An analysis of the longest active win streaks in the UFC lightweight division reveals significant changes over the past two years. Currently, Islam Makhachev leads with a 16-fight streak, followed by Ian Garry with 9 wins, and Chase Hooper, Nasrat Haqparast, and Fares Ziam each with 5-fight streaks. One year ago, Makhachev had 14 wins, while Paddy Pimblett held second place with 6. Two years ago, Makhachev led with 12 wins, with Renato Moicano and Pimblett at 5 each, and Arman Tsarukyan at 4. In April 2022, Charles Oliveira led with 10 consecutive wins, Makhachev had 9, and Beneil Dariush held 7. The data illustrates the rapidly changing landscape of lightweight contenders.
A snapshot of active win streaks in the UFC lightweight division paints a vivid picture of how quickly the contender landscape can shift, with Islam Makhachev's sustained dominance providing the clearest constant across a four-year stretch of data.
Makhachev currently leads all active lightweights with a 16-fight winning streak, a total that has grown steadily from 12 wins two years ago and nine wins back in April 2022. The streaks behind him, however, tell a different story — one of rapid turnover. Ian Garry now sits second with nine consecutive victories, while Chase Hooper, Nasrat Haqparast, and Fares Ziam each carry five-fight streaks. A year ago, Paddy Pimblett held the second spot with six straight wins. Two years ago, Renato Moicano and Pimblett sat at five each, with Arman Tsarukyan close behind at four.
Among the fighters with verified data, France's Fares Ziam — 18-4-0 and 29 years old — has quietly built his five-fight run fighting out of Kill Cliff FC. The six-foot-one orthodox striker lands 2.85 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy and adds 1.62 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Rewinding to April 2022, Charles Oliveira led the division with ten straight wins before Makhachev overtook him. The Brazilian, now 36 and ranked third at lightweight with a career record of 37-11-0, remains one of the division's most dangerous finishers, averaging 2.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside 2.22 takedowns. Beneil Dariush, ranked eighth in the division at 37 years old and carrying a 23-8-1 record, held seven straight wins during that same 2022 window and still ranks among the more active strikers at lightweight with 3.78 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Makhachev's streak dwarfs all active competitors, underlining his grip on the division's summit
- The full turnover of names behind him from 2022 to 2026 reflects how volatile the contender tier truly is
- Ziam, Hooper, and Haqparast represent an emerging layer of challengers not prominent in earlier snapshots
