At 37 years, 7 months, and 2 days old, Justin Gaethje's victory over Ilia Topuria stands as the second-oldest lightweight title win in UFC history across the lower weight classes. Only Valentina Shevchenko's win over Weili Zhang at 37 years, 8 months, and 9 days surpasses it among UFC champions at 155 pounds and below.
Justin Gaethje's championship victory over Ilia Topuria at UFC White House on June 14 has placed him in rare company, with his title win at 37 years, 7 months, and 2 days old ranking as the second-oldest lightweight championship performance in UFC history across the 155-pound and below weight classes.
Only Valentina Shevchenko edges him out in that historical comparison. The Kyrgyzstan-born women's flyweight champion, now 38 years old with a record of 26-4-1, claimed her benchmark title victory at 37 years, 8 months, and 9 days when she defeated Zhang Weili. Shevchenko, who trains out of Tiger Muay Thai and fights out of a southpaw stance, is one of the most technically accomplished champions on the roster, landing 3.14 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy while also averaging 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Zhang Weili, the reigning women's strawweight champion, was the opponent on the other side of that record-setting night. Now 36 years old with a record of 26-4-0, Weili is one of the most offensively active champions in the UFC, posting 5.15 significant strikes per minute at 53 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Gaethje's win highlights a broader trend of veteran fighters competing at the highest level well into their late thirties across multiple weight classes.
- Shevchenko's continued championship reign at 38 keeps her atop this unusual historical list, with Gaethje now just behind her.
- The data point reframes how the UFC's lighter divisions have evolved, with ring experience and technical refinement increasingly rivaling youth and athleticism at title level.
Sunday, June 14, 2026
