New infographic data reveals the number of fighters in the top-15 and top-5 of each division currently on three-fight or longer win streaks, excluding champions. The light heavyweight division stands out with zero fighters in the top-15 on a three-fight win streak. In fact, only one of the 15 ranked fighters has any winning streak at all: Paulo Costa, with one of his wins coming at middleweight. While welterweight is considered the most competitive and deep division, the 205-pound class represents the opposite extreme in terms of competitive depth.
New infographic data published on May 4, 2026 exposes a striking lack of momentum at the top of the light heavyweight division, with the 205-pound class recording zero fighters inside the top 15 currently riding a three-fight win streak — the worst figure of any UFC division tracked in the study.
The infographic examined how many ranked fighters, excluding champions, were on win streaks of three or more fights across every UFC weight class. While welterweight earned its reputation as the sport's deepest and most competitive division, light heavyweight sat at the opposite extreme. Of the 15 ranked light heavyweights, not a single one has strung together three consecutive victories. Only one ranked fighter in the entire division carries any winning streak at all.
That fighter is Paulo Costa, ranked 13th at middleweight, whose lone active streak includes a win recorded at 185 pounds rather than at light heavyweight. The 35-year-old Brazilian, training out of Team Borracha, holds a professional record of 16 wins and 4 losses. Known for relentless forward pressure, Costa averages an eye-catching 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, making him one of the sport's most aggressive volume strikers. His grappling output is minimal, averaging just 0.32 takedowns per 15 minutes and recording no submission attempts.
Why it matters
- The 205-pound division has no ranked fighter outside the champion currently on a three-fight streak, signaling an unusually fragmented competitive landscape.
- The sole streak representative, Costa, competes primarily at middleweight, underlining how shallow the momentum picture is at light heavyweight specifically.
- Divisions with few fighters building streaks tend to produce less clear contender hierarchies, complicating matchmaking for title shots.
