List of UFC Champions

List Of UFC Champions

This is a list of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champions in each weight division.

At the time of the UFC's inception in 1993, the sport of mixed martial arts was unsanctioned in the United States, and did not include weight classes. Instead of the traditional championship model, the UFC held tournaments with the winner receiving a permanent appellation. In response to criticism from Senator John McCain that saw the loss of its television deal and the banning of the sport in thirty-six states, the UFC increased its cooperation with state athletic commissions and introduced weight classes in 1997, starting with UFC 12.

The original codification for weight classes introduced only two divisions: heavyweight, which grouped together all competitors above 200 pounds (91 kg), and lightweight, which encompassed all competitors 199 pounds (90 kg) and under. At UFC 14 the lightweight division would be renamed to middleweight, though it would still encompass all fighters 199 pounds (90 kg) and under. The lightweight moniker would later return at UFC 16 with a new division consisting of those competitors 170 pounds (77 kg) and under. A fourth weight class, the bantamweight division, then arrived at UFC 26 to include all fighters 155 pounds (70 kg) and under.

In 2000, the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board completely took over MMA regulation in its home state and developed new rules and weight classes that eventually became the de facto rule set for all mixed martial arts. The UFC realigned their weight classes to comply with the new regulations in 2001, beginning with UFC 31. At the time, this brought the total number of active divisions in the UFC to five: lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight.

In late 2010, the UFC merged with their sister organization, World Extreme Cagefighting. Due to the WEC's focus on lighter weight classes, this merger of talent necessitated the addition of both the featherweight and bantamweight divisions to the UFC, starting with the TUF 12 finale.

Finally, in early 2012, the UFC announced the introduction of the flyweight division to their ranks, beginning with UFC on FX 2. Then, in November 2012, as a result of the forthcoming dissolution of their sister organization, Strikeforce, the UFC announced the addition of female fighters to their roster; a first in the promotion's history. The UFC stated that, initially, only the 135 pound Women's Bantamweight divison would be brought over, with the first bout set to premier at UFC 157.