Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

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Lightweight

1. Islam Makhachev (24-1) | UFC [1]

Though he was hardly dominant, Makhachev found a way at UFC 284, earning a five-round verdict against reigning featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski in the evening’s main event at the RAC Arena, in Perth, Australia. While the size advantage wasn’t as big a factor as expected, Makhachev nonetheless extended his winning streak to 12 and retained his 155-pound belt in the process. While he may yet have unfinished business with Volkanovski down the road, Makhachev will now devote his focus to a full cadre of contenders in the UFC’s always-crowded lightweight division. That begins with a Charles Oliveira rematch at UFC 284 in Abu Dhabi.

2. Charles Oliveira (34-9, 1 NC) | UFC [2]

After relinquishing his belt to Islam Makhachev in October 2022, Oliveira made an emphatic statement in his return, as he defeated top contender Beneil Dariush via first-round technical knockout in the UFC 289 co-main event. “Do Bronx” held his own with Dariush on the canvas, but it was on the feet that he did his best work, rattling the Kings MMA product with head kicks and heavy punches before sealing his victory with ground-and-pound. By ending the eight-fight winning streak of his opponent, Oliveira has earned himself a rematch with Makhachev in the UFC 284 main event.

3. Justin Gaethje (25-4) | UFC [5]

Gaethje picked up a statement win — and the UFC’s BMF belt — in style at UFC 291, getting the better of Dustin Poirier for six minutes before flattening him with a head kick. In avenging his 2018 loss to Poirier, “The Highlight” reaffirmed his status as a top contender in the UFC lightweight division. He figures to be one of the most invested watchers of the Islam Makhachev-Charles Oliveira title rematch at UFC 294 in October.

4. Dustin Poirier (29-8, 1 NC) | UFC [3]

Poirier came up definitively short in his attempt to go 2-0 against Justin Gaethje and win the BMF title at UFC 291. Where their 2018 first meeting had been an instant classic, the rematch was a mauling, as “The Diamond” struggled with Gaethje on the feet for a round before being felled by a vicious head kick early in the second. The loss places the onetime interim champ and perennial contender perhaps further from another title shot than he has been in several years.

5. Beneil Dariush (22-5-1) | UFC [4]

Seemingly on the verge of a lightweight title shot, Dariush saw those dreams come crashing down in a first-round technical knockout loss to ex-champ Charles Oliveira in the UFC 289 co-main event. The 36-year-old Kings MMA product sees an eight-bout winning streak snapped in defeat, and barring unforeseen circumstances, has more work ahead of him if he is to reach the top of the lightweight mountain before his career is done.

6. Michael Chandler (23-8) | UFC [6]

Once again, Chandler had an opponent reeling but couldn’t finish the job, as he was submitted by Dustin Poirier in a featured lightweight affair at UFC 281. Although he has lost three of his last four UFC outings, Chandler remains a favorite with promotional brass thanks to his penchant for all-action fights. That status is reflected in his next assignment, which is a coaching stint on “The Ultimate Fighter 31” opposite Conor McGregor before a showdown with the Irish superstar in the Octagon at some point in 2023.

7. Rafael Fiziev (12-2) | UFC [7]

The stage was set for Fiziev to make a leap into the next tier of championship contenders in London, but Justin Gaethje had other ideas, as the two-time lightweight title challenger used a late push to capture a majority decision triumph in the UFC 286 co-main event. “Ataman” sees a six-bout UFC winning streak snapped in defeat, but his stock shouldn’t fall far after coming up just short against one of the division’s best.

8. Mateusz Gamrot (22-2, 1 NC) | UFC [8]

Gamrot accepted a difficult fight against Jalin Turner on less than two weeks’ notice at UFC 285 and the gamble paid off, as he relied on his relentless wrestling to a capture a split-decision triumph at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The former KSW champion has been victorious in five of his last six promotional appearances, with his lone defeat during that time coming at the hands of top lightweight contender Beneil Dariush. Another ranked opponent should be next for “Gamer.”

9. Dan Hooker (23-12) | UFC [9]

Hooker’s trademark resilience shone through at UFC 290, as he rallied for a wildly entertaining split-decision victory over Jalin Turner at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. After losing four of five Octagon appearances from June 2020 to March 2022, “The Hangman” has secured back-to-back triumphs over Turner and Claudio Puelles. Thanks to his all-action style, Hooker figures to remain a fan favorite no matter what the future holds.

10. Grant Dawson (20-1-1) UFC [10]

Dawson announced his presence to the rest of the lightweight division at UFC on ABC 48, where he dominated Damir Ismagulov for three rounds en route to a lopsided unanimous decision triumph. Although he is unbeaten in nine UFC appearances, “KGD” had been somewhat overlooked prior to his most recent performance — perhaps due in part to a draw against Ricky Glenn and a weight miss ahead of a victory over Mark O. Madsen. The American Top Team product appears to have turned a corner now and should be in line for another high-profile matchup in his next outing.

Other Contenders: Arman Tsarukyan, Damir Ismagulov, Olivier Aubin-Mercier, Usman Nurmagomedov, Jalin Turner.

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