Following the name of the champion(s): Indicates the number of times the competitor has held that title at that point.
[...]
Indicates a gap in the listing where title changes are not known.
<
Title was held or changed hands no later than this. In these cases, it is known that a competitor held the title at a certain time but not when he/she won it.
@
Order uncertain. Different titleholders may be known for the same year, for example, but it is not known who held the title before whom.
#
Unofficial or disputable claims. These are usually matches that certainly took place, but where there is doubt that the competitor shown should be recognized as a true title holder. These listings are also italicized.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
World Lightweight Title [155lb/70kg limit] (as of 2025-09-16)
* Bolded letters in the competitor's name, if any, indicate the surname/family name.
Pat Miletich
1998-10-16
São Paulo, BRA
Defeats Mikey Burnett to become the first UFC Lightweight champion.
Carlos Newton
2001-05-04
Atlantic City, NJ
Becomes the World Welterweight Title according to the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts established in 00.
Jens Pulver
2001-02-23
Atlantic City, NJ
Defeats Caol Uno to become the UFC Bantamweight champion; becomes the World Lightweight Title according to the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts established in 00; stripped in 02-03 due to a contract dispute; B.J. Penn and Caol Uno fight to a draw on 03-02-28 in Atlantic City, NJ in the final of a 4-man tournament for the vacant title.
Sean Sherk
2006-10-14
Las Vegas, NV
Defeats Kenny Florian; stripped 07-12-08 after testing positive for anabolic steroids in a post-fight drug test.
Tony Ferguson defeats Kevin Lee on 17-10-07 in Las Vegas, NV to become interim champion; both are stripped on 18-04-07 due to inactivity and injury respectively.
Khabib Nurmagomedov
2018-04-07
Brooklyn, NY
Defeats Al Iaquinta; announces his retirement after defeating interim champion Justin Gaethje in unification match on 20-10-24.
Charles Oliveira
2015-05-15
Houston, TX, USA
Defeats Michael Chandler; stripped of the title on 22-05-07 after failing to make weight for his title defense against Justin Gaethje.
Islam Makhachev
2022-10-22
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Defeats Charles Oliveira; vacates on 25-06-28 upon moving up to the welterweight class.
