bellator 301.

Action packed round 1 between AJ McKee and Souza in the main event #RIZINvsBELLATOR #BellatorvsRizin #RIZIN40 pic.twitter.com/NgTBjDdtgg

— AlAudhli العوذلي (@alaudhli) December 31, 2022

9. Michael Chandler

Promotion: UFC

Michael Chandler is an American MMA fighter with a record of 23 wins and 8 losses. 

He is a former three-time Bellator lightweight champion and also won the Bellator season 4 lightweight tournament. In the UFC, he has impressive wins over Dan Hooker and Tony Ferguson. 

In his most recent fight, Chandler lost to Dustin Poirier via Submission, and his next fight has not been announced yet.

8. Usman Nurmagomedov

Promotion: Bellator

Title: Bellator Lightweight World Champion

Usman Nurmagomedov is a Russian fighter with an undefeated MMA record of 17 wins and 0 losses. 

Usman is the current Bellator Lightweight champion. He won the title after defeating Patricky Pitbull, and then defended it against former UFC lightweight champion, Benson Henderson. 

Recently he defeated Brent Primus in the Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix Semi finals by decision. He’ll be facing the winner of Alexandr Shabliy and Patricky Pitbull.

Usman Nurmagomedov defeats Brent Primus via UD at Bellator 300 for the Lightweight Championship

Usman wasn’t threatened for even a second

Is Usman a top 3 Lightweight in the world?

(@BellatorMMA) pic.twitter.com/8EaNYXwB8w

— The Octagon Obsessed (@octagonobsessed) October 8, 2023

7. Rafael Fiziev

Promotion: UFC

Rafael Fiziev is a professional MMA fighter from Kyrgyzstan. He has a record of 12 wins and 2 losses. 

After losing his first fight in the UFC, Fiziev went on an impressive 6 fight winning streak, including wins over Marc Diakiese, Renato Moicano, Bobby Green and Rafael dos Anjos

In his most recent fight, he lost to Mateusz Gamrot via TKO. He suffered a leg injury after a blocked kick by Gamrot. His next fight has not been announced yet.

6. Mateusz Gamrot

Promotion: UFC

Mateusz Gamrot is a Polish professional boxer, with a record of 22 wins, 2 losses, and 1 no-contest. He ranks #7 in the UFC Lightweight Rankings.

Gamrot has won 6 out of 8 fights in the UFC and has 4 post-fight bonuses. He has impressive wins over Jeremy Stephens, Carlos Diego Ferreira, Jalin Turner and Arman Tsarukiyan. 

In his most recent fight, he defeated Rafael Fiziev via TKO in the second round. During an exchange Fiziev threw a right kick and Gamrot was able to block it with his elbow which resulted in an injury for Fiziev. Gamrot’s next fight has not been announced yet.

Gamrot wins via TKO against Fiziev!🤯

Fiziev broke his foot when he kicked Gamrot’s elbow 🤕#UFCVegas79 pic.twitter.com/sgeATa4VMT

— Slip N’Roll (@SlipnRoll) September 24, 2023

5. Beneil Dariush

Promotion: UFC

Dariush is an American MMA fighter of Iranian descent and he has a professional MMA record of 22 wins and 4 losses and 1 draw. 

Dariush was on an 8 fight win streak, with 4 post-fight bonuses. He has many impressive wins, including one over former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson.

At UFC 280, Dariush fought Mateusz Gamrot and won the fight via unanimous decision. Dariush got taken down a few times in the first round, but was able to defend takedowns and do damage on the feet as the fight progressed. 

In his most recent fight, Dariush lost to Charles Olivera, and there is no announcement about his next fight yet.

4. Dustin Poirier

Promotion: UFC

Porier is an American UFC fighter, and he has a record of 29 wins and 8 losses. 

He is the former interim UFC lightweight champion of the world, and has fought for the undisputed title twice, but came short both times. He has impressive wins over big names like Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway, Conor McGregor, Dan Hooker, and  Michael Chandler 

His recent fight at UFC 291, Poirier fought Justin Gaethje, with the BMF title on the line, however, he lost the fight via KO in the second round.

3. Justin Gaethje

Promotion: UFC

Justin Gaethje is an American professional MMA  fighter with a record of 25 wins and 4 losses.

He is the former UFC Interim lightweight champion, and in his most recent fight, won the BMF title as well. He has impressive wins over fighters like Edson Barboza, Tony Ferguson, Michael Chandler, and Rafael Fiziev. 

Last weekend, at UFC 291, he defeated Dustin Poirier to win the BMF title. Both fighters went back and forth in the first round, however in the second, Justin landed a solid head kick to win the fight via KO.

@Justin_Gaethje
beats Poirier by knockout and claims the BMF title at #UFC291!!#UFC291 #ufc #JustinGaethje #PoiriervsGaethje pic.twitter.com/IFP70FxKmp

— TrendyOdd (@TrendyOdd) July 30, 2023

2. Charles Oliveira

Promotion: UFC

Olivera is a professional MMA fighter from Brazil, and he has a record of 34 wins and 9 losses. 

Olivera is the former UFC lightweight champion. He also holds the record for most submission wins and most finishes in the UFC. Until last weekend, Olivera was on an 11-fight winning streak, however, he fought Islam Makhachev for the vacant lightweight title and lost. 

In his most recent fight, Olivera defeated Beneil Dariush via TKO and was scheduled to face Islam Makhachev in a rematch but had to backout due to injury.

CHARLES OLIVEIRA FINISHES BENEIL DARIUSH

THE CHAMPION HAS A NAME pic.twitter.com/opzXk0yTSB

— Charles Oliveira Stan (@MMA_Burner941) June 11, 2023

1. Islam Makhachev

Promotion: UFC

Title: UFC Lightweight World Champion

Islam Makhachev is a Russian fighter, fighting out of Daghestan. He has a record of 24 wins and only 1 loss. 

Makhachev is the current UFC lightweight champion, and he is on a 12-fight winning streak. He has some solid wins over talented fighters like Arman Tsarukyan, Davi Ramos, Dan Hooker, and former lightweight champion Charles Olivera. 

Recently, at UFC 294, Islam Makhachev defended his title against UFC Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in a rematch. Makhachev was able to finish Volkanovski with a head kick and ground strikes to retain his title once again.

His next fight has not been announced yet but it will be either against Charles Oliveira or Justin Gaethje.

ISLAM MAKHACHEV WITH THE HEAD KICK KO OF VOLK pic.twitter.com/D4S7jr4n3i

— Mismatch (@MismatchSports) October 21, 2023

Where do you rank these Contenders and Champions? Rank below to be added in the MMA Lightweight Rankings.

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