The UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) is currently the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion in the world, check out the full list of current men’s and women’s world champions in every weight class in 2023
The UFC has been the home to the toughest MMA fighters in the world since its inception in 1993.
UFC current men’s and women’s champions full list in every weight class in 2023
Amanda Nunes Knocks Out Cris Cyborg to become the first Female Double Champion in UFC History. pic.twitter.com/QJcinxIyQf
— Lock-In MMA (@LockInMMA) February 6, 2023
Sparring with the ufc middelweight champion of the world🏆alex pereira!
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.#mma #MMATwitter #viral #ufc #andnew #AndStill #champion #alexpereira #poatan #stylebender pic.twitter.com/IeEYZVcFGS— Carlos Zowa (@TheFlashyKid) February 6, 2023
Some of the greatest MMA fighters like Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov have all stepped foot inside the Octagon ring at some point in their career.
The Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC)
UFC champions are fighters who have won and hold the UFC Championship belt in their own weight classes and divisions. Ever since the UFC began in 1993, only a few lucky fighters have won the chance to wear the iconic gold-plated strap.
During its inception, MMA was still an unsanctioned sport in the US and did not include any weight classes. However, later in 1997, UFC finally introduced weight-specific titles, starting with UFC 12.
By the time UFC 31 transpired, the UFC had five active weight divisions: Lightweight, Welterweight, Middleweight, Light Heavyweight, and Heavyweight.
Several years later in 2010, UFC merged with its sister organization World Extreme Cagefighting. This merger led to the expansion of its lower divisions and thus the UFC introduced the Featherweight and Bantamweight Divisions.
Furthermore in 2012, UFC’s sister promotion Strikeforce was disbanded, which brought in female fighters. This was the first time in its history that the UFC added female fighters to their roster. At present there a total of 12 UFC weight classes and titles. Out of these, eight divisions are for the male fighters while four divisions are for the female fighters.
Full list of current Men’s and Women’s UFC world champions in every weight class
Current Men’s UFC World Champions
Division | Champion | Since | Title Defences |
Heavyweight | Vacant | January 2023 | – |
Light heavyweight | Jamahal Hill | January 21 2023 | – |
Middleweight | Alex Pereira | November 12 2022 | – |
Welterweight | Leon Edwards | August 20 2022 | – |
Lightweight | Islam Makhachev | October 22 2022 | – |
Featherweight | Alexander Volkanovski | December 14 2019 | 4 |
Bantamweight | Aljamain Sterling | March 6 2021 | 2 |
Flyweight | Brandon Moreno | January 21 2023 | – |
Current Women’s UFC World Champions
Division | Champion | Since | Title Defences |
Featherweight | Amanda Nunes | December 29 2018 | 2 |
Bantamweight | Amanda Nunes | July 30 2022 | 0 |
Flyweight | Valentina Shevchenko | December 8 2018 | 7 |
Strawweight | Zhang Weili | November 12 2022 | 0 |
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