A comparison of the longest active win streaks in the UFC lightweight division reveals significant shifts over the past two years. Currently, Islam Makhachev leads with an extended streak, while other fighters have moved in and out of the top positions. One year ago, the list included Paddy Pimblett with six wins and several fighters tied at five victories. Two years ago, Makhachev had 12 consecutive wins, with Renato Moicano, Pimblett, and Arman Tsarukyan among those trailing. In April 2022, Charles Oliveira topped the list with 10 wins, followed by Makhachev with nine and Beneil Dariush with seven. The evolving landscape demonstrates the competitive nature and turnover in the lightweight rankings.
The lightweight division's win-streak leaderboard has undergone dramatic reshuffling over the past two years, with Islam Makhachev currently holding the longest active run at the top and several familiar names rising and falling around him.
Looking back to April 2022, the picture was markedly different. Charles Oliveira sat atop the division's streak rankings with ten consecutive victories, ahead of Makhachev's nine and Beneil Dariush's seven. Oliveira, now 36 years old and ranked third at lightweight with a career record of 37-11, remains one of the division's most dangerous finishers. The Brazilian southpaw out of Chute Boxe Diego Lima lands 3.35 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy, and his 2.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes underline why opponents have historically struggled to survive into the later rounds with him.
Dariush, the 37-year-old American based out of Kings MMA, appeared prominently in that earlier snapshot with seven straight wins. Now ranked eighth in the division at 23-8-1, the southpaw remains a well-rounded threat, averaging 3.78 significant strikes per minute and contributing 2.11 takedowns per 15 minutes.
By one year ago the landscape had shifted again, with Paddy Pimblett holding six wins and a cluster of fighters tied at five. Renato Moicano and Arman Tsarukyan also featured prominently in the two-year-ago snapshot trailing Makhachev's 12-fight run.
One fighter now generating attention in the division is Fares Ziam of France, nicknamed "Smile Killer." The 29-year-old stands six-foot-one with a 75-inch reach and carries an 18-4 record, landing 2.85 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Makhachev's sustained dominance has reshaped the entire divisional hierarchy since 2022
- Oliveira's continued presence inside the top three keeps the title picture crowded at the top
- Turnover among streaking fighters reflects how quickly fortunes shift at 155 pounds
- Emerging names like Ziam signal ongoing competition for ranked positions
