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Champ Champ Status
These days, it’s not enough to hold a title in a major MMA organization. Why not two? Hell, Anatoly Malykhin is currently simultaneously holding the middleweight, light-heavyweight, and heavyweight titles at ONE Championship. And so every new major title holder seems to ignore the realities of defending their freshly won divisional title, preferring to immediately chase the ‘champ-champ’ status.
This craze began with Conor McGregor becoming the first UFC champion to hold title belts in two divisions at the same time. There have been others before him, though none simultaneous. In this article, we will look back at every fighter who has held more than one divisional title (whether simultaneous or one at at time) in the UFC history, in chronological order. Interim titles count; tournament titles do not.
* indicates titles held simultaneously
| Date | Event | Opponent | Weight Class | Defenses |
| December 21, 1997 | UFC 15.5 – Ultimate Japan 1 | Maurice Smith | Heavyweight | None (Vacated) |
| June 6, 2003 (Interim) | UFC 43 – Meltdown | Chuck Liddell | Light-Heavyweight | 1 (Unification) |
Randy ‘The Natural’ Couture was a pioneer of MMA in many ways. One of the first well-rounded fighters who sucessfully utilized more than one discipline, Couture was also the first fighter in the UFC to win multiple titles. The Natural made his UFC debut in 1997, winning the UFC 13 Heavyweight Tournament. He then defeated young ‘Phenom’ Vitor Belfort in a title eliminator, before capturing the UFC heavyweight title with a decision win over Maurice Smith. Couture never did defend that belt, vacating it amidst a contract dispute with UFC, which saw Randy going to fight over in Japan for a period of his career. Upon returning to UFC in 2000, Couture immediately won back the heavyweight title and defended it twice.
After dropping two fights at heavyweight, the aging Couture decided to try his luck at 205 lbs. Making his light-heavyweight debut at UFC 43, Couture stopped Chuck Liddell in the third round for the Interim title (the real title having been held by Tito Ortiz at the time), becoming the first man in UFC history to win title belts in two different divisions. Couture unified the belts in a routing of Ortiz, but then dropped it in a rematch with Vitor Belfort, due to a cut on the eyelid of Couture caused by the very first strike thrown by Belfort. After winning the title back from Belfort, Couture lost his next two battles to Chuck Liddell and retired from the sport.
Couture’s retirement didn’t last long: a year later, he returned to the heavyweight division, shocking the world with a dominant decision win over a much larger man in Tim Sylvia. Randy defended the heavyweight title once, before losing it to Brock Lesnar. He didn’t fight for another title after.
Legends of the Octagon: Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib Nurmagomedov was a well-rounded Mixed Martial Arts fighter who has made his name as the greatest lightweight in MMA and one of the most dominant UFC champions of all time. His background in the Russian martial art of sambo made him one hell of a grappler! Basically, once you are on the Octagon floor with Khabib, you are sure to lose. The highlight of Khabib’s career is capturing the UFC lightweight championship belt and defending it four times. His most viewed UFC fight was against Conor McGregor. Actually, UFC 229 was the most viewed fight on Pay-Per-View in UFC history, as there were over 2,400,000 viewers. Likely Khabib’s most challenging opponent was Dustin Poirier. Nurmagomedov retired as the lightweight champion. His overall MMA record is unblemished at 29-0, and he is the only UFC champion who retired undefeated.
MMA & Boxing Writer | Business Development Consultant
I have been an avid viewer of Boxing and MMA for decades. Judo is the martial art that I most admire. As a teenager I practiced for a bit. This piqued my interest in MMA since 2001. Now I am on a new journey, hitting the dojo when possible. Learning how to methodically adapt to Judo, currently is a hobby that I enjoy. At FightMatrix, I am the business development consultant. Additionally, I write about various martial arts and boxing.
All-Time MMA Rankings: the Lightest Weights
We’ve now gotten through the top two thirds of the men’s weight divisions, and established that the UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev stands the best chance of dethroning the all-time divisional #1, who just happens to be his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov. Let us now take a look at the lightest men’s weight classes, and see if my assertion holds true.
