Justin Gaethje claimed the #1 spot in lightweight rankings following his unanimous decision win over Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324, earning the interim title for the second time. This bumped Arman Tsarukyan to #2, with Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway dropping to #3 and #4. Gaethje is now positioned as next in line to challenge undisputed champion Ilia Topuria. The update, the first of 2026 post-event, shakes up the division's hierarchy. Holloway defends BMF belt against Oliveira at UFC 326. Expect Gaethje-Topuria unification talks soon, impacting lightweight title picture.
Justin Gaethje has reclaimed the top spot in the lightweight rankings after defeating Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision at UFC 324, capturing the interim lightweight title for the second time in his career and positioning himself as the mandatory challenger to undisputed champion Ilia Topuria.
The victory reshuffles a division that had been waiting for clarity at the top. Gaethje's interim title win triggers what figures to be an imminent round of unification talks with Topuria, the reigning undisputed lightweight champion who carries a 17-1-0 record and holds the number-one pound-for-pound ranking at just 29 years old. Fighting out of Spain under Climent Club, Topuria lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute and blends his striking with 1.96 takedown attempts per 15 minutes, making him a multidimensional threat.
Arman Tsarukyan rises to number two in the reshuffle, while Charles Oliveira slides to third. The Brazilian veteran, now 36, carries a 37-11-0 record and remains one of the most dangerous submission artists in the sport, averaging 2.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes to go along with 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes. His striking accuracy sits at 54 percent, among the best in the division.
Max Holloway falls to fourth despite his own crowded schedule. The 34-year-old Hawaiian owns a 27-9-0 record and an elite output of 7.2 significant strikes per minute. Holloway is set to put his BMF belt on the line against Oliveira at UFC 326, a clash that has direct consequences for where both men stand when the dust settles.
Why it matters
- Gaethje's interim title makes a Gaethje-Topuria unification bout the division's most logical next major event
- Holloway versus Oliveira at UFC 326 pits the fourth- and third-ranked lightweights against each other, with ranking and BMF title implications both on the table
- The top five is now unusually active, meaning the 135-pound title picture could look entirely different before a unification fight is finalized
