01
Issue 01 · October 2026Ariel Helwani: The best interviewer in the game“They helped grow the sport. Period. It’s a conflict of that. It was an inevitable conflict between journalist and fight promoter.”Read the story
Issue 02 · October 2026Caposa: The Man, The Myth… The Time Traveler?“Caposa is a time traveler, but not just any time traveler… a fighting time traveler.”Read the story
Choose Your Cover · Coming Soon
Choose Your Cover
Issue 01 · October 2026
Ariel Helwani
Coming Soon“They helped grow the sport. Period. It’s a conflict of that. It was an inevitable conflict between journalist and fight promoter.”
Read the story →
Issue 02 · October 2026
Caposa
Coming Soon“I’ve been following MMA for close to 15 years now and have known of the sport since the late 1990s/early 2000s. (Shoutout Blockbuster!)” “Why MMA? I love fighting. I love watching people fight for something.”
Read the story →
Issue 03 · November 2026
Chael Sonnen
Coming Soon
Issue 04 · December 2026
Dana White
Coming SoonTop Headlines
Nov 1, 2026
La Mancha · Audire
Audi, Lector
“Listen, reader.” · La Mancha cover stories, read aloud
THE HALL OF POSTERS
Icon
Nineteen posters that defined the sport. Scroll the wall, then cast your vote below.
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07
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SWIPE OR SCROLL · 19 POSTERS
CAST YOUR VOTE
LA MANCHA · POSTER ARCHIVE
The Poster Archive
Every numbered UFC event, UFC 1 to UFC 333
BEYOND THE OCTAGON
La Mancha Regionals
Seventeen promotions, seventeen windmills. What’s next on every card worth tilting at.
SWIPE OR SCROLL · UPDATED WEEKLY
THE LINEAGE OF THE CAGE
Historia
The great promotions of mixed martial arts, living and lost. Click a poster to read its history.
SWIPE OR SCROLL · 28 PROMOTIONS
La Mancha · Fighter Database
The Champions
The man holding the belt in all eight men’s divisions. Pick a division for its full roster, or open the database for all 596 fighters.
Champion
Flyweight · 125 lbJoshua Van18-2-0Flyweight roster →Champion
Bantamweight · 135 lbPetr Yan21-5-0Bantamweight roster →Champion
Featherweight · 145 lbAlexander Volkanovski29-4-0Featherweight roster →Champion
Lightweight · 155 lbJustin Gaethje28-5-0Lightweight roster →Champion
Welterweight · 170 lbIslam Makhachev29-1-0Welterweight roster →Champion
Middleweight · 185 lbSean Strickland31-7-0Middleweight roster →Champion
Light Heavyweight · 205 lbCarlos Ulberg15-1-0Light Heavyweight roster →Champion
Heavyweight · 265 lbCiryl Gane14-2-0Heavyweight roster →
Flyweight · 125 lbJoshua Van18-2-0Flyweight roster →ChampionBantamweight · 135 lbPetr Yan21-5-0Bantamweight roster →ChampionFeatherweight · 145 lbAlexander Volkanovski29-4-0Featherweight roster →ChampionLightweight · 155 lbJustin Gaethje28-5-0Lightweight roster →ChampionWelterweight · 170 lbIslam Makhachev29-1-0Welterweight roster →ChampionMiddleweight · 185 lbSean Strickland31-7-0Middleweight roster →ChampionLight Heavyweight · 205 lbCarlos Ulberg15-1-0Light Heavyweight roster →ChampionHeavyweight · 265 lbCiryl Gane14-2-0Heavyweight roster →Canon
Articles
Satura
Satire
Fighter of the Month
October 2026
Upcoming Cards
October · NovemberUFC Fight NightCortes Acosta vs WalkerHeavyweight Main EventReplaced Bonfim vs. BradySat, Nov. 7, 2026
Meta APEX, Las VegasUFC 334Gane vs HokitHeavyweight Title FightSat, Nov. 14, 2026
Madison Square Garden, New YorkUFC Fight NightProcházka vs StirlingLight Heavyweight Main EventSat, Nov. 21, 2026
ABHA Arena, DohaUFC 335Oliveira vs LopesLightweight Main EventSat, Dec. 12, 2026
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Meta APEX, Las VegasUFC 334Gane vs HokitHeavyweight Title FightSat, Nov. 14, 2026
Madison Square Garden, New YorkUFC Fight NightProcházka vs StirlingLight Heavyweight Main EventSat, Nov. 21, 2026
ABHA Arena, DohaUFC 335Oliveira vs LopesLightweight Main EventSat, Dec. 12, 2026
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Tile posters are screenprint-style artwork; landmark art adapted from Wikimedia Commons: Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign by Ypsilon from Finland (CC0).
