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Dustin Poirier names his all-time top five UFC lightweights and leaves out big names
TL;DR
Dustin Poirier revealed his top five all-time UFC lightweights, excluding several notable fighters. The lightweight division remains highly competitive with champions and emerging contenders.
Key points
- Dustin Poirier named his top five UFC lightweights.
- Ilia Topuria is the undisputed champion.
- Justin Gaethje is the interim champion.
- Charles Oliveira aims to reclaim the title.
- New contenders like Arman Tsarukyan are emerging.
Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images
The UFC lightweight division remains one of the most competitive landscapes in the sport. With Ilia Topuria holding the undisputed title and Justin Gaethje serving as interim champion, the hierarchy continues to evolve.
Charles Oliveira is still pushing to reclaim the belt, while emerging contenders such as Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy are adding fresh depth. The mix of established names and rising talent keeps the division in constant motion.
Given that level of competition, debates around the greatest lightweights of all time are never straightforward. Dustin Poirier found that out himself when asked to name his personal top five.
Dustin Poirier names his top five lightweight fighters ever
Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images
Poirier listed Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, BJ Penn, Ilia Topuria and Frankie Edgar as the five best UFC lightweights ever. The selection immediately sparked discussion among fans.
One of the most notable aspects was his decision to leave himself out. Despite being a former champion and facing elite names such as Khabib, Makhachev and Charles Oliveira, ‘The Diamond’ did not include his own achievements.
His inclusion of Topuria also raised eyebrows. While the champion has made a strong impact, he has only competed once at lightweight so far.
The choices highlighted how subjective the debate remains, even among fighters who have competed at the highest level.
Notable omissions from Dustin Poirier’s list
Other major names were absent from his selection. Poirier excluded Charles Oliveira, despite his two successful title defences and additional win in a third defence against Justin Gaethje where he missed weight.
He also left out Benson Henderson and Tony Ferguson, while both fighters are regularly mentioned in discussions about the greatest lightweights.
The omissions underline how difficult it is to narrow the division’s history to just five fighters. Strong cases can be made for multiple candidates.
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Q&A
Who are Dustin Poirier's top five all-time UFC lightweights?
Dustin Poirier has not publicly disclosed the names in his top five list.
Why is the UFC lightweight division considered highly competitive?
The division features established champions like Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, along with rising talents such as Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy.
What impact do emerging contenders have on the UFC lightweight division?
Emerging contenders add depth and create ongoing debates about rankings and the greatest fighters in the division.
