Over The Next Month, The Top Of The Lightweight Division Comes Under The Spotlight As Contenders Jockey For The No. 1 Contender Spot To Fight Islam Makhachev
The lightweight division is never short on compelling storylines, action-packed fights and high-stakes contests. Champion Islam Makhachev defended his belt twice in 2023, besting Alexander Volkanovski first via decision in February before knocking “The Great” out with a head kick in October. While the results solidified Makhachev’s claim as champion, it also created a traffic jam of contenders waiting for his next fight.
Over the course of the next month, four fights will greatly determine the shape of the lightweight title picture, starting with a pair of high-profile bouts at UFC 299: O’Malley vs Vera and finishing at UFC 300: Pereira vs Hill.