The lineal championship histories display the divisional histories of “the man, who beat the man, who beat the man….” The first “man” in each division was a judgment call, made depending on whether or not there was an organization overseeing the divisional matchmaking. In this case, the winner of the first recorded match in said division (if this was the only divisional match on that card) determined the first champion. Otherwise, the winner of the first match between recognized top contenders (#1 vs. #2, #1 vs. #3, and rarely #2 vs. #3 — FightMatrix ratings were used as a guide) was used to determine an initial champion . The latter method was also used when champions retired, or went inactive.
Although judgment calls were necessary, it is highly doubtful that any of them affected today’s current champion. Nevertheless, we have posted the complete histories, along with notes, for each division’s lineage. The weight limits observed are a bit more “strict” than for our standard rankings to ensure that catchweight and “stay busy” fights did not interrupt the lineages. Furthermore, we reserve the right to make any retroactive changes upon discovery of errors, bad divisional info, and well-researched logical objections. If you have any objections or comments, please let us know.
Complete lineal championship histories for each division:
Heavyweight (current champion: Francis Ngannou)
Light Heavyweight (current champion: Jiri Prochazka)
Middleweight (current champion: Sean Strickland)
Welterweight (current champion: Leon Edwards)
Lightweight (current champion: Islam Makhachev)
Featherweight (current champion: Alexander Volkanovski)
Bantamweight (current champion: Sean O’Malley)
Flyweight (current champion: Alexander Pantoja)
Strawweight (current champion: vacant)
Women’s Featherweight+ (current champion: Amanda Nunes)
Women’s Bantamweight (current champion: Amanda Nunes)
Women’s Flyweight (current champion: Tracy Cortez)
Women’s Strawweight (current champion: Weili Zhang)
Women’s Atomweight (current champion: Seika Izawa)
40 Comments
Bisping is the champ now!!!
Robbie Lawler is the current welterweight lineal champion now….not Johny Hendricks
Any chance you guys can post the lineal championship history for the Women’s divisions?
strangely enough, the SAKU title lineage has a cult following amongst some fans now
Alvarez lost to Chandler before beating Aoki for the lineal title.
Found it
Sakuraba
Wanderlei Silva
Mark Hunt
Josh Barnett
Crocop
Gonzaga
Couture
Lesnar
Velasquez
Dos Santos
Velasquez
Sorry I stand corrected, a website which focuses on major MMA title lineages showed that Sakuraba was given the SAKU belt after he defeated Ryan Gracie on December 2000. His next fight was the loss to Wanderlei Silva where he actually gave Silva the belt
This kinda sounds like the Million Dollar Belt from the 1980s WWF.
Apparently after his epic battle with Royce Gracie and losing to heavyweight Vovchanchyn, the organizers of Pride made a belt for Sakuraba, as recognition as the worlds best pound for pound fighter, since at that time they did not have official divisional championship titles.
Not sure what exactly the Saku lineage is; all open weight / heavyweight lineages eventually merge with Fedor. After Cain/Silva fight it will also merge with the current UFC HW title.
search SAKU belt
That’s… odd. Why does a special lineage start with Sakuraba between the Vovchanchyn fight and the first Wanderlei fight?
Between those two fights, Sakuraba has beaten Ryan Gracie (second pro MMA fight), Renzo Gracie (good fighter at the time but coming off a loss) and Shannon Ritch (career journeyman). So which of those three fights gave birth to a new lineage?
The real open-weight lineage starts with Royce Gracie, and merges with HW when weight classes were introduced.
Fixed. I won’t argue with rebooting MW lineage with Romero/Whittaker 2.
Fixed. I won’t argue with rebooting MW lineage with Romero/Whittaker 2.
Appears this page could use an update. Also, seeing as GSP has indicated he is very likely to not return at 185 it may be time to restart the lineage, I’d assume with the winner of Whittaker vs Romero 2.
Appears this page could use an update. Also, seeing as GSP has indicated he is very likely to not return at 185 it may be time to restart the lineage, I’d assume with the winner of Whittaker vs Romero 2.
Because McGregor has no intention of fighting at FW ever again.
Because McGregor has no intention of fighting at FW ever again.
how the fuck do you have jon jones as lineal champ but not conor as the lineal champ for 145???? lol makes no sense
how the fuck do you have jon jones as lineal champ but not conor as the lineal champ for 145???? lol makes no sense
Bisping is the champ now!!!
Alvarez lost to Chandler before beating Aoki for the lineal title.
Something that bothers me about this list: why isn’t Michael Chandler listed as a lineal champion? After all, he beat Eddie Alvarez. The answer is most likely staring me in the face,but I just cant for the life of me figure out why he wouldn’t be included
Something that bothers me about this list: why isn’t Michael Chandler listed as a lineal champion? After all, he beat Eddie Alvarez. The answer is most likely staring me in the face,but I just cant for the life of me figure out why he wouldn’t be included
Any chance you guys can post the lineal championship history for the Women’s divisions?
Robbie Lawler is the current welterweight lineal champion now….not Johny Hendricks
This kinda sounds like the Million Dollar Belt from the 1980s WWF.
Sorry I stand corrected, a website which focuses on major MMA title lineages showed that Sakuraba was given the SAKU belt after he defeated Ryan Gracie on December 2000. His next fight was the loss to Wanderlei Silva where he actually gave Silva the belt
strangely enough, the SAKU title lineage has a cult following amongst some fans now
So they randomly awarded him a belt for losing a fight? Only in Japan…
Anyhow I guess that lineage will also merge with the openweight/HW after Velazquez – Silva.
So they randomly awarded him a belt for losing a fight? Only in Japan…
Anyhow I guess that lineage will also merge with the openweight/HW after Velazquez – Silva.
Apparently after his epic battle with Royce Gracie and losing to heavyweight Vovchanchyn, the organizers of Pride made a belt for Sakuraba, as recognition as the worlds best pound for pound fighter, since at that time they did not have official divisional championship titles.
search SAKU belt
That’s… odd. Why does a special lineage start with Sakuraba between the Vovchanchyn fight and the first Wanderlei fight?
Between those two fights, Sakuraba has beaten Ryan Gracie (second pro MMA fight), Renzo Gracie (good fighter at the time but coming off a loss) and Shannon Ritch (career journeyman). So which of those three fights gave birth to a new lineage?
The real open-weight lineage starts with Royce Gracie, and merges with HW when weight classes were introduced.
Found it
Sakuraba
Wanderlei Silva
Mark Hunt
Josh Barnett
Crocop
Gonzaga
Couture
Lesnar
Velasquez
Dos Santos
Velasquez
Not sure what exactly the Saku lineage is; all open weight / heavyweight lineages eventually merge with Fedor. After Cain/Silva fight it will also merge with the current UFC HW title.
What about the most prestigious Saku belt lineage for open weight?
What about the most prestigious Saku belt lineage for open weight?