Let’s not beat around the bush—the UFC’s lightweight division is in disarray. With four different fighters vying for a title shot against the pound-for-pound #1, Islam Makhachev, the lightweight division has never been more congested with talent.
Ask any UFC fan who deserves the next lightweight title shot, and there will be a different answer every time—it’s like playing a game of ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’.
Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria’s move up to lightweight has some fans arguing that he deserves the chance to become champ in a second division. Others would point to Arman Tsarukyan’s status as the number one contender, Gaethje’s impressive win over Rafael Fiziev, or Olivera’s past dominance in the division as all valid reasons for a title shot. And of course, Makhachev’s potential move to the UFC’s welterweight division only adds confusion.
Let’s break down how the division could unfold:
This is by far the most exciting and logical fight for the lightweight title. Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria is arguably the hottest fighter in the UFC right now, coming off back-to-back knockouts of MMA legends Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. Topuria made the move up to lightweight, explaining that his body was struggling to make the featherweight limit of 145 pounds.
Makhachev, on the other hand, is coming off a dominant title defense in January at UFC 311, where he submitted #10-ranked lightweight contender Renato Moicano in the first round. The first-round submission hints that Makhachev could be ready for a quick turnaround, potentially even in time for International Fight Week this June. His camp has been vocal about refusing to fight Topuria. However, Dana White could ultimately force their hand.
Booking these two for a title fight at UFC 317 during International Fight Week makes perfect sense. It would not only be one of the biggest fights in MMA history but also see two superstars collide.
This UFC 300 rematch pits the number two (Oliveira) and number one (Tsarukyan) lightweight contenders against each other in a high-stakes title eliminator.
Tsarukyan is on UFC President Dana White’s bad side after pulling out of his lightweight title fight against Islam Makhachev on one day’s notice. White confirmed that Tsarukyan would have to work his way back up to a title shot, suggesting that a title eliminator against a top contender was likely. Arman Tsarukyan has expressed interest in a contender fight against Charles Oliveira:
On the other hand, Olivera is coming off an impressive decision win vs. Michael Chandler, and is ready to stake his claim as the division’s champ once again.
Their first fight was only three rounds, much to the disappointment of many MMA fans. Tsarukyan pulled off a gritty 29-28 decision, but their score was never truly settled. Booking these two in a title eliminator would allow the winner to face the winner of Makhachev vs. Topuria sometime in late 2025/early 2026.
Michael Chandler and Paddy Pimblett’s five-round co-main event will occur on April 12th at UFC 314. The winner should face a step up in competition, and will likely be strategically positioning themselves just a couple of short wins away from a title shot.
On Pimblett’s side, the UFC would be keen to allow him to fight up in the rankings due to his marketability and large following.
Chandler’s claim as the “most entertaining lightweight on the planet” comes with a proven track record of explosive performances and a knack for delivering fight-of-the-night caliber bouts, something Dana and Hunter greatly value.
For Gaethje, these fights would keep him relevant and offer fun names for his legacy while not throwing him to the wolves. While Gaethje has called for a title shot after his decision win over Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313, the UFC would be wise to place him in a high-profile matchup instead of a title fight where he would be a massive underdog.
One of Pimblett/Chandler taking on Gaethje would offer a fun and intriguing co-main event on a UFC pay-per-view. No matter which way the proverbial cookie crumbles, the fans win.
A trilogy fight between these two legends for Poirier’s retirement, and with the BMF belt on the line, is perhaps the most fun matchup of this article.
Holloway is coming off a brutal KO loss to Ilia Topuria, in which his seemingly stone chin was finally cracked. With no clear path to the lightweight title, he should focus on legacy fights that will look good on his resume down the line.
Porier has announced that his final fight will be at UFC New Orleans, likely sometime this summer. Poirier also stated that his retirement fight was to be “legends only”.
Allowing these two stars to headline a fight night in New Orleans would create a spectacle and make for one of the most fun retirement fights in recent history. It would be a great swan song for Poirier, and a perfect challenge for Max.
A few short weeks ago, Marcio Ruffy set the MMA world ablaze with his spinning kick knockout of King Green at UFC 313.
On that same night, Rafael Fiziev lost a 29-28 decision vs. Justin Gaethje, making him 0-3 since 2022. Allowing Ruffy to fight Fiziev for a spot in the lightweight ranking would ring true to an old adage: out with the old, and in with the new.
Making these matchups would allow the UFC’s lightweight division to clarify its plan and future. It would also maximize the number of entertaining fights, ensuring the UFC stays an appealing product.
At the end of the day, the UFC will end up doing what they believe to be correct, but with so many intriguing options, they have a golden opportunity to turn this mess into a thrilling, high-stakes spectacle for fans. For more UFC content, go to the Stadium Rant UFC section.
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