La Mancha · Tale of the Tape
Cortes Acosta vs. Walker
UFC Fight Night · Main Event · Heavyweight · Sat., Nov. 7 · Meta APEX, Las Vegas · Prelims 4 PM CT · Main Card 7 PM CT
Waldo
Cortes Acosta
“Salsa Boy”
Dominican Republic
vs
Rank
#6
Record
17-4-023-10-0 (1 NC)
Height
Reach
Age
3534
Stance
OrthodoxOrthodox
Sig. Strikes / Min
Takedowns / 15 Min
Johnny
Walker
Belford Roxo, Brazil
La Mancha · Rivalries
Penn vs. Hughes
Three fights, one title, a decade of history
vs
B.J.
Penn
Matt
Hughes
JAN. 31, 2004 · UFC 46
The Prodigy Takes the Belt
Penn challenges welterweight champion Hughes and takes his back late in Round 1. He wins by rear-naked choke at 4:39 to claim the UFC welterweight title.
SEP. 23, 2006 · UFC 63, ANAHEIM
Hughes Answers
In the welterweight title rematch, Hughes wins by TKO (punches) at 3:53 of Round 3 to keep his belt.
NOV. 20, 2010 · UFC 123
Twenty-One Seconds
In the rubber match, Penn finishes Hughes with punches by KO at 0:21 of Round 1, and Penn takes the series 2-1.
Rankings
Pound for Pound
01–
Islam Makhachev
Record29-1-0
DivisionWelterweight
StatusUFC welterweight champion
Last fightW, unanimous decision vs Ian Machado Garry, UFC 330, Aug 15, 2026
Fighter profile →02–
Alexander Volkanovski
Record29-4-0
DivisionFeatherweight
StatusUFC featherweight champion
Last fightW, TKO (punches) R2 4:54 vs Movsar Evloev, UFC 333, Oct 24, 2026
Fighter profile →03▲
Petr Yan
Record21-5-0
DivisionBantamweight
StatusUFC bantamweight champion
Last fightW, unanimous decision vs Merab Dvalishvili, UFC 333, Oct 24, 2026
Fighter profile →04▼
Justin Gaethje
Record28-5-0
DivisionLightweight
StatusUFC lightweight champion
Last fightW, TKO (corner stoppage, R4 5:00) vs Ilia Topuria, UFC Freedom 250, Jun 14, 2026
Fighter profile →05–
Ilia Topuria
Record17-1-0
DivisionLightweight
StatusNo. 1 lightweight
Last fightL, TKO (corner stoppage, R4 5:00) vs Justin Gaethje, UFC Freedom 250, Jun 14, 2026
Fighter profile →06–
Joshua Van
Record18-2-0
DivisionFlyweight
StatusUFC flyweight champion
Last fightW, unanimous decision vs Alexandre Pantoja, UFC 331, Sep 19, 2026
Fighter profile →07–
Sean Strickland
Record31-7-0
DivisionMiddleweight
StatusUFC middleweight champion
Last fightW, split decision vs Khamzat Chimaev, UFC 328, May 9, 2026
Fighter profile →08–
Tom Aspinall
Record15-3-0, 1 NC
DivisionHeavyweight
StatusFormer champion; No. 1 heavyweight
Last fightNC (accidental eye poke, R1 4:35) vs Ciryl Gane, UFC 321, Oct 25, 2025
Fighter profile →09–
Merab Dvalishvili
Record21-6-0
DivisionBantamweight
StatusNo. 1 bantamweight
Last fightL, unanimous decision vs Petr Yan, UFC 333, Oct 24, 2026
Fighter profile →10–
Alex Pereira
Record13-4-0
DivisionHeavyweight
StatusFormer two-division champion
Last fightL, TKO (strikes, R2 1:27) vs Ciryl Gane, UFC Freedom 250, Jun 14, 2026
Fighter profile →T11–
Ciryl Gane
Record14-2-0, 1 NC
DivisionHeavyweight