[#1]: Dominick Cruz (8198)
Next active fighter: [#7] Henry Cejudo (3693)
Point differential: 2.21x
Other contenders: [#10] Petr Yan, [#11] Cody Garbrandt, [#12] Sean OMalley
Similar to men’s lightweight, there is not as much separation between #1 and the rest at bantamweight. Dominic Cruz’s reign at the top was brief, and though he is not officially retired, these days he fights very infrequently and isn’t likely to rise any further. Fortunately for Cruz, there just currently isn’t a serious contender to knock him out of the top spot. Aljamain Sterling was oh-so-close but moved up in weight. [#4] Renan Barao, who once so long ago looked like an unstoppable champion, recently made his return to MMA action, to atrocious results and is presently on a six-fight skid. Former champion Henry Cejudo would have likely been ranked much higher on these lists, had he not taken a three year layoff in the prime of his career. Now, he stands with back-to-back losses and not a very clear path forward.
Another former champion, Petr Yan, was once lauded as the future of the division, but faltered badly in his last few outings and is now fighting for his UFC career. Yet another brief title holder Cody Garbrandt is a glass cannon who is not likely to catch lightning in a bottle like he did on the night he took the belt from Cruz. Finally, amongst all these past champs, we have the current top dog Sean O’Malley. In a less competitive division we could imagine Sean with a long reign at the top; however he is already talking about moving up to featherweight for a chance at the ‘champ champ’ status. He also has contenders like Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov breathing down his neck.
Popular Martial Arts for Betting
The excitement and unpredictability of martial arts have made it a popular choice for sports enthusiasts and bettors alike. With various disciplines showcased on global platforms, the allure of betting on these intense competitions has grown significantly. This article delves into the popular martial arts for betting, providing insights and tips for those looking to engage in this thrilling world.
The Dominance of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA, is a giant in the world of combat sports betting. This discipline combines techniques from boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and more, offering a dynamic and unpredictable spectacle. Events such as UFC matches have propelled MMA into the mainstream, attracting a wide audience worldwide.
All-Time MMA Rankings: Middle of the Pack
In the third installment of this series, I am going to take a look at the men’s welterweight, lightweight, and featherweight all-time rankings. Similar to the heavier weight divisions, these three lists are topped by true all-time greats in Georges St. Pierre, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Jose Aldo. Are any of these three likely to be replaced at the top soon? Let’s check it out.
[#1]: Georges St. Pierre (33894)
Next active fighter: [#5] Leon Edwards (6873)
Point differential: 4.93x
Other contenders: [#8] Colby Covington
Currently the top rank on our men’s all-time absolute list (with Jon Jones very close behind), St. Pierre spent better part of a decade thoroughly dominating his contemporaries, with his losses to Matt Hughes and Matt Serra both avenged in an impressive fashion. With the next three on the list retired (or in Kamaru Usman’s case, moved up in weight), the current champion Leon Edwards is the sole threat to Georges’ position. It isn’t much of a threat, considering GSP has nearly 5x the amount of points compared to Edwards.
Leon Edwards is currently on a 12-fight undefeated streak (with 1 No Contest). Now that he is the champion, he will have have the opportunity to stack some title defenses and improve his standing. Edwards has been moderately active, fighting twice a year in the recent years. At this pace he would have to stay at the top for several years to begin approaching #1. My prediction is that Shavkat Rakhmonov will soon dethrone the champion and halt his ascent up the rankings. The only other name worth mentioning here is [#8] Colby Covington; everyone ranked above him here is a current or former champion, and I don’t see Colby breaking into that elite championship tier at this point in his career. At best, he might pass Johnny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler if Covington sticks around and wins some fights.
All-Time MMA Rankings: Heavy Hitters
In this part of the series, we will examine the all-time rankings of middleweight and above men’s divisions. As I mentioned in the first part, while the top spots on the Absolute All-Time lists are somewhat likely to change in the near future, the individual divisional rankings are far less volatile. We probably won’t see a new #1 in most of men’s divisions any time soon: As the sport has evolved and every top competitor became more well rounded, long title runs such as Fedor Emelianenko’s, Jon Jones’, and Anderson Silva’s are becoming a thing of the past. Are we past the golden age of the sport, where the best champions held on to the top of the division for a decade? Or are we just entering a new, more competitive, and therefore more enterntaining era?
