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List of current mixed martial arts champions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Anthony Ruiz after winning the PureCombat Middleweight Championship belt

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a form of competitive combat sport, akin to boxing, muay thai, or kick boxing. MMA titles, or championship belts, are given to those fighters deemed by a promotional organization to have met a certain standard of athletic accomplishment in a specific weight class (most often by means of a championship fight). Championship belts are fought for at each weight class under a promotion, with only one belt awarded per class. Each belt is usually contested every time the belt holder fights, and passed to the victor of that fight (see the List of UFC champions for a chronology of UFC title belts). A belt may be vacated when a fighter leaves a promotion, or is suspended. At such times an interim champion may be crowned, or the belt may be awarded to the winner of a fight between top contenders.

This list displays all title holders for the major, certified MMA promoting and sanctioning bodies. There is no clear industry definition within the MMA community to determine which organizations are considered major promoting bodies.[1] Due to a lack of clear guidelines, this list is limited to those organizations that are either highly regarded (such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Strikeforce), long standing (such as King of the Cage (KOTC) and Pancrase), or the dominant organizations of a country or region of the world (such as England's Ultimate Challenge MMA (UCMMA) and Canada's Maximum Fighting Championship (MFC)).

Because there is no international unified MMA weight class system in use,[2] the Nevada State Athletic Commission's (NSAC) weight classes have been adopted for this article as they are most common across major promotions. Some organizations have created titles in weight classes outside the NSAC guidelines. Those titles have been and will be recognized as subdivisions under their common weight class.[3]

Though unofficial, Fight Matrix considered the first MMA lineal champions as follows:[4]

Although the inaugural lineal champions are sometimes contested, especially at heavyweight; the consensus view, is that all the lineal titles have been unified with their respective weight class UFC titles.

Organizations are listed by a combination of their size (number of fighters, events per year, etc.) and their history (years in existence, title lineage, etc.). Title holders from other organizations, who are now fighting in the UFC, are not included in this list as the UFC does not cross promote and these belts are often vacated.[5]

Men

[edit]

Heavyweight (265 lb, 120 kg)

[edit]
Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
United States
American
Jon Jones UFC March 4, 2023 1
Cameroon
Cameroonian
Francis Ngannou PFL October 19, 2024 0
United States
American
Ryan Bader Bellator January 26, 2019 3
Senegal
Senegalese
Oumar Kane ONE November 7, 2024 0
Russia
Russian
Evgeniy Goncharov ACA March 17, 2023 1
England
English
Phil De Fries KSW April 14, 2018 11
N/A Vacant CWFC N/A N/A
Lithuania
Lithuanian
Pavel Dailidko Brave CF September 28, 2024 0
Germany
German
Hatef Moeil Oktagon November 18, 2023 0
Brazil
Brazilian
Hugo Cunha LFA November 3, 2023 0
N/A Vacant FNG N/A N/A
Guam
Guam
Roque Martinez
(Known as Megatonweight
/ over 205 lb, 93 kg)
Deep July 15, 2017 3
N/A Vacant Jungle Fight N/A N/A
United States
American
Bailey Schoenfelder CFFC April 12, 2024 0
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Congolese
Matunga Djikasa EFC October 6, 2022 0
N/A Vacant Road FC N/A N/A
N/A Vacant Titan N/A N/A
N/A Vacant Eagle FC N/A N/A
Cape Verde
Cape Verdean
Yorgan De Castro CES May 3, 2024 0
Brazil
Brazilian
Eduardo Neves Centurion FC May 18, 2024 0

Cruiserweight (225 lb, 102 kg)

[edit]
Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
Russia
Russian
Anatoly Malykhin
(Known as Light Heavyweight)
One December 3, 2022 0

Light Heavyweight (205 lb, 93 kg)