StatusUFC heavyweight champion
Last fightW, TKO (strikes, R2 1:27) vs Alex Pereira, UFC Freedom 250, Jun 14, 2026
Fighter profile →T11▲
Khamzat Chimaev
Record15-1-0
DivisionMiddleweight
StatusNo. 1 middleweight
Last fightL, split decision vs Sean Strickland, UFC 328, May 9, 2026
Fighter profile →13–
Arman Tsarukyan
Record24-3-0
DivisionLightweight
StatusNo. 2 lightweight
Last fightW, KO (R1 4:56) vs Mauricio Ruffy, UFC 331, Sep 19, 2026
Fighter profile →14–
Alexandre Pantoja
Record30-7-0
DivisionFlyweight
StatusNo. 1 flyweight
Last fightL, unanimous decision vs Joshua Van, UFC 331, Sep 19, 2026
Fighter profile →15–
Carlos Ulberg
Record15-1-0
DivisionLight Heavyweight
StatusUFC light heavyweight champion
Last fightW, KO (R1 3:45) vs Jiří Procházka, UFC 327, Apr 11, 2026
Fighter profile →
LA MANCHA · LINEA CINGULI
Linea Cinguli
The Line of the Belt · every men’s UFC champion, in order, and how the gold changed hands
FLYWEIGHT CHAMPION
CURRENT CHAMPION · FLYWEIGHT
Joshua Van
Dec 6, 2025 · UFC 323 · 2 defenses
Verified Oct 17, 2026
THE FULL LINE · 2012 – PRESENT
1
Demetrious Johnson
2012–2018
def. Joseph Benavidez · UFC 152 (inaugural)
UNDISPUTED2
Henry Cejudo
2018–2020
def. Demetrious Johnson · UFC 227
UNDISPUTED3
Deiveson Figueiredo
2020–2021
def. Joseph Benavidez · UFC FN (vacant)
UNDISPUTED4
Brandon Moreno
2021–2022
def. Deiveson Figueiredo · UFC 263
UNDISPUTED5
Deiveson Figueiredo
2022–2023
def. Brandon Moreno · UFC 270
UNDISPUTED—
Brandon Moreno
2022–2023
def. Kai Kara-France · UFC 277
INTERIM6
Brandon Moreno
2023
def. Deiveson Figueiredo · UFC 283
UNDISPUTED7
Alexandre Pantoja
2023–2025
def. Brandon Moreno · UFC 290
UNDISPUTED8
Joshua Van
2025–present
def. Alexandre Pantoja · UFC 323
UNDISPUTEDBANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPION
CURRENT CHAMPION · BANTAMWEIGHT
Petr Yan
Dec 6, 2025 · UFC 323 · second reign · 1 defense
Verified Oct 27, 2026
THE FULL LINE · 2010 – PRESENT
1
Dominick Cruz
2010–2014
WEC champ awarded inaugural UFC title · WEC 53
UNDISPUTED—
Renan Barão
2012–2014
def. Urijah Faber · UFC 149
INTERIM2
Renan Barão
2014
promoted from interim
UNDISPUTED3
T.J. Dillashaw
2014–2016
def. Renan Barão · UFC 173
UNDISPUTED4
Dominick Cruz
2016
def. T.J. Dillashaw · UFC FN: Dillashaw vs Cruz
UNDISPUTED5
Cody Garbrandt
2016–2017
def. Dominick Cruz · UFC 207
UNDISPUTED6
T.J. Dillashaw
2017–2019
def. Cody Garbrandt · UFC 217
UNDISPUTED7
Henry Cejudo
2019–2020
def. Marlon Moraes · UFC 238 (vacant)
UNDISPUTED8
Petr Yan
2020–2021
def. José Aldo · UFC 251 (vacant)
UNDISPUTED9
Aljamain Sterling
2021–2023
def. Petr Yan by DQ (illegal knee) · UFC 259
UNDISPUTED—
Petr Yan
2021–2022
def. Cory Sandhagen · UFC 267
INTERIM10
Sean O'Malley
2023–2024
def. Aljamain Sterling · UFC 292
UNDISPUTED11
Merab Dvalishvili
2024–2025
def. Sean O'Malley · UFC 306
UNDISPUTED12
Petr Yan
2025–present
def. Merab Dvalishvili · UFC 323
UNDISPUTEDFEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION
CURRENT CHAMPION · FEATHERWEIGHT
Alexander Volkanovski
Apr 12, 2025 · UFC 314 · second reign · 2 defenses
Verified Oct 27, 2026
THE FULL LINE · 2010 – PRESENT
1
José Aldo
2010–2015
WEC champ awarded inaugural title · UFC 123
UNDISPUTED—
Conor McGregor
2015
def. Chad Mendes · UFC 189
INTERIM2
Conor McGregor
2015–2016
def. José Aldo · UFC 194
UNDISPUTED—
José Aldo
2016
def. Frankie Edgar · UFC 200
INTERIM3
José Aldo
2016–2017
promoted from interim
UNDISPUTED—
Max Holloway
2016–2017
def. Anthony Pettis · UFC 206
INTERIM4
Max Holloway
2017–2019
def. José Aldo · UFC 212
UNDISPUTED5
Alexander Volkanovski
2019–2024
def. Max Holloway · UFC 245
UNDISPUTED—
Yair Rodríguez
2023
def. Josh Emmett · UFC 284
INTERIM6
Ilia Topuria
2024–2025
def. Alexander Volkanovski · UFC 298
UNDISPUTED7
Alexander Volkanovski
2025–present
def. Diego Lopes · UFC 314 (vacant)
UNDISPUTEDLIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION
CURRENT CHAMPION · LIGHTWEIGHT
Justin Gaethje
Jun 14, 2026 · UFC Freedom 250 · TKO (corner stoppage) of Ilia Topuria
Verified Oct 17, 2026
THE FULL LINE · 2001 – PRESENT
1
Jens Pulver
2001–2002
def. Caol Uno · UFC 30 (inaugural)
UNDISPUTED2
Sean Sherk
2006–2007
def. Kenny Florian · UFC 64 (vacant)
UNDISPUTED3
B.J. Penn
2008–2010
def. Joe Stevenson · UFC 80 (vacant)
UNDISPUTED4
Frankie Edgar
2010–2012
def. B.J. Penn · UFC 112
UNDISPUTED5
Benson Henderson
2012–2013
def. Frankie Edgar · UFC 144
UNDISPUTED6
Anthony Pettis
2013–2015
def. Benson Henderson · UFC 164
UNDISPUTED7
Rafael dos Anjos
2015–2016
def. Anthony Pettis · UFC 185
UNDISPUTED8
Eddie Alvarez
2016
def. Rafael dos Anjos · UFC FN
UNDISPUTED9
Conor McGregor
2016–2018
def. Eddie Alvarez · UFC 205
UNDISPUTED—
Tony Ferguson
2017–2018
def. Kevin Lee · UFC 216
INTERIM10
Khabib Nurmagomedov
2018–2021
def. Al Iaquinta · UFC 223 (vacant)
UNDISPUTED—
Dustin Poirier
2019
def. Max Holloway · UFC 236
INTERIM—
Justin Gaethje
2020
def. Tony Ferguson · UFC 249
INTERIM11
Charles Oliveira
2021–2022
def. Michael Chandler · UFC 262 (vacant)
UNDISPUTED12
Islam Makhachev
2022–2025
def. Charles Oliveira · UFC 280 (vacant)
UNDISPUTED13
Ilia Topuria
2025–2026
def. Charles Oliveira · UFC 317 (vacant)
UNDISPUTED—
Justin Gaethje
Jan 2026
def. Paddy Pimblett · UFC 324
INTERIM14
Justin Gaethje
2026–present
def. Ilia Topuria · UFC Freedom 250 (unification)
UNDISPUTEDWELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION
CURRENT CHAMPION · WELTERWEIGHT
Islam Makhachev
Nov 15, 2025 · UFC 322 · 1 defense
Verified Oct 17, 2026
THE FULL LINE · 1998 – PRESENT
1
Pat Miletich
1998–2001
def. Mikey Burnett · UFC Brazil (inaugural)
UNDISPUTED2
Carlos Newton
2001
def. Pat Miletich · UFC 31
UNDISPUTED3
Matt Hughes
2001–2004
def. Carlos Newton · UFC 34
UNDISPUTED4
B.J. Penn
2004
def. Matt Hughes · UFC 46
UNDISPUTED5
Matt Hughes
2004–2006
def. Georges St-Pierre · UFC 50 (vacant)
