Current UFC lightweight champion

For nearly a decade the UFC's lightweight division was the lightest weight class promoted by the organisation.

As a result, a wealth of fighting talent from around the world competed in the UFC at 155lbs, with a number of legendary names staking their claim to the title.

Jens Pulver became the first man the hold the belt - originally named the bantamweight title - when he bested Caol Uno over five rounds at UFC 30. The title subsequently went on hiatus for several years before Sean Sherk claimed the belt in 2006.

Current UFC lightweight champion

Ilia Topuria currently sits atop of the talent-stacked 155lbs division in the UFC, after defeating former champion Charles Oliveira via a devastating first-round KO to claim the vacant belt in June 2025.

After signing with the UFC in 2020, Topuria has been on a path of destruction that saw him climb to the top of the featherweight division.

In his final two fights the Georgian defeated Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, arguably two greatest champions in the history of the weight class, both by knockout.

Possessing some of the best boxing ever seen in MMA coupled with a strong grappling base Topuria could well be set for a record-breaking title reign of his own after becoming a two-division world champion.

Personal issues have put Topuria's momentum on hold at present however, and an interim title fight was announced to be held at UFC 324.

Justin Gaethje defeated Paddy Pimblett over five hard-fought rounds to become the current UFC interim lightweight champion, and the first fighter in UFC history to hold an interim belt on two different occasions.

Title Won	Defeated Charles Oliveira (KO) - June 2025
Title Defences	0

Previous UFC lightweight champions

• Jens Pulver (February 2001-March 2002; two defences, stripped)

• Sean Sherk (October 2006-December 2007; one defence, stripped)

• BJ Penn (January 2008-April 2010; three defences)

• Frankie Edgar (April 2010-February 2012; three defences)

• Benson Henderson (February 2012; August 2013; three defences)

• Anthony Pettis (August 2013-March 2015; one defence)

• Rafael dos Anjos (March 2015-July 2016; one defence)

• Eddie Alvarez (July 2016-November 2016)

• Conor McGregor (November 2016-April 2018, stripped)

• Tony Ferguson (October 2017-Aprul 2018; interim, stripped)

• Khabib Nurmagomedov (April 2018-March 2021; three defences, vacated)

• Dustin Poirier (April 2019-September 2019; interim)

• Justin Gaethje (May 2020-October 2020; interim)

• Charles Oliveira (May 2021-May 2022; one defence, stripped)

• Islam Makhachev (October 2022-June 2025; two defences, vacated)

UFC Lightweight Title: History and Lineage