UFC Lightweight Championship

Title lineage

1. Unified
   Justin Gaethje vs Ilia Topuria

   June 14, 2026

   UFC Freedom 250
2. Won interim
   Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett

   January 24, 2026

   UFC 234
3. Won title
   Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira

   June 28, 2025

   UFC 317
4. Vacant
   Title vacated — Weight Change

   May 13, 2025
5. Defense
   Islam Makhachev vs Renato Moicano

   January 18, 2025

   UFC 311
6. Defense
   Islam Makhachev vs Dustin Poirier

   June 1, 2024

   UFC 302
7. Defense
   Islam Makhachev vs Alexander Volkanovski

   October 21, 2023

   UFC 294
8. Defense
   Islam Makhachev vs Alexander Volkanovski

   February 12, 2023

   UFC 284
9. Won title
   Islam Makhachev vs Charles Oliveira

   October 22, 2022

   UFC 280
10. Vacant
    Title vacated — Missed Weight

    May 7, 2022
11. Defense
    Charles Oliveira vs Dustin Poirier

    December 11, 2021

    UFC 269
12. Won title
    Charles Oliveira vs Michael Chandler

    May 15, 2021

    UFC 262
13. Unified defense
    Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Justin Gaethje

    October 24, 2020

    UFC 254
14. Vacant
    Title vacated — Retirement

    October 24, 2020
15. Won interim
    Justin Gaethje vs Tony Ferguson

    May 9, 2020

    UFC 249
16. Unified defense
    Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Dustin Poirier

    September 7, 2019

    UFC 242
17. Won interim
    Dustin Poirier vs Max Holloway

    April 12, 2019

    UFC 236
18. Defense
    Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Conor McGrgeor

    October 6, 2018

    UFC 229
19. Vacant
    Title vacated — Inactivity

    April 7, 2018
20. Interim vacant
    Interim title vacated — Injury

    April 7, 2018
21. Won title
    Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Al Iaquinta

    April 7, 2018

    UFC 223
22. Won interim
    Tony Ferguson vs Kevin Lee

    October 7, 2017

    UFC 216
23. Won title
    Conor McGrgeor vs Eddie Alvarez

    December 12, 2016

    UFC 205
24. Won title
    Eddie Alvarez vs Rafael dos Anjos

    July 7, 2016

    UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs Alvarez
25. Defense
    Rafael dos Anjos vs Donald Cerrone

    December 19, 2015

    UFC on Fox: dos Anjos vs Cowboy 2
26. Won title
    Rafael dos Anjos vs Anthony Pettis

    March 14, 2015

    UFC 185
27. Defense
    Anthony Pettis vs Gilbert Melendez

    December 6, 2014

    UFC 181
28. Won title
    Anthony Pettis vs Benson Henderson

    August 31, 2013

    UFC 164
29. Defense
    Benson Henderson vs Gilbert Melendez

    April 20, 2013

    UFC on Fox: Henderson vs Melendez
30. Defense
    Benson Henderson vs Nate Diaz

    December 8, 2012

    UFC on Fox: Henderson vs Diaz
31. Defense
    Benson Henderson vs Frankie Edgar

    August 11, 2012

    UFC 150
32. Won title
    Benson Henderson vs Frankie Edgar

    February 26, 2012

    UFC 144
33. Defense
    Frankie Edgar vs Gray Maynard

    October 8, 2011

    UFC 136
34. Draw (defense)
    Frankie Edgar vs Gray Maynard

    January 1, 2011

    UFC 125
35. Defense
    Frankie Edgar vs B.J. Penn

    August 28, 2010

    UFC 118
36. Won title
    Frankie Edgar vs B.J. Penn

    April 10, 2010

    UFC 112
37. Defense
    B.J. Penn vs Diego Sanchez

    December 12, 2009

    UFC 107
38. Defense
    B.J. Penn vs Kenny Florian

    August 8, 2009

    UFC 101
39. Defense
    B.J. Penn vs Sean Sherk

    May 24, 2008

    UFC 84
40. Won title
    B.J. Penn vs Joe Stevenson

    January 19, 2008

    UFC 80
41. Vacant
    Title vacated — Failed Drug Test

    December 8, 2007
42. Defense
    Sean Sherk vs Hermes França

    July 7, 2007

    UFC 73
43. Won title
    Sean Sherk vs Kenny Florian

    October 14, 2006

    UFC 64
44. Draw
    B.J. Penn vs Carlo Uno

    February 28, 2003

    UFC 41
45. Vacant
    Title vacated — Contract Dispute

    March 23, 2002
46. Defense
    Jens Pulver vs B.J. Penn

    January 11, 2002

    UFC 35
47. Defense
    Jens Pulver vs Dennis Hallman

    September 28, 2001

    UFC 33
48. Won title
    Jens Pulver vs Carlo Uno

    February 23, 2001

    UFC 30