Collecting the Top Lightweights Ever
It’s long been described as the deepest weight class in MMA, and many have called it “the most exciting division in the UFC.” When it comes to the UFC lightweight division, these claims are hard to deny. Few weight classes have produced as much star power as 155-pounders, from the early days of Jens Pulver and B.J. Penn to Frankie Edgar’s wild battles for the belt and the dominance of Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Today, the weight class is just as deep, and just as exciting. A historic blend of stars young and old, from Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje to Islam Makhachev and Paddy Pimblett, are playing out their legendary stories inside the Octagon, and Topps has been there for it all. These fighters have carved their names in the annals of combat sports history and been immortalized in iconic sets like Topps Chrome® UFC, rare Topps NOW® drops, and the old-school cool of Topps UFC Bloodlines.
The Top UFC Lightweights in History
2013 Topps UFC Bloodlines #139 Conor McGregor RC
Fighter info
• First simultaneous multi-divisional champion in UFC history (Featherweight, Lightweight)
• 22-6-0 career record
Set info
• 150-card base set
• 2013 Topps UFC Bloodlines features a slew of iconic fighter rookie cards such as Max Holloway, Cub Swanson, and Amanda Nunes
What They Said
• “He’s always going to have my support and he’ll always get my pay-per-view buy.” – Jon Jones
2011 Topps Finest UFC Atomic Refractor Octafractor #FAR-18 B.J. Penn /88
Fighter info
• UFC Hall of Fame Class of 2015 (Modern Wing)
• 8 Title bouts is most in UFC Lightweight division history
Set info
• 100-card base set with numerous inserts
• Atomic Refractors Octafractors features 25 of the UFC’s biggest stars in 2011
What They Said
• “the B.J. Penn that was in that peak when he was training with Marinovich, I would put him against anybody.” – Joe Rogan
2024 Topps Chrome® UFC Fired Up #FDP-21 Dustin Poirier Red /5
Fighter info
• One-time interim UFC Lightweight Champion
• Tied with Edson Barboza for the most Fight of the Night bonuses in UFC history: 10
Set info
• Fired Up insert features 25 modern-day UFC stars with four parallels numbered /50 to 1/1
What They Said
•• “This is the s*** that makes you a f****** legend. These are legendary fights.” – Dana White on Poirier’s UFC 299 KO win over Benoit Saint-Denis
2024 UFC Topps NOW #32 Charles Oliveira
Fighter info
• 16 submission wins is most in UFC history
• Holds the record for the most Total Fight Night Bonuseswith 20
Set info
• 2024 Topps NOW UFC printed 83 total cards
• Card #32 had a print run of only 546
What They Said
• “The talkers will talk; I believe in showing people what I can do.” – Charles Oliveira
2013 Topps UFC Bloodlines #42 Khabib Nurmagomedov Country Flag /188
Fighter info
• UFC Hall of Fame Class of 2022 (Modern Wing)
• Holds the record for the most takedowns in a single UFC fight (21 takedowns on 28 attempts in 3 rounds)
Set info
• 150-Card Base Set with numerous inserts
• Eight parallels including the Country Flag parallel
What They Said
• “Even in dominance, he never messed up. He got to 29-0. There’s no one like him.” – Daniel Cormier
