All articles tagged with #lightweight division
The 2026 UFC lightweight division is centered around champion Ilia Topuria, who recently moved up from featherweight and secured the title with a first-round knockout. The division features a mix of veterans like Gaethje and Oliveira, and rising contenders such as Benoît Saint Denis and Rafael Fiziev, with ongoing drama and potential matchups shaping an exciting year ahead.
Ilia Topuria is transitioning to the UFC lightweight division and is interested in fighting Paddy Pimblett, with whom he has a longstanding rivalry, while preparing to face Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317.
Ilia Topuria, the UFC featherweight champion, has clarified that he does not intend to vacate his title despite considering a move to the lightweight division. This statement comes after speculation arose when Topuria hinted at a potential weight class change, prompting contenders like Diego Lopes to suggest fights for a possibly vacant title. Topuria emphasized that any decision to change divisions is his alone and has not been finalized with the UFC. He remains focused on defending his featherweight title, having recently defeated Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway.
UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria is considering vacating his title to move up to the lightweight division, expressing interest in fighting Charles Oliveira. Topuria, who recently defended his featherweight title against Max Holloway, hinted at this potential change during an interview, suggesting his last fight at featherweight may have already occurred. Oliveira, who recently defeated Michael Chandler, has cautioned Topuria about the challenges of the lightweight division.
Keyshawn Davis delivered a dominant performance in his hometown of Norfolk, Virginia, defeating Gustavo Lemos with a second-round knockout. Despite Lemos being overweight, Davis, now 12-0 with 8 KOs, floored him three times in the second round, leading to a referee stoppage. Davis, an Olympic silver medalist, is eyeing a world title shot in 2025, potentially against WBO lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk. Lemos, who was never competitive in the fight, has now lost two consecutive bouts.
Charles Oliveira expresses disappointment at not being able to finish Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300, losing via decision. He had hoped to challenge for the lightweight title with a win but now plans to regroup and come back stronger after a tough fight. Tsarukyan extends his winning streak and may be in line for a No. 1 contender bout, while the current champion, Islam Makhachev, is set to defend his title against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302.
Former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira will face Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300 in April, with the winner set to challenge defending champion Islam Makhachev. Oliveira, forced to withdraw from a previous bout due to injury, aims to reclaim the title after losing it to Makhachev in 2022. Tsarukyan, with an 8-2 UFC record, seeks to solidify his position in the division. UFC CEO Dana White has hinted at a stacked lineup for UFC 300, with more bouts to be announced, including welterweight champion Leon Edwards defending his belt.
Dustin Poirier will make his return to the octagon in a five-round co-main event against rising star Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 299 on March 9 in Miami, as announced by UFC CEO Dana White. Poirier aims to bounce back from a loss to Justin Gaethje and faces the undefeated Saint Denis, who has secured five straight wins, in a significant step up in competition.
Tony Ferguson suffers his seventh consecutive loss in the UFC, this time against Paddy Pimblett at UFC 296. Despite the defeat, Ferguson showed more confidence and intent to win compared to his recent fights. While his physical decline is evident, Ferguson's heart and belief in victory remained intact throughout the match.
Mateusz Gamrot, a former KSW champion and member of the Polish national wrestling team, believes he is the best wrestler in the lightweight division and hopes to face Islam Makhachev in the future. Gamrot has showcased his wrestling skills in the Octagon, accumulating takedowns against all his opponents. However, before a potential matchup with Makhachev, Gamrot will face Rafael Fiziev at UFC Vegas 79.
Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje will fight for the BMF title in the main event of UFC 291. The winner will be in a good position for a lightweight title shot. Poirier is ranked No. 10 on ESPN's pound-for-pound list and has won four of his past five fights, including victories over Conor McGregor. Gaethje has won six of his past eight fights and is known for his exciting fighting style. In the co-main event, Jan Blachowicz and Alex Pereira will face off in a light heavyweight contender bout. Other notable fights on the card include Tony Ferguson vs. Bobby Green and Michael Chiesa vs. Kevin Holland.
Paddy Pimblett responds to Matt Frevola's callout for a fight later this year, stating that he would fight Frevola when he's back from ankle surgery. Frevola is willing to wait and potentially fight on the UFC's return to New York City in November. Frevola believes that he and Pimblett would put on an entertaining fight together, and he likes his chances against Pimblett.
Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia will face off in a highly anticipated boxing match on Saturday night, with both fighters boasting undefeated records and large fan bases. Although the bout is not a title fight, it is expected to attract a celebrity-studded capacity crowd and will be available on pay-per-view. The lightweight division, which includes Garcia, Davis, and former world champion Shakur Stevenson, is seen as a promising future for boxing. Negotiations for big-name fights can be tense, but the Davis-Garcia bout was finalized after Garcia agreed to a series of compromises.