UNDISPUTED6
Georges St-Pierre
2006–2007
def. Matt Hughes · UFC 65
UNDISPUTED7
Matt Serra
2007–2008
def. Georges St-Pierre · UFC 69
UNDISPUTED—
Georges St-Pierre
2007–2008
def. Matt Hughes · UFC 79
INTERIM8
Georges St-Pierre
2008–2013
def. Matt Serra · UFC 83
UNDISPUTED—
Carlos Condit
2012
def. Nick Diaz · UFC 143
INTERIM9
Johny Hendricks
2014
def. Robbie Lawler · UFC 171 (vacant)
UNDISPUTED10
Robbie Lawler
2014–2016
def. Johny Hendricks · UFC 181
UNDISPUTED11
Tyron Woodley
2016–2019
def. Robbie Lawler · UFC 201
UNDISPUTED—
Colby Covington
2018
def. Rafael dos Anjos · UFC 225
INTERIM12
Kamaru Usman
2019–2022
def. Tyron Woodley · UFC 235
UNDISPUTED13
Leon Edwards
2022–2024
def. Kamaru Usman · UFC 278
UNDISPUTED14
Belal Muhammad
2024–2025
def. Leon Edwards · UFC 304
UNDISPUTED15
Jack Della Maddalena
2025
def. Belal Muhammad · UFC 315
UNDISPUTED16
Islam Makhachev
2025–present
def. Jack Della Maddalena · UFC 322
UNDISPUTEDMIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION
CURRENT CHAMPION · MIDDLEWEIGHT
Sean Strickland
May 9, 2026 · UFC 328 · second reign
Verified Oct 17, 2026
THE FULL LINE · 2001 – PRESENT
1
Dave Menne
2001–2002
def. Gil Castillo · UFC 33 (inaugural)
UNDISPUTED2
Murilo Bustamante
2002
def. Dave Menne · UFC 35
UNDISPUTED3
Evan Tanner
2005
def. David Terrell · UFC 51 (vacant)
UNDISPUTED4
Rich Franklin
2005–2006
def. Evan Tanner · UFC 53
UNDISPUTED5
Anderson Silva
2006–2013
def. Rich Franklin · UFC 64
UNDISPUTED6
Chris Weidman
2013–2015
def. Anderson Silva · UFC 162
UNDISPUTED7
Luke Rockhold
2015–2016
def. Chris Weidman · UFC 194
UNDISPUTED8
Michael Bisping
2016–2017
def. Luke Rockhold · UFC 199
UNDISPUTED—
Robert Whittaker
2017
def. Yoel Romero · UFC 213
INTERIM9
Georges St-Pierre
2017
def. Michael Bisping · UFC 217
UNDISPUTED10
Robert Whittaker
2017–2019
promoted from interim
UNDISPUTED—
Israel Adesanya
2019
def. Kelvin Gastelum · UFC 236
INTERIM11
Israel Adesanya
2019–2022
def. Robert Whittaker · UFC 243
UNDISPUTED12
Alex Pereira
2022–2023
def. Israel Adesanya · UFC 281
UNDISPUTED13
Israel Adesanya
2023
def. Alex Pereira · UFC 287
UNDISPUTED14
Sean Strickland
2023–2024
def. Israel Adesanya · UFC 293
UNDISPUTED15
Dricus du Plessis
2024–2025
def. Sean Strickland · UFC 297
UNDISPUTED16
Khamzat Chimaev
2025–2026
def. Dricus du Plessis · UFC 319
UNDISPUTED17
Sean Strickland
2026–present
def. Khamzat Chimaev · UFC 328
UNDISPUTEDLIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
CURRENT CHAMPION · LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
Carlos Ulberg
Apr 11, 2026 · UFC 327 · won the vacant title
Verified Oct 17, 2026
THE FULL LINE · 1997 – PRESENT
1
Frank Shamrock
1997–1999
def. Kevin Jackson · UFC Japan (inaugural)
UNDISPUTEDPhoto: Bruno Massami / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)2
Tito Ortiz
2000–2003
def. Wanderlei Silva · UFC 25 (vacant)
UNDISPUTED—
