Former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has been ranked joint-second on the list of fighters with the longest win streaks in UFC history, with his 15-fight run placing him alongside current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
In the world of mixed martial arts, sustained dominance is rare, but Usman’s remarkable streak from 2015 to 2022 has etched his name into the record books.
The Nigerian-born fighter’s dominant run began with a win over Leon Edwards and peaked with five straight title defences.
His 15th win came against Colby Covington before Edwards ended the streak in a dramatic rematch.
Only Anderson Silva stands above Usman and Makhachev, with the Brazilian legend’s 16-fight winning streak between 2006 and 2012 remaining the UFC’s longest.
Silva’s historic run began with a lightning-fast knockout of Chris Leben and included victories over legends like Vitor Belfort and Chael Sonnen, finishing with a first-round win over Stephan Bonnar.
Makhachev, who started his streak in 2016 after a lone early UFC loss, has since become one of the most feared lightweights in the division.
Still active, his 15th win came in January 2025, and he is eyeing Silva’s record next.
Other fighters with impressive streaks include Georges St-Pierre and Jon Jones, who both recorded 13 straight wins, while Khabib Nurmagomedov retired unbeaten in 2020 after 13 consecutive victories.
Usman returned to form in June when he ended a three-fight losing streak by defeating Joaquin Buckley in the main event of UFC on ESPN 69.
The victory has reignited the former champion’s ambitions, with his attention now firmly on Madison Square Garden, where Jack Della Maddalena will defend his belt for the first time against Makhachev on November 15.
Speaking on his Pound 4 Pound podcast alongside Henry Cejudo, Usman argued that he is the logical choice to test whoever emerges victorious.
“I’ve done my job to remind everyone that I can still compete at the highest level,” Usman said.
“People wanted to know if I was still that guy, and I showed them I can hang with these contenders. I’m not worried.”