The numbers in parentheses represent the all-time rating points.
[#1]: Fedor Emelianenko (21848)
Next active fighter: [#2] Stipe Miocic (11520)
Point differential: 1.89x
Other contenders: [#5] Fabricio Werdum, [#6] Junior dos Santos, [#8] Francis Ngannou
Fedor Emelianenko is almost universally considered the heavyweight GOAT of MMA. [#2] Stipe Miocic is considered the greatest heavyweight to ever step into the UFC Octagon, holding four title defenses – a record for the UFC’s HW division. Unfortunately for Miocic, Fedor has nearly twice the amount of rating points, and Stipe’s career is winding down. Originally the scheduled for some-time-this-year match-up between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic was supposed to be the retirement bout for both fighters. However, more recently both Jones and Miocic have expressed willingness to unify the titles with the Interim HW champion Tom Aspinall. Beating both Jones and Aspinall will be a tall task for the 41-year old firefighter from Cleveland. And even if he should succeed, it frankly won’t be enough to overtake Fedor.
Beyond Miocic, we have a couple of retired fighters, followed by another couple of old guys. The only reason I am mentioning Werdum and Junior Dos Santos as ‘contenders’ is that they are fairly high ranked and both still technically active fighters, even if they’re living out the remainders of their careers in the graveyard of bareknuckle MMA. Don’t expect much, if any, ascent on the all-time list for these two.
As for Francis Ngannou, he may have had potential had he stayed in the UFC and remained active. Instead Francis fought out his UFC contract and left the promotion to join the Professional Fight League (PFL) and to try his hand at boxing. On top of that, Ngannou started his MMA career fairly late, and the competition he will face in PFL won’t be very highly ranked. With all these factors combined, Francis’ potential for growth is limited, though I hope he does end up in the Top 5 when all is said and done.
How To Be Lucky In Gambling: Practical Tips for Success
Gambling is a game of chance, where luck is often seen as a mysterious force that some gamblers seem to possess while others envy. However, luck in gambling is not entirely beyond our control, as it is affected by various factors within our reach. While chance plays a significant role, some practical strategies and habits can tilt the odds in your favor. These include things like choosing the right games, setting a budget, managing your emotions, and knowing when to quit. Platforms like Kosmonaut Casino offer a wide range of games, allowing players to apply these strategies in a safe and enjoyable environment.
But how would you know what the exact things are to be lucky?
To know, read this article on how to be lucky in online casinos with some rituals. Also, by implementing these simple yet effective ways, you can improve your chances of winning at gambling in the year 2024.
All-Time MMA Rankings: Who’s the GOAT?
As I was browsing our recently updated All-Time MMA rankings, I couldn’t help but wonder: what are the odds that the current top ranked fighters of all time in each division will be replaced in the next decade? Let’s take a deeper look, in an attempt to answer one of the eternal sports questions: who is the greatest of all time?
The numbers in parentheses represent the all-time rating points.
[#1]: Georges St. Pierre (36945)
Next active fighter: [#2] Jon Jones (34157)
Point differential: 1.08x
Other contenders: [#7] Alexander Volkanovski, [#8] Max Holloway, [#9] Demetrious Johnson
The all-time absolute ranking takes into account the sum of fighters’ accomplishments across all divisions. And this list is the one with the least amount of separation between the top two. If Jon Jones sticks around for another year or two and defeats Stipe Miocic and Tom Aspinall, as he promised to do, he will certainly overtake GSP for the #1 spot. In the eyes of many, Jones is already the GOAT, and he would rightfully sit atop of our absolute ranking – for a very long time, if the rest of the list is any indication.
