Based mostly on wins and not on performance or should haves (i.e. controversial decisions). Patricio Pitbull ranked 17 (also competes at FW). Tony Ferguson moved to WW (October 2022, rank 12). Alexander Hernandez took FW fight (Dec 2022, rank 16). Olivier Aubin-Mercier retired (Nov 2023, rank 17). Chandler is scheduled for a WW bout (April 2024, rank 12).
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1
- Islam Makhachev
- 25-1-0
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The UFC Lightweight champion. He took the vacant title at UFC 280 when he submitted Charles Oliveira with an arm-triangle choke. Makhachev made his first title defense at UFC 284 against the UFC Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. He won the fight by unanimous decision after five rounds. His second title defense was set to be a rematch against Charles Oliveira at UFC 294, however, Oliveira withdrew. He instead rematched Alexander Volkanovski at the event. He defeated Volkanovski again, this time by knockout in the first round. He will defend his title at UFC 304 against Dustin Poirier.
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2
- Arman Tsarukyan
- "Ahalkalakets"
- 22-3-0
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Tsarukyan headlined UFC on ESPN 52 against Beneil Dariush. He won the fight by knockout in the first round. He fought Charles Oliveira at UFC 300. He won the fight by split decision.
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3
- Charles Oliveira
- "do Bronx"
- 34-10-0, 1 NC
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Oliveira fought for the vacant UFC Lightweight title at UFC 280 against Islam Makhachev. He was submitted by an arm-triangle choke in the second round. Oliveira faced Beniel Dariush at UFC 289. He won the fight by TKO in the first round. He was set to rematch Islam Makhachev at UFC 294, however, he had to withdraw due to a cut. He instead fought at UFC 300 against Arman Tsarukyan. He lost the fight by split decision.
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4
- Max Holloway
- "Blessed"
- 26-7-0
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Holloway fought Justin Gaethje at UFC 300. He won the exciting back-and-forth fight by knockout in the fifth round.
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5
- Justin Gaethje
- "The Highlight"
- 25-5-0
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Gaethje rebounded at UFC 286 against Rafael Fiziev, winning a majority decision. Gaethje headlined UFC 291 in a rematch against Dustin Poirier. He won the fight by knockout due to a head kick. Gaethje fought Max Holloway at UFC 300. He lost the fight by knockout in the last second of the fight.
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6
- Dustin Poirier
- "The Diamond"
- 30-8-0, 1 NC
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Poirier returned against Michael Chandler at UFC 281. He submitted Chandler with a rear-naked choke. Poirier fought a rematch against Justin Gaethje at UFC 291 in the headliner. He lost to Gaethje by knockout in the second round. He took on Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299. After a rough first round, he rallied for the second round knockout victory. He will fight Islam Makhachev at UFC 304.
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7
- Mateusz Gamrot
- "Gamer"
- 24-2-0, 1 NC
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Gamrot stepped in on short notice at UFC 285 to face Jalin Turner. He won the fight by split decision. Gamrot headlined UFN 228 against Rafael Fiziev. He won the fight by TKO due to an injury. He faced Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 299 and won a unanimous decision.
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8
- Rafael Fiziev
- "Ataman"
- 12-3-0
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Fiziev was rescheduled to face Rafael dos Anjos at UFC on ESPN 39. He won the fight by knockout in the fifth round. Fiziev returned at UFC 286 against Justin Gaethje. He lost to Gaethje by majority decision after a back-and-forth fight. He returned against Mateusz Gamrot at UFN 228. He lost the fight by TKO due to an injury.
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9
- Beneil Dariush
- "Benny"
- 22-6-1
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Dariush returned against Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 280. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Dariush faced Charles Oliveira at UFC 289. He lost to Oliveira by TKO due to punches. He headlined UFC on ESPN 52 against Arman Tsarukyan. He was knocked out just 64 seconds into the first round.
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10
- Dan Hooker
- "The Hangman"
- 23-12-0
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Hooker returned to the lightweight division at UFC 281 against Claudio Puelles. He won the fight by TKO in the second round. Hooker was set to face surging Jalin Turner at UFC 285, however, he withdrew due to a broken hand. They were rescheduled for UFC 290. Hooker won the exciting back-and-forth fight by split decision.
