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Championship

UFC Lightweight Championship

Ultimate Fighting Championship
Regular champion Justin Gaethje 0 defenses

Contest history

This title has not been contested on a published event yet.

Title lineage

  1. Unified (Regular → Regular)
    Justin Gaethje Ilia Topuria Winner
    0 defenses 89 days Current
    June 14, 2026
    UFC Freedom 250
  2. Won Interim title
    Justin Gaethje Paddy Pimblett Winner
    0 defenses 141 days
    January 24, 2026
    UFC 234
  3. Won Regular title
    Ilia Topuria Charles Oliveira Winner
    0 defenses 351 days
    June 28, 2025
    UFC 317
  4. Regular vacant
    Regular title vacated — Weight Change
    May 13, 2025
  5. Defended Regular title
    Islam Makhachev Renato Moicano Winner Defense #4
    January 18, 2025
    UFC 311
  6. Defended Regular title
    Islam Makhachev Dustin Poirier Winner Defense #3
    June 1, 2024
    UFC 302
  7. Defended Regular title
    Islam Makhachev Alexander Volkanovski Winner Defense #2
    October 21, 2023
    UFC 294
  8. Defended Regular title
    Islam Makhachev Alexander Volkanovski Winner Defense #1
    February 12, 2023
    UFC 284
  9. Won Regular title
    Islam Makhachev Charles Oliveira Winner
    4 defenses 2 years, 204 days Longest reign
    October 22, 2022
    UFC 280
  10. Regular vacant
    Regular title vacated — Missed Weight
    May 7, 2022
  11. Defended Regular title
    Charles Oliveira Dustin Poirier Winner Defense #1
    December 11, 2021
    UFC 269
  12. Won Regular title
    Charles Oliveira Michael Chandler Winner
    1 defense 357 days
    May 15, 2021
    UFC 262
  13. Unified defense (kept Regular)
    Khabib Nurmagomedov Justin Gaethje Winner Defense #3
    October 24, 2020
    UFC 254
  14. Regular vacant
    Regular title vacated — Retirement
    October 24, 2020
  15. Won Interim title
    Justin Gaethje Tony Ferguson Winner
    0 defenses 168 days
    May 9, 2020
    UFC 249
  16. Unified defense (kept Regular)
    Khabib Nurmagomedov Dustin Poirier Winner Defense #2
    September 7, 2019
    UFC 242
  17. Won Interim title
    Dustin Poirier Max Holloway Winner
    0 defenses 148 days
    April 12, 2019
    UFC 236
  18. Defended Regular title
    Khabib Nurmagomedov Conor McGrgeor Winner Defense #1
    October 6, 2018
    UFC 229
  19. Regular vacant
    Regular title vacated — Inactivity
    April 7, 2018
  20. Interim vacant
    Interim title vacated — Injury
    April 7, 2018
  21. Won Regular title
    Khabib Nurmagomedov Al Iaquinta Winner
    3 defenses 2 years, 201 days
    April 7, 2018
    UFC 223
  22. Won Interim title
    Tony Ferguson Kevin Lee Winner
    0 defenses 182 days
    October 7, 2017
    UFC 216
  23. Won Regular title
    Conor McGrgeor Eddie Alvarez Winner
    0 defenses 1 year, 116 days
    December 12, 2016
    UFC 205
  24. Won Regular title
    Eddie Alvarez Rafael dos Anjos Winner
    0 defenses 158 days
    July 7, 2016
    UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs Alvarez
  25. Defended Regular title
    Rafael dos Anjos Donald Cerrone Winner Defense #1
    December 19, 2015
    UFC on Fox: dos Anjos vs Cowboy 2
  26. Won Regular title
    Rafael dos Anjos Anthony Pettis Winner
    1 defense 1 year, 116 days
    March 14, 2015
    UFC 185
  27. Defended Regular title
    Anthony Pettis Gilbert Melendez Winner Defense #1
    December 6, 2014
    UFC 181
  28. Won Regular title
    Anthony Pettis Benson Henderson Winner
    1 defense 1 year, 195 days
    August 31, 2013
    UFC 164
  29. Defended Regular title
    Benson Henderson Gilbert Melendez Winner Defense #3
    April 20, 2013
    UFC on Fox: Henderson vs Melendez
  30. Defended Regular title
    Benson Henderson Nate Diaz Winner Defense #2
    December 8, 2012
    UFC on Fox: Henderson vs Diaz
  31. Defended Regular title
    Benson Henderson Frankie Edgar Winner Defense #1
    August 11, 2012
    UFC 150
  32. Won Regular title
    Benson Henderson Frankie Edgar Winner
    3 defenses 1 year, 187 days
    February 26, 2012
    UFC 144
  33. Defended Regular title
    Frankie Edgar Gray Maynard Winner Defense #3
    October 8, 2011
    UFC 136
  34. Draw (Regular defense)
    Frankie Edgar Gray Maynard Draw Defense #2
    January 1, 2011
    UFC 125
  35. Defended Regular title
    Frankie Edgar B.J. Penn Winner Defense #1
    August 28, 2010
    UFC 118
  36. Won Regular title
    Frankie Edgar B.J. Penn Winner
    3 defenses 1 year, 322 days
    April 10, 2010
    UFC 112
  37. Defended Regular title
    B.J. Penn Diego Sanchez Winner Defense #3
    December 12, 2009
    UFC 107
  38. Defended Regular title
    B.J. Penn Kenny Florian Winner Defense #2
    August 8, 2009
    UFC 101
  39. Defended Regular title
    B.J. Penn Sean Sherk Winner Defense #1
    May 24, 2008
    UFC 84
  40. Won Regular title
    B.J. Penn Joe Stevenson Winner
    3 defenses 2 years, 82 days
    January 19, 2008
    UFC 80
  41. Regular vacant
    Regular title vacated — Failed Drug Test
    December 8, 2007
  42. Defended Regular title
    Sean Sherk Hermes França Winner Defense #1
    July 7, 2007
    UFC 73
  43. Won Regular title
    Sean Sherk Kenny Florian Winner
    1 defense 1 year, 55 days
    October 14, 2006
    UFC 64
  44. Draw
    B.J. Penn Carlo Uno Draw
    February 28, 2003
    UFC 41
  45. Regular vacant
    Regular title vacated — Contract Dispute
    March 23, 2002
  46. Defended Regular title
    Jens Pulver B.J. Penn Winner Defense #2
    January 11, 2002
    UFC 35
  47. Defended Regular title
    Jens Pulver Dennis Hallman Winner Defense #1
    September 28, 2001
    UFC 33
  48. Won Regular title
    Jens Pulver Carlo Uno Winner
    2 defenses 1 year, 28 days
    February 23, 2001
    UFC 30

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