Dustin Poirier names his all-time top five UFC lightweights and leaves out big names
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.