The UFC lightweight division is arguably the promotion’s strongest and deepest weight class.
Currently atop the division sits undefeated UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagmedov.
Instituted at UFC 30 in February 2001, the UFC lightweight championship was originally called the UFC bantamweight championship.
At UFC 30, Jens Pulver defeated Caol Uno to become the promotion’s inaugural 155-pound king. In March 2002, Pulver was stripped of the belt.
At UFC 41 in February 2003, B.J. Penn and Caol Uno fought for the vacant belt. The fight was declared a draw, so the title remained vacant.
At UFC 64 in October 2006, Sean Sherk defeated Kenny Florian to claim ownership to the lightweight championship. Sherk was stripped in December 2007 after testing positive for anabolic steroids.
At UFC 80 in January 2008, Penn beat Joe Stevenson for the vacant title. He would reign 155-pound king for 812 days.
At UFC 112 in April 2010, Frankie Edgar finally dethroned Penn. Edgar would defend the belt three times against Penn and Gray Maynard (twice).
At UFC 144 in February 2012, Edgar lost his title to Benson Henderson.
At UFC 164 in August 2013, then-champion Henderson was submitted by Anthony Pettis.
At UFC 185 in March 2015, the belt changed hands again when Rafael dos Anjos defeated Pettis by unanimous decision.
At UFC Fight Night 90 in July 2016, former Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez added “UFC champion” to his resume when he finished dos Anjos with strikes.
At UFC 205 in November 2016, Conor McGregor became the first fighter to hold dual UFC titles simultaneously after finishing Alvarez with strikes. The fight headlined the promotion’s first event in New York.
After McGregor and interim champion Tony Ferguson were stripped of their respective titles, Nurmagomedov entered the fray and defeated Al Iaquinta for the vacant undisputed title.
Follow the UFC lightweight title’s journey from Pulver to Nurmagomedov in the video above.
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