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 Jack
Della Maddalena 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 Benson
Henderson in 2012. “The Answer” some found success at 145
pounds and retired in 2016.
Dustin
Poirier gives us his top five lightweights of all-time 👀Watch DEEP Waters here: https://t.co/wjHbn2WQQCpic.twitter.com/R7TuijUYOM— UFC on
Paramount+ (@UFConParamount)
April 27, 2026