UFC's lightweight title is currently held by a top-ranked fighter, who outshone competitors in a significant Vegas victory, cementing his status as a pound-for-pound standout.
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The UFC lightweight title has a new owner, and the belt that accompanies it comes with a significant price tag.
Ilia Topuria secured the vacant title with a vicious first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 on June 28, 2025. The victory made Topuria the 13th fighter to hold the UFC lightweight title.
The current UFC belts are estimated to be worth around $900,000 (£662,000) each, a significant increase from their predecessors. The new belt is valued at almost $1,000,000, making it three times more valuable than the old UFC belts.
Each legacy belt comes with a unique serial number assigned to the champion and Dana White's signature for authenticity. The central piece of the legacy championship belt is made of high-polished gold, and the right plate features a gold UFC world champion logo. The belt weighs 10.45lbs (4.7kg) and measures 50 ins (127 cm) long and 12 ins (30 cm) in height.
The immediate predecessor to the vacant title won by Topuria was Arman Tsarukyan, who vacated it due to injury in January 2025. Tsarukyan had previously held the UFC lightweight title but was forced to relinquish it before Islam Makhachev's fourth title defence in January.
Makhachev dropped his lightweight belt and moved up a division after friend and training partner Belal Muhammad was outpointed by Jack Della Maddalena in UFC 315's main event.
For MMA fans who want a piece of UFC history, a replica UFC legacy belt can be purchased for $849.99 (£625). The value of the new UFC belt is not far off from the price of the replica, demonstrating the prestige that the UFC belts hold.
Dana White provided the valuation of the old UFC belts to Rashad Evans, and Bisping revealed that White told Evans that the old belts were worth $300,000 each. The new UFC belt was first unveiled in 2019.
Topuria's victory at UFC 317 marked the beginning of a new era for the UFC lightweight division, and the new belt serves as a symbol of the division's continued growth and importance in the world of MMA.
The new UFC lightweight title, worth almost $1,000,000, consists of a replica that fans can purchase for $849.99, showcasing the high value placed on these championship belts. F1, football, and other sports may not hold belts of such significance or value, indicating a unique aspect of MMA’s UFC division. Some former UFC lightweight champions, like Islam Makhachev, have transferred to other weight divisions, reflecting the evolution and changing dynamics within the UFC.