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11
- Renato Moicano
- "Money Moicano" | 19-5-1
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Moicano returned at UFC 281 against Brad Riddell. He tapped out Riddell in the first round with a rear-naked choke. He returned against Drew Dober at UFN 235. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Moicano faced Jailin Turner at UFC 300. He won the fight by TKO in the second round.
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12
- Jalin Turner
- "The Tarantula" | 14-8-0
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Turner was rescheduled to face Dan Hooker at UFC 290. He lost the close fight by split decision. He stepped in on short notice at UFC on ESPN 52 against Bobby Green. He won the fight by knockout in the first round. He took on Renato Moicano at UFC 300. Despite a strong first round, he lost the fight by TKO in the second round.
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13
- Benoit Saint-Denis
- "God of War" | 13-2-0, 1 NC
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Saint-Denis fought Thiago Moises at UFN 226. He won the fight by TKO in the second round. He faced Matt Frevola at UFC 295. He won the fight by knockout due to a head kick. He took on Dustin Poirier at UFC 299 in the co-headliner. He was knocked out in the second round.
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14
- Bobby Green
- "King" | 32-15-1, 1 NC
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Green headlined UFN 229 against Grant Dawson. He won the fight by knockout just 33 seconds into the first round. He co-headlined UFC on ESPN 52 against Jailin Turner. He was knocked out by punches in the first round. Green fought at UFC 300 against Jim Miller. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
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15
- Matt Frevola
- "The Steamrolla" | 11-4-1
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Frevola fought Drew Dober at UFC 288. He pulled off the upset win via TKO in the first round. Frevola faced Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 295. He was knocked out by a head kick in the first round. Frevola was set to return against Michael Johnson, however, Johnson withdrew due to an injury.
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16
- Drew Dober
- 27-13-0, 1 NC
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Dober took on Matt Frevola at UFC 288. He lost to Frevola by TKO in the first round due to punches. He rebounded at UFN 229 when he knocked out Ricky Glenn in the first round. He faced Renato Moicano at UFN 235. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.
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17
- Thiago Moisés
- 18-7-0
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Moises successfully snapped his losing streak against Christos Giagos at UFC on ESPN 38. He won the fight by submission in the first round. Moises faced Melquizael Costa at UFC 283. He submitted Costa with a face crank in the second round. Moises returned against Benoit Saint-Denis at UFN 226. He lost the fight by TKO in the second round. He was set to face returning Brad Riddell at UFN 239, however, Riddell withdrew from the bout. He instead faced Mitch Ramirez. He defeated Ramirez by TKO due to a leg kicks. He will face L'udovit Klein next.
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18
- Natan Schulte
- "Russo" | 25-5-1
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Schulte faced Jeremy Stephens at PFL 10: 2022 Championships. He submitted Stephens with an arm-triangle choke in the first round. Schulte returned at PFL 3: 2023 Regular Season against Stevie Ray. He won the fight by unanimous decision. He faced Raush Manfio at PFL 6: Regular Season. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
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19
- Raush Manfio
- "Cavalo de Guerra" | 17-5-0
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Manfio fought Natan Schulte at PFL 6: Regular Season. He lost the uneventful fight by unanimous decision.
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20
- Usman Nurmagomedov
- 17-0-0, 1 NC
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The Bellator Lightweight champion. Nurmagomedov defended his title against Ben Henderson at Bellator 292. He submitted Henderson with a rear-naked choke in the first round. He fought Brent Primus at Bellator 300. He won the fight by unanimous decision, however, the bout would later be changed into a No Contest due to failed drug test. Nurmagomedov will return against Alexander Shabliy at Bellator Champions Series.
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21
- Alexander Shabliy
- "Peresvet" | 24-3-0
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22
- Diego Ferreira
- 18-5-0
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23
- Paddy Pimblett
- "The Baddy" | 21-3-0
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24
- Manoel Sousa
- "Manumito" | 11-0-0
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25
- Tim Wilde
- "The Experiment" | 17-5-1
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26
- Drakkar Klose
- 14-2-1
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27
- Mateusz Rębecki
- "Rebeasti" | 19-1-0
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28
- Tony Ferguson
- "El Cucuy" | 25-10-0
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29
- Brent Primus
- 13-3-0, 1 NC
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30
- Bruno Miranda
- "Robusto" | 16-5-0
My Summary