First, a run-down of the particulars:
- Due to potential metric conversion issues and weight class changes, a limit of 206 pounds is observed for this list.
- Inception of the championship occurred on 12/21/1997. The late start was due to the lack of guidance by an organization, with no semblance of matchmaking. Before the UFC, the Light Heavyweight division was used a “stop gap” between Middleweight and Heavyweight.
- Only one period of inactivity was seen in this lineage.
Your current lineal Light Heavyweight champion is Jon Jones
The full history is below. Note, the colored backgrounds indicate a title change.
MMA Light Heavyweight Lineal Championship History
| Date | Champion | Outcome | Challenger | Notes |
| 1997-12-21 | Frank Shamrock | WIN | Kevin Jackson | |
| 1998-03-13 | Frank Shamrock | WIN | Igor Zinoviev | |
| 1998-05-15 | Frank Shamrock | WIN | Jeremy Horn | |
| 1998-10-16 | Frank Shamrock | WIN | John Lober | |
| 1999-04-23 | Frank Shamrock | DRAW | Kiyoshi Tamura | |
| 1999-09-24 | Frank Shamrock | WIN | Tito Ortiz | |
| 2000-12-10 | Frank Shamrock | WIN | Elvis Sinosic | Shamrock went inactive. |
| 2003-09-26 | Randy Couture | WIN | Tito Ortiz | Top contender match |
| 2004-01-31 | Vitor Belfort | WIN | Randy Couture | |
| 2004-08-21 | Randy Couture | WIN | Vitor Belfort | |
| 2005-04-16 | Chuck Liddell | WIN | Randy Couture | |
| 2005-08-20 | Chuck Liddell | WIN | Jeremy Horn | |
| 2006-02-04 | Chuck Liddell | WIN | Randy Couture | |
| 2006-08-26 | Chuck Liddell | WIN | Renato Sobral | |
| 2006-12-30 | Chuck Liddell | WIN | Tito Ortiz | |
| 2007-05-26 | Quinton Jackson | WIN | Chuck Liddell | |
| 2007-09-08 | Quinton Jackson | WIN | Dan Henderson | |
| 2008-07-05 | Forrest Griffin | WIN | Quinton Jackson | |
| 2008-12-27 | Rashad Evans | WIN | Forrest Griffin | |
| 2009-05-23 | Lyoto Machida | WIN | Rashad Evans | |
| 2009-10-24 | Lyoto Machida | WIN | Mauricio Rua | |
| 2010-05-08 | Mauricio Rua | WIN | Lyoto Machida | |
| 2011-03-19 | Jon Jones | WIN | Mauricio Rua | |
| 2011-09-24 | Jon Jones | WIN | Quinton Jackson |