On Saturday night in Las Vegas, the UFC kicked off its 2026 schedule with its first major event of the year, UFC 324. The card was headlined by a big matchup at lightweight when division legend Justin Gaethje looked to win interim gold for a second time when he took on fast-rising star Paddy Pimblett.
After five wild and violent rounds, the MMA greybeard overcame the young line and can once again be called a champion. Let’s look at where the two 155-pound stars land in our updated UFC lightweight rankings after UFC 324.
10. Mateusz Gamrot (25-3)
Mateusz Gamrot has quietly been one of the better lightweights in the world over the last five years. He has scored some impressive wins thus far, including victories over top contender Arman Tsarukyan and top-15 stalwart Rafael Fiziev. However, several losses have slowed his momentum toward a title fight, and the lack of definitive finishes isn’t giving the UFC motivation to get him closer to a championship opportunity.
9. Renato Moicano (20-7-1)
Renato Moicano has suffered a few losses in the UFC, but he remains one of the most entertaining fighters in the division and is improving later in his career. No matter who he faces, he is never an easy out and has become a must-see fighter at 155 pounds any time he competes. That is why he lands in our latest UFC lightweight rankings.
8. Dan Hooker (24-13)
After moving back and forth between featherweight and lightweight, Aussie Dan Hooker has found a niche at 155 pounds. He landed a spot in our UFC lightweight rankings after hard-fought wins over ranked opponents Jalin Turner and Mateusz Gamrot. While they weren’t pretty, he’s fairly earned a spot on our top 10.
In November, he got a main event clash against top contender Arman Tsarukyan. A win could have thrust him into the title picture. Unfortunately, he was submitted by the Armenian star.
7. Benoit Saint-Denis (16-3)
Benoit Saint-Denis has had a very nice 12-fight run in the UFC. While he has hit some bumps in the road and been on the wrong side of stoppage losses to Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano, he has still posted a 9-3 record inside the Octagon and scored a nasty knockout win in his most recent appearance against top-10 stalwart Beneil Dariush.
6. Paddy Pimblett (23-4)
Paddy Pimblett has his doubters, but you can’t deny starting a UFC career by winning seven straight, including over some future Hall of Famers. Sure, he didn’t get Tony Ferguson or Michael Chandler in their prime, but a wins a win, and the victories earned him a title fight at UFC 324.
While he didn’t get the W against Justin Gaethje, “The Baddy” showed a massive amount of heart and went to war with the MMA legend. Despite the setback, he doesn’t drop in our UFC lightweight rankings.
5. Charles Oliveira (35-11)
Charles Oliveria owns several UFC records and will go down as one of the greatest Brazilian MMA fighters of all time. There is a lot to love about his fight style, and his resume is stacked with big wins. But age catches up with everyone, and it has affected “Do Bronx.”
He entered his UFC 317 clash with former featherweight Ilia Topuria as a sizable underdog. Well, those odds proved to be right as he was crushed by the one-time 145-pound champ in less than a round. Oliveira remains an elite fighter in the division, but he probably will never again fight for gold.
4. Max Holloway (27-8)
Max Holloway will go down as one of the greatest UFC featherweights of all time. However, all good things come to an end. With him being unable to overcome Alexander Volkanovski, he made the move up to lightweight and became the new BMF champ in 2024 with a KO win over Justin Gaethje. However, a knockout loss to Ilia Topuria in a return to 145 pounds solidified the fact that 155 needs to be his permanent home.
In July, he looked to finally score a win over division great Dustin Poirier. In his third attempt, he got sweet revenge and now has definitive wins over two of the best lightweights of the decade. He may now be one win away from a title fight in his new division.
3. Arman Tsarukyan (23-3)
Arman Tsarukyan has developed into one of the very best 155-pounders on earth. During his run in the UFC, he has won many fights, and his only losses have come to the former division king, Islam Makhachev, and fellow ranked star Mateusz Gamrot. However, he has overcome those setbacks, and his impressive victories over Charles Oliveira and Dan Hooker have solidified his place as the undisputed No. 1 contender at lightweight.
2. Justin Gaethje (27-5)
Justin Gaethje is one of the best lightweight fighters of his generation because he earned a legion of fans for being one of the most durable and violent athletes in division history. While he has had some tough losses, he has also had some iconic wins.
He got another in January at UFC 324 when he took on Paddy Pimblett for the lightweight title. While the Englishman gave him a tough fight, Gaethje won interim gold for the second time and further cemented his place as one of the weight class’s all-time greats.
1. Ilia Topuria (17-0)
Ilia Topuria will go down as one of the great featherweights of all time. But instead of building on his 145-pound resume, “El Matador” made the move up to lightweight in search of history. Well, he achieved that in June by becoming just the 10th fighter to win gold in two divisions. Crushing former 155-pound champ Charles Oliveria and adding him to his hitlist of legends.