[edit]
Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
Brazil
Brazilian
Alex Pereira UFC November 11, 2023 3
United States
American
Corey Anderson Bellator March 22, 2024 0
Russia
Russian
Anatoly Malykhin
(Known as Middleweight)
One March 1, 2024 0
Russia
Russian
Adlan Ibragimov ACA December 15, 2024 0
N/A Vacant Rizin FF N/A N/A
Poland
Polish
Rafał Haratyk KSW February 24, 2024 1
England
English
Andy Clamp CWFC March 16, 2024 0
Bosnia and Herzegovina
BosnianHerzegovinian
Erko Jun Brave CF September 28, 2024 0
Czech Republic
Czech
Karlos Vemola Oktagon July 23, 2022 1
Brazil
Brazilian
Bruno Lopes LFA September 30, 2022 1
Russia
Russian
Vagab Vagabov FNG October 16, 2021 1
N/A Vacant Pancrase N/A N/A
N/A Vacant Deep N/A N/A
United States
American
Luke Fernandez CFFC December 15, 2023 0
South Africa
South African
JC Lamprecht EFC August 10, 2023 0
South Korea
South Korean
Kim Tae-in Road FC December 18, 2022 0
N/A Vacant Titan FC N/A N/A
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstani
Diyar Nurgozhay Eagle FC August 21, 2022 0
Syria
Syrian
Tarek Suleiman UAE Warriors May 3, 2019 0
Algeria
Algerian
Mohamed Said Maalem MMA GP Sep 16, 2023 0
Brazil
Brazilian
Rafael Carvalho Centurion FC Nov 15, 2023 0

Middleweight (185 lb, 84 kg)

[edit]
Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
South Africa
South African
Dricus du Plessis UFC January 20, 2024 1
United States
American
Johnny Eblen Bellator June 24, 2022 3
United States
American
Christian Lee
(Known as Welterweight)
One November 19, 2022 0
Russia
Russian
Magomedrasul Gasanov ACA April 9, 2021 4
Poland
Polish
Paweł Pawlak KSW June 3, 2023 2
Italy
Italian
Dario Bellandi CWFC November 25, 2023 0
N/A Vacant Brave CF N/A N/A
Czech Republic
Czech
Patrick Kincl Oktagon February 26, 2022 3
Russia
Russian
Azamat Bekoev LFA December 15, 2023 0
Russia
Russian
Vladimir Mineev FNG September 9, 2020 1
Japan
Japanese
Yura Naito Pancrase March 21, 2022 0
Brazil
Brazilian
João Batista Yoshimura Deep July 4, 2021 0
N/A Vacant Shooto N/A N/A
Brazil
Brazilian
Vitor Costa Jungle Fight September 30, 2023 1
United States
American
Kyle Daukaus CFFC September 2, 2023 2
South Africa
South African
Luke Michael EFC March 5, 2022 0
South Korea
South Korean
In Su Hwang Road FC July 3, 2021 0
Brazil
Brazilian
Bruno Assis Titan July 2, 2021 0
N/A Vacant Eagle FC N/A N/A
United States
American
Gary Balletto Jr. CES July 29, 2023 0
Iran
Iranian
Amir Fazli UAE Warriors May 20, 2023 0
Nigeria
Nigerian
Daniel Emeka AKO Aug 19, 2023 0

Welterweight (170 lb, 77 kg)

[edit]
Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
United States
American
Belal Muhammad UFC July 27, 2024 0
Russia
Russian
Ramazan Kuramagomedov Bellator June 22, 2024 0
United States
American
Christian Lee
(Known as Lightweight)
One August 26, 2022 2
Russia
Russian
Albert Tumenov ACA December 24, 2023 0
Poland
Polish
Adrian Bartosiński KSW April 22, 2023 2
Republic of Ireland
Irish
James Sheehan CWFC April 6, 2024 0'
Brazil
Brazilian
Luiz Cado
(175 lb, 79 kg)
Brave CF October 19, 2024 0
N/A Vacant Oktagon N/A N/A
Brazil
Brazilian
Vanilto Antunes LFA March 23, 2024 0
Russia
Russian
Dmitry Bikrev FNG April 6, 2019 4
Japan
Japanese
Ryuichiro Sumimura Pancrase December 24, 2023 0
Japan
Japanese
Yoichiro Sato Deep July 14, 2024 0
N/A Vacant (Known as Middleweight) Shooto N/A N/A
Brazil
Brazilian
Anderson Nascimento Jungle Fight March 16, 2024 0
N/A Vacant CFFC N/A N/A
South Africa
South African
Mark Hulme EFC April 13, 2023 1
United States
American
Will Brooks Titan June 2, 2023 0
N/A Vacant
(175 lb, 79 kg)
Eagle FC N/A N/A
N/A Vacant CES N/A N/A
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani
Tahir Abdullaev UAE Warriors May 18, 2024 0
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyz
Darkhanbek Ergeshev Matrix Fight Night March 31, 2023 1
Brazil
Brazilian
Rodrigo Lídio Centurion FC Aug 24, 2024 0

