Lightweight (MMA)
The lightweight division in mixed martial arts contains different weight classes:
- The UFC's lightweight division, which groups competitors within 146 to 155 lb (66 to 70 kg)
- The Shooto lightweight division, which limits competitors to 145 lb (65.8 kg)
- The ONE Championship's lightweight division, with an upper limit at 77.1 kg (170.0 lb)
- The Road FC's lightweight division, with an upper limit at 154 lb (70 kg)
Ambiguity and clarification
For the sake of uniformity, most American mixed martial arts media outlets consider Lightweight competitors to be between 146 and 155 lb (66 and 70 kg). This encompasses The Shooto Welterweight division (154 lb / 70 kg).
The UFC's lightweight division was reinstated at UFC 58 after falling into disuse following UFC 49. Sean Sherk, a former welterweight contender, defeated Kenny Florian at UFC 64, becoming the first UFC lightweight champion since 2002.
The lightweight limit, as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission[1] and the Association of Boxing Commissions[2] is 155 lb (70 kg).
Professional champions
Current champions
These tables were last updated in February of 2026.
- Active title reign
- Active title reign (interim)
Men:
| Organization | Reign Began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFC | June 28, 2025 |  Ilia Topuria
|
17-0-0 (7KO 8SUB) | 0 |
| ACA | September 19, 2020 |  Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov
|
22-2-0 (9KO 6SUB) | 4 |
| Brave CF | June 23, 2023 |  Abdisalam Kubanychbek Uulu
|
23-3-0 (1) (12KO 3SUB) | 3 |
| Brave CF | October 3, 2025 | Raul Tutarauli
|
37-8-0 (22KO 5SUB) | 0 |
| CFFC | February 6, 2026 |  Solomon Simon
|
13-2-0 (3KO 3SUB) | 0 |
| Cage Warriors | March 21, 2025 |  Samuel Silva
|
13-5-1 (4KO 3SUB) | 0 |
| Cage Warriors | November 22, 2025 |  Omiel Brown
|
12-3-0 (6KO 4SUB) | 0 |
| DEEP | September 16, 2024 |  Shunta Nomura
|
10-2-0 (4KO 0SUB) | 0 |
| DEEP | November 22, 2025 | Juri Ohara
|
37-22-2 (20KO 2SUB) | 0 |
| Eagle FC | November 11, 2023 |  Ramin Sultanov
|
9-1-0 (4KO 3SUB) | 0 |
| FEN | November 23, 2024 |  Damian Rzepecki
|
9-0-0 (4KO 5SUB) | 1 |
| Jungle Fight | August 26, 2023 | Arcangelo Oliveira
|
14-5-0 (3KO 6SUB) | 2 |
| KSW | June 3, 2023 |  Salahdine Parnasse
|
22-2-0 (7KO 7SUB) | 3 |
| LFA | April 21, 2025 | Richie Miranda
|
12-1-0 (5KO 2SUB) | 1 |
| LFA | November 3, 2023 | Jefferson Nascimento
|
12-0-0 (4K0 3SUB) | 1 |
| LUX Fight League | November 1, 2024 |  Kazula Vargas
|
16-6-0 (7KO 7SUB) | 0 |
| Oktagon MMA | January 31, 2026 | Mateusz Legierski
|
13-2-0 (4KO 3SUB) | 0 |
| ONE Championship | August 26, 2022 | Christian Lee
|
18-4-0 (1) (13KO 4SUB) | 1 |
| Pancrase | March 31, 2024 | Tatsuya Saika
|
14-6-0 (13KO 0SUB) | 0 |
| PFL | October 3, 2025 | Usman Nurmagomedov
|
21-0-0 (1) (8KO 7SUB) | 1 |
| RIZIN FF | December 31, 2025 |  Ilkhom Nozimov
|
13-3-0 (7KO 3SUB) | 0 |
| Shooto | N/A |  Vacant[a]
|
N/A | N/A |
Women:
| Organization | Reign Began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jewels | N/A | Vacant
|
N/A | N/A |
Most wins in lightweight title bouts
- Note: the list includes wins in bouts for lightweight titles of major promotions (UFC, ONE, Strikeforce, WEC, Bellator)
- Note: the list includes both undisputed and interim champions
- Active title reign
| Name | Promotion | Title bout wins | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Gilbert Melendez |
WEC, Strikeforce | 10 (1 WEC, 9 Strikeforce) |
| 2. | Benson Henderson |
WEC, UFC | 7 (3 WEC, 4 UFC) |
| 3. | Islam Makhachev
|
UFC | 5 |
| Michael Chandler |
Bellator | ||
| 4. | B.J. Penn |
UFC | 4 |
| Khabib Nurmagomedov |
UFC | ||
| Usman Nurmagomedov
|
Bellator | ||
| Eddie Alvarez |
Bellator, UFC | 4 (3 Bellator, 1 UFC) | |
| 5. | Jens Pulver |
UFC | 3 |
 Eduard Folayang |
ONE | ||
| Gabe Ruediger |
WEC | ||
| Hermes Franca |
WEC | ||
| Jamie Varner |
WEC | ||
| Frankie Edgar |
UFC | 3 (+1)[b] | |
| Anthony Pettis |
WEC, UFC | 3 (1 WEC, 2 UFC) | |
| 6. | Sean Sherk |
UFC | 2 |
| Rob McCullough |
WEC | ||
| Rafael dos Anjos |
UFC | ||
| Charles Oliveira |
UFC |
Most consecutive defenses of lightweight title
| Name | Promotion | Consecutive title defenses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Islam Makhachev |
UFC | 4 |
| 2. | Gilbert Melendez |
Strikeforce | 4 |
| 3. | B.J. Penn |
UFC | 3 |
| 4. | Frankie Edgar |
UFC | 3 |
| 5. | Benson Henderson |
UFC | 3 |
| 6. | Khabib Nurmagomedov |
UFC | 3 |
See also
- List of current MMA Lightweight champions
- List of UFC Lightweight Champions
- List of Strikeforce Lightweight Champions
- List of Pancrase Lightweight Champions
- List of Road FC Lightweight Champions
Notes
- ^ The companies’ champions that are listed as “vacant” have won the company’s title for their division, but either is signed to another company (eg; Vacant), or has competed in the same promotion since then, but has no hold to a title defense, therefore indicating a non-title bout.
- ^ Edgar's title defense against Gray Maynard at UFC 125 was a split draw. Edgar retained the Lightweight title. The two later rematched at UFC 136, with Edgar defeating Maynard via KO and defending his title.
References
- ^ "Nevada Revised Statutes: Chapter 467 - Unarmed Combat". leg.state.nv.us. Retrieved 2007-02-20.
- ^ "Unified Rules of MMA". Association of Boxing Commissions. Archived from the original on 2012-07-05. Retrieved 2012-07-15.
External links
Media related to Lightweight mixed martial artists at Wikimedia Commons