The champions are listed in reverse chronological order.
Click here for the list of current UFC champions in each division and here for the champions in each MMA promotion.
All-time UFC champions by division:
Heavyweight | Light heavyweight
Middleweight | Welterweight
Lightweight | Men's featherweight
Men's bantamweight | Men's flyweight
Women's featherweight
Women's bantamweight
Women's flyweight
Strawweight
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/a.espncdn.com/i/mlb/infographics/greyline.png)
Current champion
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mma/players/full/3166126.png&w=350&h=254)
Dricus Du Plessis
• Won title: Jan. 20, 2024
• Outcome: SD over Sean Strickland (UFC 297)
• Defenses: 0
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/a.espncdn.com/i/mlb/infographics/greyline.png)
Past champions
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mma/players/full/3093653.png&w=350&h=254)
Sean Strickland
• Won title: Sept. 9, 2023
• Outcome: UD over Israel Adesanya (UFC 293)
• Defenses: 0
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mma/players/full/4285679.png&w=350&h=254)
Israel Adesanya
• Won title: April 8, 2023
• Outcome: TKO2 over Alex Pereira (UFC 287)
• Defenses: 0
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mma/players/full/4705658.png&w=350&h=254)
Alex Pereira
• Won title: Nov. 12, 2022
• Outcome: TKO5 over Israel Adesanya (UFC 281)
• Defenses: 0
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mma/players/full/4285679.png&w=350&h=254)
Israel Adesanya
• Won title: Oct. 6, 2019
• Outcome: TKO2 over Robert Whittaker (UFC 243)
• Defenses: 5
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mma/players/full/3009717.png&w=350&h=254)
Robert Whittaker
• Won title: July 8, 2017
• Outcome: UD against Yoel Romero (UFC 213)
• Defenses: 0
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mma/players/full/2335659.png&w=350&h=254)
Georges St-Pierre
• Won title: Nov. 4 2017
• Outcome: KO1 over Michael Bisping (UFC 217)
• Defenses: 0*
* -- Vacated the title on Dec. 7, 2017, because of injury
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mma/players/full/2335602.png&w=350&h=254)
Michael Bisping
• Won title: June 4, 2016
• Outcome: KO1 over Luke Rockhold (UFC 199)
• Defenses: 0
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mma/players/full/2519811.png&w=350&h=254)
Luke Rockhold
• Won title: Dec. 12, 2015
• Outcome: TKO4 over Chris Weidman (UFC 194)
• Defenses: 1
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mma/players/full/2553993.png&w=350&h=254)
Chris Weidman
• Won title: July 6, 2013
• Outcome: KO2 over Anderson Silva (UFC 162)
• Defenses: 3
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mma/players/full/2335447.png&w=350&h=254)
Anderson Silva
• Won title: Oct. 14, 2006
• Outcome: KO1 over Rich Franklin (UFC 64)
• Defenses: 10
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mma/players/full/2335498.png&w=350&h=254)
Rich Franklin
• Won title: June 4, 2005
• Outcome: TKO4 over Evan Tanner (UFC 53)
• Defenses: 2
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/a.espncdn.com/photo/2008/0911/mma_tanner_412.jpg)
Evan Tanner
• Won title: Feb. 5, 2005
• Outcome: TKO1 over David Terrell (UFC 51)
• Defenses: 0
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/a.espncdn.com/photo/2009/0422/mma_mbustamante2_288.jpg)
Murilo Bustamante
• Won title: Jan. 11, 2002
• Outcome: TKO2 over Dave Menne (UFC 35)
• Defenses: 1*
* -- Stripped of title on Oct. 5, 2002, when he left UFC for Pride
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/a.espncdn.com/photo/2016/0310/r62115_608x342_16-9.jpg)
Dave Menne
• Won title: Sept. 28, 2001
• Outcome: UD5 over Gil Castillo (UFC 33)
• Defenses: 0