Super Lightweight (165 lb, 75 kg)

[edit]
Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
Bahrain
Bahraini
Eldar Eldarov Brave CF April 19, 2019 1

Lightweight (155 lb, 70 kg)

[edit]
Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
Russia
Russian
Islam Makhachev UFC October 22, 2022 3
Russia
Russian
Usman Nurmagomedov Bellator November 18, 2022 2
China
Chinese
Tang Kai
(Known as Featherweight)
One August 26, 2022 1
Russia
Russian
Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov ACA September 19, 2020 3
Brazil
Brazilian
Roberto Satoshi Souza Rizin FF June 13, 2021 3
France
French
Salahdine Parnasse KSW June 3, 2023 2
England
English
George Hardwick CWFC July 22, 2022 2
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstani
Abdisalam Kubanychbek Brave CF February 18, 2023 2
Slovakia
Slovak
Ronald Paradeiser Oktagon December 9, 2023 0
United States
American
Kegan Gennrich LFA January 12, 2024 0
Russia
Russian
Alexander Sarnavskiy FNG February 23, 2024 0
Japan
Japanese
Tatsuya Saika Pancrase March 31, 2024 0
Japan
Japanese
Kimihiro Eto Deep March 9, 2024 0
N/A Vacant (Known as Welterweight) Shooto N/A N/A
Brazil
Brazilian
Arcangelo Oliveira Jungle Fight August 26, 2023 1
United States
American
Robert Watley CFFC July 20, 2023 1
N/A Vacant EFC N/A N/A
South Korea
Korean
Park Si-won Road FC July 23, 2022 1
N/A Vacant Combate Global N/A N/A
United States
American
Richie Lewis Titan July 21, 2023 0
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani
Ramin Sultanov Eagle FC November 11, 2023 0
United States
American
Charles Rosa CES May 3, 2024 0
Russia
Russian
Amru Magomedov UAE Warriors October 17, 2023 1
Brazil
Brazilian
Keweney Lopes MMA GP Jan 27, 2024 0
Brazil
Brazilian
João Oliveira Centurion FC Mar 8, 2024 0

Featherweight (145 lb, 66 kg)

[edit]
Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
Georgia (country)
Georgian
Ilia Topuria UFC February 17, 2024 1
Brazil
Brazilian
Patrício Pitbull Bellator April 15, 2022 2
Brazil
Brazilian
Fabrício Andrade
(Known as Bantamweight)
ONE February 25, 2023 0
Russia
Russian
Islam Omarov ACA July 21, 2023 2
Japan
Japanese
Chihiro Suzuki Rizin FF November 4, 2023 1
France
French
Salahdine Parnasse KSW December 18, 2021 2
England
English
Harry Hardwick CWFC May 25, 2024 0
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstani
Nemat Abdrashitov Brave CF June 23, 2023 0
Belgium
Belgian
Losene Keita Oktagon December 9, 2023 0
United States
American
Elijah Johns LFA February 9, 2024 0
N/A Vacant FNG N/A N/A
Japan
Japanese
Suguru Nii Pancrase September 24, 2023 0
Japan
Japanese
Jin Aoi Deep March 9, 2024 0
Japan
Japanese
Keisuke Sasu
(Known as Lightweight)
Shooto July 25, 2021 1
Brazil
Brazilian
Willian Souza Jungle Fight July 29, 2023 1
United States
American
Jose Perez CFFC August 26, 2022 1
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Congolese
Igeu Kabesa EFC November 3, 2022 3
Jordan
Jordanian
Ali AlQaisi Titan August 6, 2021 0
N/A Vacant Combate Global N/A N/A
South Korea
South Korean
Hae Jin Park Road FC December 18, 2022 0
N/A Vacant Eagle FC N/A N/A
United States
American
Dan Dubuque CES September 9, 2022 0
Sweden
Swedish
Samuel Bark UAE Warriors May 18, 2024 0
N/A Vacant Matrix Fight Night N/A N/A
N/A Vacant MMA GP N/A N/A

Bantamweight (135 lb, 61 kg)

