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

This table last updated in June 2025.

Organization	Reign Began	Champion	Record	Defenses
UFC	June 28, 2025	Ilia Topuria	17-0	0
Bellator MMA	November 18, 2022	Usman Nurmagomedov	19-0 (1)	3
ONE Championship	August 26, 2022	Christian Lee	17-4	0
Rizin FF	June 13, 2021	Roberto de Souza	19-3	4
KSW	June 3, 2023	Salahdine Parnasse	21-2	3
Oktagon MMA	December 29, 2024	Losene Keita	16-1	0
ACA	September 19, 2020	Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov	19-2	1
Cage Warriors	July 22, 2022	George Hardwick	12-1	2
Fight Nights Global		Vacant
Road FC	July 23, 2022	Si Won Park	8-0	1
Titan FC		Vacant
Legacy Fighting Alliance	May 19, 2023	JaCobi Jones	6-1	0

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
3.	Michael Chandler	Bellator	5
4.	B.J. Penn	UFC	4
	Khabib Nurmagomedov	UFC	4
	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^a)
	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

Notes

a.^ 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

[1] "Nevada Revised Statutes: Chapter 467 - Unarmed Combat". leg.state.nv.us. Retrieved 2007-02-20.

[2] "Unified Rules of MMA". Association of Boxing Commissions. Archived from the original on 2012-07-05. Retrieved 2012-07-15.

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