Remember when Conor McGregor was all the rage? The Irish star’s classic strut and cocky style captivated sports fans everywhere, with millions hoping to emulate him. McGregor also elevated the UFC lightweight division to new heights, making every fight must-see television. Granted, he did this with the featherweight division, too. However, Dana White had himself a superstar on his hands.
That was before Khabib Nurmagomedov had enough of the Irish star’s antics and set him straight. That included charging at McGregor’s cornerman, Dillon Danis, at UFC 229. With the two greatest lightweights in MMA history, Dana White was in heaven.
Now? The UFC has a more modest lightweight division. Granted, there are still prominent names like Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje. But the landscape has greatly changed, with a new champion on board.
The UFC Lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev
Fellow Russian star Islam Makhachev has followed in Khabib’s footsteps, bringing an imposing fighting style to the ring. The UFC lightweight champion is an MMA force, holding a record of 25-1. While he’s not as imposing of a figure as Khabib, he can certainly hold his own.
Just take the Twitter barbs aimed at Dustin Poirier.
Dustin if you could beat anybody, you'd be holding this belt right now, not me 🤷🏼♂️
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) March 25, 2024
His trash talk is simple, yet effective. Makhachev has poignant messaging to go with his sambo style, making him an interesting figure.
What about the other stars?
But that raises a point about the other UFC lightweights. Dustin Poirier is also a prominent figure in the division, adding a veteran presence. Gaethje has a great grappling acumen to his game, making him fun to watch. And Oliveira? One must always love a flashy man who satisfies a crowd with his charisma.
In any case, the state of the UFC lightweight division is quieter. No more strutting dudes from “Road House” gracing their presence in the ring. Instead, you have pure fighters that carry their weight in an MMA ring.
While Dana White isn’t going to find his next superstar in this division (probably in the bantamweight), there’s plenty of talent for one to have a vested interest. Even with McGregor and Khabib gone, fans shouldn’t turn their attention away from the UFC lightweight division any time soon.
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Jacob Walters is a boxing/MMA writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @IceColdWJacob