Randy Couture
2003
def. Chuck Liddell · UFC 43
INTERIM3
Randy Couture
2003–2004
def. Tito Ortiz · UFC 44
UNDISPUTED4
Vitor Belfort
2004
def. Randy Couture · UFC 46
UNDISPUTED5
Randy Couture
2004–2005
def. Vitor Belfort · UFC 49
UNDISPUTED6
Chuck Liddell
2005–2007
def. Randy Couture · UFC 52
UNDISPUTED7
Quinton Jackson
2007–2008
def. Chuck Liddell · UFC 71
UNDISPUTED8
Forrest Griffin
2008
def. Quinton Jackson · UFC 86
UNDISPUTED9
Rashad Evans
2008–2009
def. Forrest Griffin · UFC 92
UNDISPUTED10
Lyoto Machida
2009–2010
def. Rashad Evans · UFC 98
UNDISPUTED11
Maurício Rua
2010–2011
def. Lyoto Machida · UFC 113
UNDISPUTED12
Jon Jones
2011–2015
def. Maurício Rua · UFC 128
UNDISPUTED13
Daniel Cormier
2015–2018
def. Anthony Johnson · UFC 187 (vacant)
UNDISPUTED—
Jon Jones
2016
def. Ovince Saint Preux · UFC 197
INTERIM14
Jon Jones
2018–2020
def. Alexander Gustafsson · UFC 232 (vacant)
UNDISPUTED15
Jan Błachowicz
2020–2021
def. Dominick Reyes · UFC 253 (vacant)
UNDISPUTED16
Glover Teixeira
2021–2022
def. Jan Błachowicz · UFC 267
UNDISPUTED17
Jiří Procházka
2022
def. Glover Teixeira · UFC 275 (Singapore)
UNDISPUTED18
Jamahal Hill
2023
def. Glover Teixeira · UFC 283 (vacant)
UNDISPUTED19
Alex Pereira
2023–2025
def. Jiří Procházka · UFC 295 (vacant)
UNDISPUTED20
Magomed Ankalaev
2025
def. Alex Pereira · UFC 313
UNDISPUTED21
Alex Pereira
2025–2026
def. Magomed Ankalaev · UFC 320
UNDISPUTED22
Carlos Ulberg
2026–present
def. Jiří Procházka · UFC 327 (vacant)
UNDISPUTEDHEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
CURRENT CHAMPION · HEAVYWEIGHT
Ciryl Gane
Sep 2026 · promoted
Verified Oct 17, 2026
THE FULL LINE · 1997 – PRESENT
1
Mark Coleman
1997
def. Dan Severn · UFC 12 (inaugural)
UNDISPUTED2
Maurice Smith
1997
def. Mark Coleman · UFC 14
UNDISPUTED3
Randy Couture
1997–1998
def. Maurice Smith · UFC Japan
UNDISPUTED4
Bas Rutten
1999
def. Kevin Randleman · UFC 20 (vacant)
UNDISPUTED5
Kevin Randleman
1999–2000
def. Pete Williams · UFC 23 (vacant)
UNDISPUTED6
Randy Couture
2000–2002
def. Kevin Randleman · UFC 28
UNDISPUTED7
Josh Barnett
2002
def. Randy Couture · UFC 36
UNDISPUTED8
Ricco Rodriguez
2002–2003
def. Randy Couture · UFC 39 (vacant)
UNDISPUTEDPhoto: Ivana Kaurloto / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)9
Tim Sylvia
2003
def. Ricco Rodriguez · UFC 41
UNDISPUTED10
Frank Mir
2004–2005
def. Tim Sylvia · UFC 48 (vacant)
UNDISPUTED—
Andrei Arlovski
2005
def. Tim Sylvia · UFC 51
INTERIM11
Andrei Arlovski
2005–2006
promoted from interim
UNDISPUTED12
Tim Sylvia
2006–2007
def. Andrei Arlovski · UFC 59
UNDISPUTED13
Randy Couture
2007–2008
def. Tim Sylvia · UFC 68
UNDISPUTED—
Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira
2008
def. Tim Sylvia · UFC 81
INTERIM14
Brock Lesnar
2008–2010
def. Randy Couture · UFC 91
UNDISPUTED—
Frank Mir
2008–2009
def. Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira · UFC 92
INTERIM—
