UFC Lightweight championship
Champions: 14 · interim: 4 · since 23 February 2001
No. Champion Won Defences Days How it ended
14 
Justin Gaethje def. Ilia Topuria UFC Freedom 250 14 JUN 2026 · TKO (corner stoppage) Round 4 0 defences 152days Champion
Justin Gaethje def. Ilia Topuria UFC Freedom 250 14 JUN 2026 · TKO (corner stoppage) Round 4 0 defences 152days Champion 13 
Ilia Topuria def. Charles Oliveira UFC 317 28 JUN 2025 · KO (punches) Round 1 0 defences 351days Lost to Justin Gaethje 14 JUN 2026
Ilia Topuria def. Charles Oliveira UFC 317 28 JUN 2025 · KO (punches) Round 1 0 defences 351days Lost to Justin Gaethje 14 JUN 2026 InterimInt. Justin Gaethje def. Paddy Pimblett UFC 324 24 JAN 2026 · Decision (unanimous) Round 5 0 defences 141days Won the undisputed title 14 JUN 2026
Justin Gaethje def. Paddy Pimblett UFC 324 24 JAN 2026 · Decision (unanimous) Round 5 0 defences 141days Won the undisputed title 14 JUN 2026 12 
Islam Makhachev def. Charles Oliveira UFC 280 22 OCT 2022 · Submission (arm-triangle choke) Round 2 4 defences 980days Vacated 28 JUN 2025
Islam Makhachev def. Charles Oliveira UFC 280 22 OCT 2022 · Submission (arm-triangle choke) Round 2 4 defences 980days Vacated 28 JUN 2025 11 
Charles Oliveira def. Michael Chandler UFC 262 15 MAY 2021 · TKO (punches) Round 2 1 defences 357days Stripped 7 MAY 2022
Charles Oliveira def. Michael Chandler UFC 262 15 MAY 2021 · TKO (punches) Round 2 1 defences 357days Stripped 7 MAY 2022 10 Khabib Nurmagomedov def. Al Iaquinta UFC 223 7 APR 2018 · Decision (unanimous) Round 5 3 defences 1,077days Retired 19 MAR 2021
Khabib Nurmagomedov def. Al Iaquinta UFC 223 7 APR 2018 · Decision (unanimous) Round 5 3 defences 1,077days Retired 19 MAR 2021 InterimInt. Justin Gaethje def. Tony Ferguson UFC 249 9 MAY 2020 · TKO (punches) Round 5 0 defences 168days Lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov 24 OCT 2020
Justin Gaethje def. Tony Ferguson UFC 249 9 MAY 2020 · TKO (punches) Round 5 0 defences 168days Lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov 24 OCT 2020 InterimInt. Dustin Poirier def. Max Holloway UFC 236 13 APR 2019 · Decision (unanimous) Round 5 0 defences 147days Lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov 7 SEPT 2019
Dustin Poirier def. Max Holloway UFC 236 13 APR 2019 · Decision (unanimous) Round 5 0 defences 147days Lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov 7 SEPT 2019 9 
Conor McGregor def. Eddie Alvarez UFC 205 12 NOV 2016 · TKO (punches) Round 2 0 defences 511days Stripped 7 APR 2018
Conor McGregor def. Eddie Alvarez UFC 205 12 NOV 2016 · TKO (punches) Round 2 0 defences 511days Stripped 7 APR 2018 InterimInt. Tony Ferguson def. Kevin Lee UFC 216 7 OCT 2017 · Submission (triangle choke) Round 3 0 defences 182days Stripped 7 APR 2018
Tony Ferguson def. Kevin Lee UFC 216 7 OCT 2017 · Submission (triangle choke) Round 3 0 defences 182days Stripped 7 APR 2018 8 Eddie Alvarez def. Rafael Dos Anjos UFC Fight Night 7 JUL 2016 · TKO (punches) Round 1 0 defences 128days Lost to Conor McGregor 12 NOV 2016
Eddie Alvarez def. Rafael Dos Anjos UFC Fight Night 7 JUL 2016 · TKO (punches) Round 1 0 defences 128days Lost to Conor McGregor 12 NOV 2016 7 Rafael Dos Anjos def. Anthony Pettis UFC 185 14 MAR 2015 · Decision (unanimous) Round 5 1 defences 481days Lost to Eddie Alvarez 7 JUL 2016
Rafael Dos Anjos def. Anthony Pettis UFC 185 14 MAR 2015 · Decision (unanimous) Round 5 1 defences 481days Lost to Eddie Alvarez 7 JUL 2016 6 Anthony Pettis def. Benson Henderson UFC 164 31 AUG 2013 · Submission (armbar) Round 1 1 defences 560days Lost to Rafael Dos Anjos 14 MAR 2015
Anthony Pettis def. Benson Henderson UFC 164 31 AUG 2013 · Submission (armbar) Round 1 1 defences 560days Lost to Rafael Dos Anjos 14 MAR 2015 5 Benson Henderson def. Frankie Edgar UFC 144 26 FEB 2012 · Decision (unanimous) Round 5 3 defences 552days Lost to Anthony Pettis 31 AUG 2013
Benson Henderson def. Frankie Edgar UFC 144 26 FEB 2012 · Decision (unanimous) Round 5 3 defences 552days Lost to Anthony Pettis 31 AUG 2013 4 Frankie Edgar def. B.J. Penn UFC 112 10 APR 2010 · Decision (unanimous) Round 5 3* defences 687days Lost to Benson Henderson 26 FEB 2012
Frankie Edgar def. B.J. Penn UFC 112 10 APR 2010 · Decision (unanimous) Round 5 3* defences 687days Lost to Benson Henderson 26 FEB 2012 3 B.J. Penn def. Joe Stevenson UFC 80 19 JAN 2008 · Submission (rear-naked choke) Round 2 3 defences 812days Lost to Frankie Edgar 10 APR 2010
B.J. Penn def. Joe Stevenson UFC 80 19 JAN 2008 · Submission (rear-naked choke) Round 2 3 defences 812days Lost to Frankie Edgar 10 APR 2010 2 Sean Sherk def. Kenny Florian UFC 64 14 OCT 2006 · Decision (unanimous) Round 5 1 defences 420days Stripped 8 DEC 2007
Sean Sherk def. Kenny Florian UFC 64 14 OCT 2006 · Decision (unanimous) Round 5 1 defences 420days Stripped 8 DEC 2007 1 Jens Pulver def. Caol Uno UFC 30 23 FEB 2001 · Decision (unanimous) Round 5 2 defences 393days Stripped 23 MAR 2002
Jens Pulver def. Caol Uno UFC 30 23 FEB 2001 · Decision (unanimous) Round 5 2 defences 393days Stripped 23 MAR 2002