5 explosive fights to make in the UFC lightweight division

A new UFC lightweight champion was crowned last month as Islam Makhachev submitted former titleholder Charles Oliveira to lay claim to the 155-pound throne. Makhachev will now look to defend his title against pound-for-pound king Alexander Volkanovski next year.

While Makhachev and Volkanovski contest the lightweight title, the rest of the contenders in the 155-pound division will be looking to put themselves in the championship conversation. The pecking order in the rankings will likely undergo a few shuffles over the next few months and it remains to be seen how the chips will fall.

On that note, here are five fights to make in the UFC lightweight division.

#5. Tony Ferguson vs. Drew Dober

After compiling a scorching 12-fight win streak between 2013 and 2019, Tony Ferguson's career took a downward spiral. 'El Cucuy' has now lost his last five bouts, with the last two coming via finishes. In his most recent outing, the former interim champion was submitted by Nate Diaz.

While his last bout was contested at welterweight, it's hard to see Ferguson having success against the bigger fighters competing at 170 pounds. The TUF winner should ideally return to lightweight if he intends to continue fighting.

Considering how the UFC tends to matchmake with legends and veterans on the decline, he is unlikely to get a favorable matchup. Rather, the promotion will look to build one of their up-and-coming contenders off Ferguson's name, as they did with Frankie Edgar and Chris Gutierrez at the recently concluded UFC 281 pay-per-view.

A fight against Drew Dober, one of the best unranked lightweights on the roster, seems logical. Dober has consistently delivered entertaining fights and has only lost to the best of the best in recent years. A striking battle with Ferguson would undoubtedly be a treat to watch.

Dober has been on the roster for almost as long as Ferguson, but has never really had a chance to cement a place in the rankings. With 'El Cucuy' occupying the No.15 spot, this will be a crossroads fight for both lightweights.

#4. Jalin Turner vs. Mateusz Gamrot

Despite the lack of fan-fare surrounding his name, Jalin Turner has slowly but surely emerged as the divisional dark horse at 155 pounds. 'The Tarantula' is now riding a five-fight win streak that has vaulted him to the No.12 spot in the rankings.

Jalin Turner is an all-action fighter, boasting 100% finishing rate. In his last appearance inside the octagon, the 27-year-old made light work of Brad Riddell, submitting the Kiwi in the first round. Turner has showcased a lethally well-rounded arsenal in his last few fights, but is yet to be tested against a high-level wrestler.

Perhaps the best wrestler in the division behind the reigning champion is Mateusz Gamrot. The former two-division KSW champion's four-fight win streak saw him break into the top 10. However, his momentum was halted by Beneil Dariush last month, and he now sits at No.8 on the lightweight ladder.

Both Turner and Gamrot represent the next generation of lightweights set to take over the division in the coming years. A fight between the two at this stage of their careers will provide insight on which up-and-comer is truly ready to take on the elite at 155 pounds.

#3. Dan Hooker vs. Renato Moicano

Dan Hooker finally returned to winning ways at UFC 281, dispatching Claudio Puelles via TKO to pick up his first finish in over three years. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, Hooker repeatedly accepted short-notice and high-risk fights, which severely stunted his progression.

After his vintage performance against Puelles, 'The Hangman' called for a fight at the UFC 284 pay-per-view, scheduled for Perth, Australia, next year.

Hooker successfully defended his berth in the lightweight rankings with his win over Puelles. At the post-fight presser, the Kiwi claimed that he would accept any opponent offered to him, ranked or unranked, for his next outing.

Another victor at UFC 281, Renato Moicano, could emerge as Hooker's next opponent. Moicano made light work of Hooker's teammate Brad Riddell, cruising to a first-round submission victory. While the Brazilian initially ruled out fighting in Australia in his next bout, the chance to break into the rankings doesn't come around every day.

In his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, Moicano demanded a place in the rankings and a win over Hooker will see him break into the top 15.

#2. Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev

Justin Gaethje came up short in his second shot at undisputed lightweight gold earlier this year, losing to former champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 274.

At 33, Gaethje's time atop the lightweight ranks is limited and he needs some big wins if he is to re-enter the title picture. He has been repeatedly called out by No.6-ranked Rafael Fiziev, who has certainly made a strong case for a top-ranked opponent in his next outing.

Rafael Fiziev is coming off back-to-back knockout wins over Brad Riddell and Rafael dos Anjos. A win over Justin Gaethje would move 'Ataman' one step closer to a title shot.

Gaethje has revealed that he is targeting a fight on the undercard of teammate Kamaru Usman's trilogy bout against Leon Edwards, slated to go down in the U.K. next year. A fight against Fiziev would be a spectacular addition to the growing potential fight card.

Gaethje vs. Fiziev is among the most explosive matchups the UFC can put together. Both hard-hitting lightweights have a penchant for vicious knockouts, and the convergence of their marauding styles will undoubtedly produce fireworks.

Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev fan-made poster [Image via @needingart on Instagram]

#1. Dustin Poirier vs. Beneil Dariush – Winner fights for the UFC lightweight title

After his loss to Charles Oliveira last year, Dustin Poirier cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines as he was itching to bounce back and return to winning ways.

A rumored fight against Nate Diaz fell through and he was subsequently booked to fight Michael Chandler in a three-round bout, which he won via third-round submission.

Poirier showed tremendous heart against Chandler, battling adversity through the first and second rounds before finding the finish in the final frame.

Poirier now occupies the No.2 spot in the lightweight rankings and likely needs another big win to earn another title shot. The only logical matchup for 'The Diamond' is Beneil Dariush, who is also seemingly one win away from a championship opportunity.

The prospect of a title eliminator fight between Poirier and Dariush has been doing the rounds on social media since former lightweight king Khabib Nurmagomedov proposed the matchup for the undercard of his protégé Islam Makhachev's fight against Alexander Volkanovski.

Dariush is coming off a statement-making win over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 280. He is now riding an astonishing eight-fight win streak in the 155-pound division and holds the No.4 spot in the rankings. While he isn't the biggest name amongst the casual fanbase, a win over a star like Poirier would further boost his stock.

Poirier has already come up short in his two previous attempts at claiming indisputed UFC gold. A win over Dariush would likely see him earn a third shot at the belt, making this a high-stakes matchup.