Shane Carwin
2010
def. Frank Mir · UFC 111
INTERIM15
Cain Velasquez
2010–2011
def. Brock Lesnar · UFC 121
UNDISPUTED16
Junior dos Santos
2011–2012
def. Cain Velasquez · UFC on Fox 1
UNDISPUTED17
Cain Velasquez
2012–2015
def. Junior dos Santos · UFC 155
UNDISPUTED—
Fabrício Werdum
2014–2015
def. Mark Hunt · UFC 180
INTERIM18
Fabrício Werdum
2015–2016
def. Cain Velasquez · UFC 188
UNDISPUTED19
Stipe Miocic
2016–2018
def. Fabrício Werdum · UFC 198
UNDISPUTED20
Daniel Cormier
2018–2019
def. Stipe Miocic · UFC 226
UNDISPUTED21
Stipe Miocic
2019–2021
def. Daniel Cormier · UFC 241
UNDISPUTED22
Francis Ngannou
2021–2023
def. Stipe Miocic · UFC 260
UNDISPUTED—
Ciryl Gane
2021–2022
def. Derrick Lewis · UFC 265
INTERIM23
Jon Jones
2023–2025
def. Ciryl Gane · UFC 285 (vacant)
UNDISPUTED—
Tom Aspinall
2023–2025
def. Sergei Pavlovich · UFC 295
INTERIM24
Tom Aspinall
2025–2026
promoted from interim
UNDISPUTED—
Ciryl Gane
2026
def. Alex Pereira · UFC Freedom 250
INTERIM25
Ciryl Gane
2026–present
promoted from interim
UNDISPUTEDUNDISPUTED lineal champion · INTERIM interim title
LA MANCHA · THEN AND NOW
Then and Now
First walk to the Octagon, last walk out
Georges St-Pierre
26-2 · RETIRED FEB 2019
THEN · UFC 46Jan 31, 2004 · debut, def. Karo Parisyan
NOW · UFC 217Nov 4, 2017 · final fight, def. Michael Bisping
Debuted with a unanimous decision over Karo Parisyan. Lost to Matt Hughes at UFC 50, then took the welterweight title from Hughes at UFC 65 in 2006. Knocked out by Matt Serra at UFC 69, he won the belt back at UFC 83 and made nine straight defenses before vacating it after beating Johny Hendricks in 2013. Four years later he choked out Michael Bisping for the middleweight title, became a two-division champion, and retired in 2019 at 26-2.
Khabib Nurmagomedov
29-0 · RETIRED OCT 2020
THEN · UFC on FXJan 20, 2012 · debut, def. Kamal Shalorus
NOW · UFC 254Oct 24, 2020 · final fight, def. Justin Gaethje
Debuted by choking out Kamal Shalorus in the third round. Injuries cost him years, but nobody beat him: he won the vacant lightweight title against Al Iaquinta at UFC 223 in 2018, then submitted Conor McGregor at UFC 229, Dustin Poirier at UFC 242 and Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. He walked away after Gaethje at 29-0, unbeaten.
Daniel Cormier
22-3 (1 NC) · RETIRED AUG 2020
THEN · UFC on Fox 7Apr 19–20, 2013 · debut week, def. Frank Mir
NOW · UFC 252Aug 15, 2020 · final fight, lost to Stipe Miocic
Arrived from Strikeforce unbeaten and outpointed Frank Mir in his UFC debut. He lost to Jon Jones at UFC 182 (a second loss to Jones at UFC 214 was overturned to a no contest), won the vacant light heavyweight title over Anthony Johnson at UFC 187, then knocked out Stipe Miocic at UFC 226 to hold two belts at once. Miocic took the heavyweight title back at UFC 241, and their trilogy at UFC 252 was his last fight. Final record: 22-3, 1 NC.
