An infographic reveals that the UFC light heavyweight division currently has no fighters in the top 15 on a winning streak of three or more fights, excluding the champion. Of the 15 ranked fighters, only one has any winning streak at all, which is Paulo Costa. Notably, one of Costa's wins in his current streak came at middleweight. In contrast, while the welterweight division is considered the most competitive and stacked, the 205-pound division represents the opposite extreme. The analysis excludes champions from the count across all weight classes.
A new statistical breakdown of the UFC light heavyweight division reveals a striking lack of momentum among its top-ranked fighters, with not a single athlete inside the top 15 currently riding a winning streak of three or more fights.
The analysis, which excludes reigning champions from the count across all weight classes, found that of the 15 ranked light heavyweights, only one fighter holds any active winning streak at all. That fighter is Paulo Costa, ranked 13th in the middleweight division, who has managed to carry some form into the 205-pound rankings picture despite the bulk of his recent activity coming at a lower weight class. Notably, at least one of the wins contributing to his current streak was recorded at middleweight rather than light heavyweight.
Costa, 35, fights out of Brazil and trains with Team Borracha. He carries a professional record of 16-4-0 and competes out of an orthodox stance, standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach. His offensive output is among the most aggressive in the sport, averaging 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute at a 58 percent striking accuracy rate.
Why it matters
- The light heavyweight division stands out as an outlier, representing the opposite extreme from the welterweight division, which is widely regarded as the most competitive and stacked weight class in the UFC.
- With no fighters in the top 15 on a three-fight win streak, the division faces a notable depth and consistency problem heading into future title contention conversations.
- Costa's presence as the lone fighter with any winning streak is complicated by the cross-divisional nature of his recent record, raising questions about where his primary competitive focus lies.
