The UFC lightweight rankings are a showcase for some of the best talent in MMA. The department has long been the deepest and most talent-rich in sports history. Many of his top competitors can also be found in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings.

With that in mind, here are the official Ringside Intel rankings for the top 10 lightweights in the best cage fighting promotion in the entire country.

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10. Rafael Fiziev (12-3)

Rafael Fiziev is one of the most exciting and dynamic fighters in the UFC lightweight division. However, after a hot start that included wins over Bobby Green and RDA, he fell into the first losing streak of his career. While his defeat against Gaethje and Gamrot is nothing to be ashamed of, his defeats and being active through 2024 are why he has fallen further in our UFC lightweight rankings.

Former KSW two-division champion Mateusz Gamrot has established himself as a top-10 fighter with some big wins in the Octagon. Despite his losses, he always came back with big wins, scoring notable victories over Jalin Turner, Rafael Fiziev, and Rafael dos Anjos.

But his upset defeat to Dan Hooker at UFC 305 is why he sits at the bottom of our latest UFC lightweight rankings.

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8. Dan Whore (24-12)

Australia’s Dan Hooker has found a spot at 155 pounds after bouncing back and forth between featherweight and lightweight. He also earned a spot in our UFC lightweight rankings after tough wins over ranked opponents Jalin Turner and Mateusz Gamrot. Even though they weren’t pretty, they deserved to be in the top 10.

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7.Michael Chandler (23-8)

Michael Chandler was worth every penny the UFC brought him from Bellator. Every match he participated in was full of action and standout moments from every angle. While he may not have won them all, his defeats have befallen the welterweight elite. Waiting so long for the Conor McGregor fight cost him crucial fight time and is part of why he’s no longer in our top five.

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6. Beniel Dariush (22-6-1)

Despite taking a longer-than-expected break to recover from a serious injury and failed bookings, Beneil Dariush pulled off another impressive win at UFC 280. He extended his winning streak to eight and did so with a decisive victory over highly game and ranked talent. In Mateusz Gamrot.

He was given a fight at UFC 288 that would likely lock up a title shot against former champion Charles Oliveira. Unfortunately, the Brazilian showed there are levels to his game and defeated him soundly. His subsequent shocking knockout loss in less than a minute to Arman Tsarukyan may have ended his chances of challenging for a UFC title in his career.

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5. Dustin Poirier (30-9)

Dustin Poirier is one of the most beloved lightweights of all time. He was involved in some of the best games in the league’s history and won many of them. However, the biggest tell-tale sign against an excellent resume is that he has fallen short in title fights. Despite all his efforts, UC 302 fell into the hands of the division king Islam Makhachev. Still, he remains one of the best 155-pounders in the world.

4.Justin Gaethje (25-5)

Justin Gaethje is one of the best lightweight fighters of his generation. Although he was never a very technical or strategic competitor, he gained a fan base as one of the most durable and fierce athletes in the division’s history.

However, when he can be tactical, he is definitely a scary fighter. Like scoring a shocking second-round KO victory over lightweight great Dustin Poirier at UFC 291. It was a landmark moment that cemented his place as one of the best. However, his knockout of Max Holloway at UFC 300 likely ended his hopes of another title fight.

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3.Charles Oliveira (34-10)

Charles Oliveria holds many UFC records and will be remembered as one of the best Brazilian MMA fighters of all time. There’s a lot to like about his fighting style, and his resume is full of great victories. But age catches up with everyone and it seems to be the same for “Do Bronx”, who have suffered defeats in two of their last three matches.

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2. Arman Tsarukyan (22-3)

Arman Tsarukyan has been quietly ranked among the top 10 lightweights for a while now. He won many fights during his run in the UFC, and his only defeats in the Octagon came to current champion Islam Makhachev and fellow star Mateusz Gamrot. But he has overcome all these odds and his impressive victory over Charles Oliveira will likely bring him the championship opportunity he has worked so hard for.

1. Islam Makhachev (26-1)

Over the last few years, Islam Makhachev has stamped his place as not only the best current lightweight, but arguably the best pound-for-pound UFC fighter on the planet today. His victories over future Hall of Famers Oliviera, Volkanovski and Poirier are a testament to his elite all-around talent.

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