[edit]
Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
Georgia (country)
Georgian
Merab Dvalishvili UFC September 14, 2024 0
United States
American
Patchy Mix Bellator November 17, 2023 2
N/A Vacant One N/A N/A
Russia
Russian
Pavel Vitruk ACA April 19, 2024 0
Japan
Japanese
Naoki Inoue Rizin FF September 29, 2024 0
Poland
Polish
Jakub Wikłacz KSW December 17, 2022 3
England
English
Liam Gittins CWFC November 25, 2023 1
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwean
Nicholas Hwende Brave CF December 13, 2024 0
N/A Vacant Oktagon N/A N/A
United States
American
John Sweeney LFA June 16, 2023 0
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstani
Sabit Zhusupov FNG October 14, 2022 1
Japan
Japanese
Tokitaka Nakanishi Pancrase December 24, 2023 0
South Korea
South Korean
Yoo Soo-young Deep September 18, 2023 0
Japan
Japanese
Tatsuya Ando
(Known as Featherweight)
Shooto March 21, 2022 0
Brazil
Brazilian
Tiago Pereira Jungle Fight June 24, 2023 1
Albania
Albanian
Vilson Ndregjoni CFFC April 1, 2023 1
South Africa
South African
Nkazimulo Zulu EFC July 13, 2023 0
Dominican Republic
Dominican
Tommy Garcia Titan April 14, 2023 0
N/A Vacant Road FC N/A N/A
Mexico
Mexican
David Martinez Combate Global May 29, 2021 2
Russia
Russian
Renat Khavalov Eagle FC March 19, 2021 3
United States
American
Ashiek Ajim CES June 17, 2022 0
Pakistan
Pakistani
Uloomi Karim Matrix Fight Night November 18, 2022 0
France
French
Alfan Rocher-Labes MMA GP Sep 16, 2023 0

Flyweight (125 lb, 57 kg)

[edit]
Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
Brazil
Brazilian
Alexandre Pantoja UFC July 8, 2023 3
N/A Vacant Bellator N/A N/A
Philippines
Filipino
Joshua Pacio
(Known as Strawweight)
One March 1, 2024 0
Russia
Russian
Kurban Gadzhiev ACA February 25, 2023 1
Japan
Japanese
Kyoji Horiguchi Rizin FF December 31, 2023 0
Bangladesh
Bangladeshi
Shajidul Haque CWFC December 31, 2022 1
England
English
Sam Creasey Oktagon April 20, 2024 0
Brazil
Brazilian
Eduardo Henrique LFA November 17, 2023 0
Russia
Russian
Vartan Asatryan FNG February 23, 2022 0
Japan
Japanese
Makoto Takahashi Deep March 1, 2020 1
Japan
Japanese
Seiichiro Ito Pancrase April 3, 2024 1
Japan
Japanese
Jo Arai
(Known as Bantamweight)
Shooto November 19, 2023 0
Brazil
Brazilian
Wagner Reis Jungle Fight November 25, 2023 1
United States
American
Israel Galvan CFFC March 8, 2024 0
South Africa
South African
Nkazimulo Zulu EFC March 7, 2024 0
Brazil
Brazilian
Victor Dias Titan March 26, 2021 1
N/A Vacant Road FC N/A N/A
Russia
Russian
Irgit Oveenchi Eagle FC August 10, 2022 0
United States
American
Mitch Raposo CES November 17, 2020 0
Brazil
Brazilian
Iago Ribeiro UAE Warriors May 18, 2024 0
India
Indian
Angad Bisht Matrix Fight Night November 18, 2022 0
France
French
Michael Aljarouj MMA GP Mar 4, 2023 1

Strawweight (115 lb, 52 kg)

[edit]
Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
Japan
Japanese
Keito Yamakita Pancrase July 18, 2022 0
Japan
Japanese
Haruo Ochi Deep May 26, 2024 0
Japan
Japanese
Jo Arai
(Known as Flyweight)
Shooto September 19, 2022 1

Women

[edit]

Women athletes are generally smaller than, and compete at lower weights than their male counterparts.[6]

Featherweight (145 lb, 66 kg)

[edit]
Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
Brazil
Brazilian
Cris Cyborg PFL October 19, 2024 0
Brazil
Brazilian
Cris Cyborg Bellator January 25, 2020 5
N/A Vacant Invicta FC N/A N/A
Japan
Japanese
Yoko Higashi Deep Jewels May 8, 2022 0

Bantamweight (135 lb, 61 kg)