The next highest ranked active fighters on the all-time absolute list sit at #7-9. Alexander Volkanovski is on a clear decline, losing three of his last four fights, and having been on a receiving end of a KO in his two most recent outings. Holloway is still hanging in there and with a move to lightweight division he might soon pass his long-time rival Volk. However it’s fairly obvious that this 32-year old with a whole lot of fight mileage is nearing his ceiling, and will not break into the truly elite Top 5. Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson should be ranked higher in my opinion – but the relative weakness of the flyweight division has held him back here. At 37, the Mouse is at the tail end of a illustrious career and is unlikely to move much higher on the list.
Will Pickett’s Experience Outsmart Anders’ Raw Power?
We’ve got a match for the ages coming up on March 2, 2024, when Eryk Anders takes on Jamie Pickett in an edition of UFC Fight Night in Fabulous Las Vegas. The main card event bears a pair of fighters who have had a run of tough luck in recent years, and their contrasting styles make for an intriguing matchup as they each fight for redemption. Here’s a look at how the two fighters stack up, including insider tips that could help you pick a winner before they step in the ring together.
Eco-Friendly Gambling: How Online Casinos Are Contributing to Sustainability
The intersection of web-based betting and environmental sustainability may seem unlikely at first glance. However, as the digital age progresses, the online casino industry is increasingly aligning itself with eco-friendly practices. This shift not only reflects a broader societal move toward sustainability but also demonstrates how technology can be leveraged to reduce the environmental footprint of gambling activities.
PayPay Popularity Among Japanese Casino Players
Western gamblers might not be acquainted with PayPay, but Japan’s renowned mobile payment service is an absolute hit. Why? Because it enables smartphone transactions and makes actual cash possession obsolete.
If you are a Japanese casino player, you get to enjoy the tech-savvy environment around you. Japanese players appreciate the newest technological advantages and want secure, cashless, and user-friendly payment options, all of which build a compelling case for PayPay.
If you haven’t heard of this amazing payment system, fret not. We will rectify that and introduce you to the benefits of PayPay in online casinos with the help of our leading gambling expert and CasinoHEX.JP’s chief editor, John Kimura.
The Biggest MMA Events On Our Calendars This Year
Put your mouthguard on and prepare for the hottest MMA events in 2024. There are plenty of UFC and MMA challenges to look for. More than 300 million fans around the world watch MMA events yearly. This year seems quite promising for aficionados, and you’ll learn all about the hottest events here.
Following Every Move
It’s difficult to talk about MMA fights without instantly mentioning UFC. However, UFC aren’t the only thing going on within the octagon. Indeed, UFC remains the most popular MMA competition, but there’s also PFL, ONE, and others. Millennials are the most excited about UFC, who make up to 40% of its fanbase. It’s also the most famous MMA event in the United States, Canada, Germany, Austria, and the UK.
Elevate Your MMA Betting Strategy to Win Big with TedBet
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a dynamic sport that has captured the attention of fans worldwide. As its popularity continues to soar, so does the interest in betting on MMA events. Whether you’re a seasoned bettor or new to the world of MMA betting, understanding the basics is crucial. MMA betting offers various wagering options, including moneyline bets, over/under bets, and prop bets, each with its own intricacies. To excel in MMA betting, it’s essential to grasp these different bet types and understand how odds work in this context.
Legends of the Octagon: Francis Ngannou
Born in 1986, Francis Ngannou grew up impoverished in Cameroon. At the age of ten, he began working in the sand mines. He did this type of work until he was 17. In search for a better quality of life, Ngannou moved to France at 26, with dreams of becoming a professional boxer.
While in France, Ngannou met coach Didier Carmont. Due to the potential that Carmont had anticipated, he allowed Francis to train at no cost in his gym. While training in boxing, he was introduced to MMA coach Fernand Lopez; thus beginning a career in MMA.
MMA & Boxing Writer | Business Development Consultant
I have been an avid viewer of Boxing and MMA for decades. Judo is the martial art that I most admire. As a teenager I practiced for a bit. This piqued my interest in MMA since 2001. Now I am on a new journey, hitting the dojo when possible. Learning how to methodically adapt to Judo, currently is a hobby that I enjoy. At FightMatrix, I am the business development consultant. Additionally, I write about various martial arts and boxing.