A historical comparison shows the evolution of winning streaks in the UFC lightweight division from 2022 to 2026. Currently, the longest active streaks are led by Islam Makhachev at 16 wins, followed by Diego Lopes at 7, and Paddy Pimblett, Chase Hooper, and Fares Ziam each at 5. One year ago, Makhachev led with 14, while Pimblett had 6 and three others had 5. Two years ago, Makhachev had 12, with Renato Moicano and Pimblett at 5, and several fighters including Arman Tsarukyan at 4. In April 2022, Charles Oliveira led with 10, Makhachev had 9, Beneil Dariush had 7, and multiple fighters including Tsarukyan and Rafael Fiziev had 5.
Tracking winning streaks across the UFC lightweight division over the past four years reveals how dramatically the competitive landscape has shifted — and how one man has remained at the center of it throughout.
Islam Makhachev currently owns the longest active streak in the division at 16 consecutive wins, a number that has grown steadily from 12 two years ago and 9 back in April 2022. Behind him, Diego Lopes sits at seven straight, while Paddy Pimblett, Chase Hooper, and Fares Ziam each carry five-fight winning runs into the current period.
Ziam, the 29-year-old Frenchman out of Kill Cliff FC, has built his streak on a well-rounded game. Standing six-foot-one with a 75-inch reach, he lands 2.85 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy and adds 1.62 takedowns per 15 minutes to keep opponents guessing.
The snapshot from one year ago looked slightly different. Makhachev led at 14, Pimblett held six, and a group of others sat at five. Two years back, Renato Moicano and Pimblett shared second place at five apiece, with Arman Tsarukyan four behind Makhachev's then-tally of 12.
The April 2022 picture offers the sharpest contrast. Charles Oliveira, now ranked third in the division at 36 years old with a 37-11-0 record, held the top spot at 10 straight wins. Makhachev trailed at nine, and Beneil Dariush — the 37-year-old southpaw from Kings MMA carrying a 23-8-1 mark — was close behind at seven, averaging 3.78 significant strikes landed per minute across his career. Tsarukyan and Rafael Fiziev each sat at five.
Why it matters
- Makhachev's streak growth from 9 to 16 over four years underlines his sustained dominance at the top of the division
- The 2022 leaders Oliveira and Dariush have since fallen outside the streak table, reflecting how quickly 155 pounds reshuffles its contenders
- Ziam's entry into the top-five streaks signals a new wave of challengers pushing toward relevance in a crowded division