[edit]
Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
United States
American
Julianna Peña UFC October 5, 2024 0
Brazil
Brazilian
Talita Bernardo Invicta FC January 18, 2023 1
N/A Vacant FNG N/A N/A
N/A Vacant LFA N/A N/A
N/A Vacant Deep Jewels N/A N/A
N/A Vacant Pancrase N/A N/A
Brazil
Brazilian
Kelly Ottoni Jungle Fight July 31, 2022 0
N/A Vacant CFFC N/A N/A
N/A Vacant EFC N/A N/A

Flyweight (125 lb, 57 kg)

[edit]
Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstani
Valentina Shevchenko UFC September 14, 2024 0
United States
American
Liz Carmouche Bellator April 22, 2022 3
China
Chinese
Xiong Jing Nan
(Known as Strawweight)
One January 20, 2018 7
N/A Vacant Invicta FC January 18, 2023 N/A
Canada
Canadian
Shannon Clark LFA February 23, 2024 0
Japan
Japanese
Rin Nakai Deep Jewels May 8, 2022 0
Japan
Japanese
Shizuka Sugiyama Pancrase July 21, 2024 0
Brazil
Brazilian
Elora Dana Jungle Fight March 26, 2023 2
United States
American
Fatima Kline CFFC November 3, 2023 0
N/A Vacant EFC N/A N/A
Canada
Canadian
Corinne Laframboise UAE Warriors March 26, 2022 0

Strawweight (115 lb, 52 kg)

[edit]
Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
China
Chinese
Zhang Weili UFC November 12, 2022 2
Thailand
Thai
Stamp Fairtex
(Known as Atomweight)
One September 30, 2023 0
Republic of Ireland
Irish
Danni McCormack Invicta FC March 15, 2023 1
Germany
German
Katharina Dalisda Oktagon September 16, 2023 1
Brazil
Brazilian
Rose Conceição LFA July 7, 2023 0
Japan
Japanese
Seika Izawa Deep Jewels March 15, 2022 0
Japan
Japanese
Haruka Hasegawa Pancrase April 30, 2023 0
Japan
Japanese
Emi Fujino Shooto May 18, 2024 0
Brazil
Brazilian
Laura Vasconcelos Jungle Fight July 20, 2024 0
United States
American
Fatima Kline CFFC February 9, 2024 0
Romania
Romanian
Alice Ardelean EFC March 2, 2023 0
N/A Vacant Combate Global N/A N/A
N/A Vacant Matrix Fight Night N/A N/A

Super Atomweight (108 lb, 49 kg or 110 lb, 50 kg)

[edit]
Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
Japan
Japanese
Seika Izawa
Rizin FF April 17, 2022 1
Japan
Japanese
Ayaka Watanabe
(110 lb, 50 kg)
Shooto May 21, 2023 0

Atomweight (105 lb, 47,5 kg)

[edit]
Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
Brazil
Brazilian
Elisandra Ferreira Invicta FC September 20, 2024 0
Japan
Japanese
Seika Izawa Deep Jewels March 24, 2024 0
Japan
Japanese
Satomi Takano Pancrase March 31, 2024 0
Japan
Japanese
Chihiro Sawada Shooto November 27, 2022 1
South Korea
South Korean
Shim Yu-ri Road FC September 4, 2021 0

Microweight (95 lb, 43 kg)

[edit]
riaz Organization Date No. of title defenses
Japan
Japanese
Saori Oshima Deep September 20, 2020 2
Japan
Japanese
Saori Oshima Deep Jewels May 26, 2024 0

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ The Canadian Press Staff (August 14, 2010). "Ontario to allow mixed martial arts starting in 2011". Bell Media.
  2. ^ Robert Rousseau. "MMA Doesn't Need 14 Weight Classes". SubmitToMMA.com. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  3. ^ Michael David Smith (June 7, 2010). "Frank Mir Moving Down? Maybe MMA Needs Cruiserweight Division". AOL Inc.
  4. ^ "Fight Matrix - Lineal Championship Histories". fightmatrix.com.
  5. ^ Sammy Perez (November 8, 2010). ""Slammin' Sammy" on MMA Cross Promotion & Risks!". ringtalk.com.
  6. ^ Hyde & Gengenbach. "Anatomical and Physiological Considerations when comparing Male and Female Athletes". San Diego Center for Health. Retrieved July 26, 2011.