Dustin Poirier lists Top 5 UFC lightweights of all time

Dustin Poirier considers Ilia Topuria among the top five UFC lightweights in history. 

Poirier recently listed his top five UFC lightweights of all-time on “Deep Waters.” The list is as follows:

Khabib Nurmagomedov
Islam Makhachev
B.J. Penn
Ilia Topuria 
Frankie Edgar

Poirier (30-10) is also considered one of the greatest lightweights who never tasted UFC gold. Poirier made failed title bids against Nurmagomedov and Makhachev. While Nurmagomedov stopped “The Diamond” with a rear-naked choke in 2019, Makhachev did the same with a brabo choke in 2024. 

A Credentialed Group

Makhachev holds the record for the most title defenses (4) in UFC history. Meanwhile, Nurmagomedov, Penn, and Edgar tie for the second spot with three defenses each. Meanwhile, Topuria (17-0) won the vacant lightweight title against Charles Oliveira last year and is scheduled to defend it for the first time against Justin Gaethje on June 14 at the White House. Topuria had dethroned Alexander Volkanovski to win the featherweight title and defended it against Max Holloway before moving up.

Nurmagomedov retired in 2020 as the undefeated UFC lightweight champion. Meanwhile, Makhachev moved up to welterweight and won the title against last year.  Penn (16-14) won only once in the UFC after losing his title to Edgar in 2010. “The Prodigy” retired in 2019 on a seven-fight losing streak, which is considered one of the steepest declines in UFC history. Meanwhile, Edgar (24-11) dropped down to featherweight soon after losing his title to in 2012. “The Answer” some found success at 145 pounds and retired in 2016.