A historical comparison shows how win streaks in the UFC lightweight division have evolved over the past three years. Currently, the longest active streaks are led by Islam Makhachev's ongoing run, followed by several fighters with shorter streaks. One year ago, the top streaks were Makhachev at 14 wins, Paddy Pimblett at 6, and three fighters tied at 5 (Chase Hooper, Nasrat Haqparast, Fares Ziam). Two years ago, Makhachev had 12 wins, followed by Renato Moicano and Pimblett at 5 each. In April 2022, Charles Oliveira led with 10 consecutive wins, Makhachev had 9, and Beneil Dariush had 7. The analysis demonstrates the constant turnover and competitive nature of the 155-pound division, where maintaining long winning streaks remains exceptionally difficult for most fighters.
A three-year snapshot of win streaks in the UFC lightweight division reveals just how difficult sustained success is at 155 pounds, with Islam Makhachev standing as the clear outlier across every time period examined.
In April 2022, Charles Oliveira sat atop the division's streak leaders with ten consecutive wins, with Makhachev close behind at nine and Beneil Dariush at seven. One year later, Makhachev had extended his run to 14, while Paddy Pimblett had climbed to six and three fighters — Chase Hooper, Nasrat Haqparast, and Fares Ziam — were each riding five-fight streaks. By the most recent snapshot, Makhachev remains at the head of the list, though the fighters behind him have largely turned over once again.
Oliveira, now 36 years old and ranked third at lightweight with a career record of 37-11, was the division's dominant force at the start of the window. The Brazilian finisher averages 2.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes, a reflection of the finishing ability that drove his historic streak.
Dariush, a 37-year-old southpaw ranked eighth at lightweight with a record of 23-8-1, had been considered a serious contender during that 2022 peak. He averages 3.78 significant strikes per minute and has shown strong grappling with 2.11 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Ziam, the 29-year-old Frenchman out of Kill Cliff FC with an 18-4 record, represented the next generation of streak-builders one year ago. At six-foot-one with a 75-inch reach, he brings a physical profile that fits the modern lightweight contender mold.
Why it matters
- Makhachev is the only fighter to appear at the top of every snapshot, underlining his sustained dominance
- Oliveira's drop from streak leader to contender illustrates how quickly the division reshuffles
- Turnover among the second tier is near-total across each 12-month interval, confirming how thin the margin for error is at 155 pounds
