Dustin Poirier Lists Top 5 UFC Lightweights of All Time

During a recent episode of the Deep Waters podcast, UFC veteran Dustin Poirier was asked to definitively rank his top five lightweights of all time.

With a full career that established him as one of the most respected action fighters in the sport, “The Diamond” has the distance and credibility to evaluate the division’s history fairly. What makes Poirier’s perspective uniquely credible is that he has shared the Octagon with the two names at the very top of his list and was finished by both.

“I was thinking in my mind way back, like Jens Pulver,” Poirier mused during the selection process, demonstrating the historical depth he weighed before settling on his final five.

Dustin PoirierJonathan Bachman-GettyImages

He also openly acknowledged his own exclusion from the elite group, humbly sidestepping his own status as a former interim champion.

Watch the full podcast episode here:

Without further ado here is his list:

1. Khabib Nurmagomedov

For Poirier, there was no hesitation as to who belongs in the top spot. He placed the undefeated “Eagle” on the highest pedestal, ranking Khabib Nurmagomedov as the no. 1 fighter on his list.

Nurmagomedov retired in 2020 with a perfect 29-0 record and an aura of invincibility that saw him lose only a single round in his entire UFC tenure.

Khabib Nurmagomedov (red gloves) Conor McGregor (blue gloves)Stephen R&period; Sylvanie-Imagn

Poirier is uniquely qualified to judge this dominance, having faced the suffocating Dagestani pressure firsthand in the main event of UFC 242, where he succumbed to a rear-naked choke while fighting for the undisputed belt:

2. Islam Makhachev

Naturally, the successor to the throne sits right behind his mentor. Islam Makhachev has emerged from Khabib’s shadow by surpassing him in title defenses, holding the record for the most in the division’s history at four.

Nov 15, 2025; New York, NY, UNITED STATES; Islam Makhachev (blue gloves) acknowledges the crowd after defeating Jack Della Maddalena (not pictured) in the welterweight championship bout during UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

Poirier felt the technical evolution of the Dagestani system when Makhachev defended the lightweight title against him at UFC 302, securing a D’arce choke submission victory that would ultimately mark Poirier’s final attempt at the undisputed belt (via UFC Pakistan on YouTube):

The inclusion of Makhachev at number two reflects Poirier’s respect not just for talent, but for a body of work that includes a move up to welterweight to capture a second world title against Jack Della Maddalena.

3. BJ Penn

Transitioning to the division’s pioneers, Poirier selected BJ “The Prodigy” Penn for the third spot, paying homage to one of the most naturally gifted fighters ever to compete.

Penn is widely regarded as the man who put the UFC lightweight division on the map, capturing the belt and defending it with a blend of elite-level boxing and a world-class Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ground game. His influence on the lighter weight classes cannot be understated, as his style paved the way for well-rounded fighters who followed.

One cannot discuss Penn’s legacy without acknowledging the tragic decline that defined the final decade of his career, however. He retired in 2019 on a seven-fight losing streak, making the last stretch of his career one of the steepest falls in combat sports history.

4. Ilia Topuria

Despite having fought at 155 pounds only twice against Jai Herbert and former champion Charles Oliveira, Ilia Topuria has already convinced Poirier that he is a generational talent worthy of a spot on the all-time list.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 28: Ilia Topuria of Germany reacts after his knockout victory against Charles Oliveira of Brazil in the UFC lightweight championship bout during the UFC 317 event at T-Mobile Arena on June 28, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)Ilia Topuria / Getty Images — LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 28: Ilia Topuria of Germany reacts after his knockout victory against Charles Oliveira of Brazil in the UFC lightweight championship bout during the UFC 317 event at T-Mobile Arena on June 28, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)Ilia Topuria / Getty Images

Here is his championship performance (via UFC on YouTube):

Topuria made his name as a featherweight, dethroning the great Alexander Volkanovski and knocking out Max Holloway in a featherweight title defense before vacating the belt to move up. Poirier’s nod to “El Matador” ahead of Topuria’s scheduled title defense against Justin Gaethje in June for the White House card validates the monumental impact of his flawless run and championship aura on the sport.

5. Frankie Edgar

Rounding out the list is “The Answer,” Frankie Edgar, a name Poirier nearly overlooked before quickly correcting himself.

Frankie Edgar Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

“Frankie for sure,” Poirier affirmed, remembering the legendary underdog who defined the “heart over height” era of the lower weight classes.

Edgar famously dethroned BJ Penn at a time when Penn looked unbeatable, relying on relentless cardio, fast footwork, and elite wrestling to neutralize his larger and more powerful opponents. Like Penn, Edgar successfully defended the lightweight strap three times, tying him with Nurmagomedov and Penn.

His trilogy fight with Gray Maynard remains one of the most iconic displays of resilience and heart in UFC history (via UFC on YouTube):

Omitted Names

A list of five is naturally defined by the names it cannot contain. Here are a few fighters Porier left off his list who I think deserve an honorable mention.

Charles Oliveira

Most notably, Charles Oliveira, who holds the record for most finishes in UFC history, was completely left off the list despite having submitted Poirier to win the vacant title in 2021.

Here are some of his finishes (via UFC on YouTube):

In my opinion he remains the most prolific finisher the division has ever seen. During his prime, the blend of his brutal Brazilian Muay Thai style and his high level jiu-jitsu made him incredibly exciting to watch and an absolute force to be reckoned with.

Benson Henderson

Henderson, in my honest opinion, is one of the most underrated champions in the entire UFC. He defeated Frankie Edgar to win the title and reigned as a dominant champion in his own right during the post-Penn era. At three UFC title defenses, he is also tied with Edgar, Penn, and Nurmagomedov.

Despite many of his fights being close decisions, his ability to mix the martial arts and use efficient tools to transition between striking and grappling is a skill that even modern-day fighters could (and should) learn from.

In the end, Poirier’s list reminds us that inside the mind of a fighter, the metric for greatness is often defined less by statistics and more by visceral memory.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the MMA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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