Most consecutive UFC title defenses
Last Updated: 05/08/2023
| Fighter | Streak | Timeframe |
| Demetrious Johnson | 11 | 2013-2017 |
| Anderson Silva | 10 | 2007-2012 |
| Georges St. Pierre | 9 | 2008-2013 (relinquished title) |
| Jon Jones | 8, 3 | 2011-2015 (relinquished), 2019-2020 (relinquished) |
| Jose Aldo * | 7 | 2011-2014 |
| Valentina Shevchenko | 7 | 2019-2022 |
| Ronda Rousey + | 6 | 2013-2015 |
| Joanna Jedrzejczyk | 5 | 2015-2017 |
| Tito Ortiz | 5 | 2000-2002 |
| Amanda Nunes | 5, 2 | 2016-2020, 2020-2021 (active) |
| Matt Hughes | 5, 2 | 2002-2003, 2005-2006 |
| Kamaru Usman | 5 | 2019-2021 |
| Israel Adesanya | 5 | 2020-2022 |
| Frank Shamrock | 4 | 1998-1999 |
| Tyron Woodley | 4 | 2016-2018 |
| Renan Barao | 4 | 2013-2014 |
| Chuck Liddell | 4 | 2005-2006 |
| Pat Miletich | 4 | 1999-2000 |
| Alexander Volkanovski | 4 | 2020-2022 (active) |
| BJ Penn | 3 | 2008-2009 |
| Max Holloway | 3 | 2017-2019 |
| Stipe Miocic | 3 | 2016-2018 |
| Khabib Nurmagomedov | 3 | 2018-2020 (relinquished title) |
| Chris Weidman | 3 | 2013-2015 |
| Benson Henderson | 3 | 2012-2013 |
| Frankie Edgar | 3 | 2010-2012 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 3 | 2022-2023 (active) |
Records reflect UFC title bouts only. Tournament wins and Superfight titles are not included.
All fighters with 3 or more consecutive title defenses in the UFC are included.
* WEC featherweight champion Jose Aldo and WEC bantamweight champion Dominic Cruz were awarded UFC championship titles as a part of the WEC/UFC merger, technically marking their first UFC bouts as title defenses.
+ StrikeForce women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey was awarded the UFC championship title as a part of the StrikeForce/UFC merger, technically marking her first UFC bout as a title defense.
123 Comments
[…] Jose Aldo retired Sunday at the age of 36. Assuming it sticks, the surefire Hall of Famer rides off into the MMA sunset with a 31-8 record and extended featherweight title reigns in the WEC and UFC, where he defended the strap seven times—the most of any featherweight and tied for fifth for the longest such streak in company history. […]
[…] Silva is one of the greatest MMA practitioners to enter an octagon. He has the second-most title defenses in UFC history, from when he reigned as their middleweight king. While his career since he lost the title hasn’t […]
[…] Silva is one of the greatest MMA practitioners to ever enter an Octagon. He has the second-most title defenses in UFC history, from when he reigned as their Middleweight king. While his career since he lost the title […]
[…] that knocked Anderson Silva off his peak to win the UFC Middleweight Championship. He still has the second-most title defenses in the division. Even his losses were to top-tier Middleweight fighters. If Weidman bounces back […]
[…] greatness. He straight up DOMINATED that 125lb division for 5 consecutive years and holds the record for the most consecutive UFC title defenses (11). He’s now a champ over in ONE Championship, […]
Shouldn’t Cristiane Justino be on this list?
She should be. Will fix, thank you.
Yeah it’s not clear-cut… I know that tecnically, Aldo’s and Cruz’s WEC titles were automatically converted into UFC titles before their first fights in UFC, it just feels wrong to consider their first UFC fight an official title defense.
GSP has 7
I would have Aldo at 2. I don’t feel his first UFC fight should be considered a title defense. Same with Cruz.
Right you are, Joe.
Aldo was promoted from WEC to UFC champion last year so he was champion before the Hominick fight and therefore it was his first defense of the title.
Cruz first fought for the UFC title when he faced Scott Jorgensen WEC 53. That fight was to determine the last ever WEC Bantamweight champion and the first ever UFC Bantamweight champion.
And now that I think about it, that should qualify Dominick Cruz for the Most Title Wins list.
Jose has 5 now
Why isn’t Joanna Champion here?
This is one of those iffy scenarios that come from UFC being too generous with interim belts.
When a champion is stripped of his belt, then only six month later fights for an “interim” title and wins, even though he never lost his real title – could you recognize that as a title defense? I know UFC officially doesn’t but I could go either way on it.
George St Pierre Title Defenses is at 7 eff 17-11-12 etc
But if Aldo had the title before his fight with Hominick the he defended it against Hominick. And Cruz won the UFC title by defeating Scott Jorgensen in a UFC title fight at WEC 53 and then went on to defend it twice.
So if Aldo wins his fight against Mendes Would you list him as having 3 defenses or 2? Just curious.
Someone needs to stop silva I’d like to see gsp grow a pair and fight at 185 he might be the first to have 2 titles at once
All right, I give. Here’s your second Hughes reign. 🙂
It is much appreciated. Thank you sir
About time… just kidding.
I’m not sure about this one… I don’t think Hominick/Faber should be counted as a “defense” for Aldo & Cruz when it was their first time fighting for a UFC title.
How come Frankie Edgar was updated with 3 defenses but Dominick Cruz and Jose Aldo haven’t been added to the list. They each have two defenses. Cruz beat Urijah Faber and Demetrious Johnson. Aldo beat Mark Hominick and Kenny Florian. They both belong on this list.
Silva is now at 9 officially. But he should be at 10…if only Travis Lutter had made weight.
I think you should include WEC title defenses at FW and BW after the Zuffa purchase. Jose Aldo and Dominick Cruz both have 2 title defenses against equally, if not more-so, difficult competition than the people on this list. And surely if Miletich and Shamrock’s runs count then Faber and Torres’ should as well.
All right, you win. Asterisk it is 🙂
Does Frankie Edgar’s draw with Gray Maynard count as a title defense?
As someone else said, Hughes should be on this list twice. In his second title reign, he successfully defended against Trigg and Penn.
shouldn’t hughes have another streak of 2 from 2005-06, def. trigg and penn?
Shouldn’t jens pulver be on this list with 2? Could be wrong, but I thought he beat Penn and Hallman
Dave, you’re right. Thanks for the correction.
If title fight is ruled a draw, the champ keeps the title. Therefore, it should absolutely count as a successful title defense.
Shouldn’t Cristiane Justino be on this list?
She should be. Will fix, thank you.
11/55/2017?
11/55/2017?
[…] A win against Ray Borg at UFC 216 will see the perennial flyweight king overtake the legendary Anderson Silva as the fighter with the most UFC title defences, currently standing mightily at 10 consecutive. […]
[…] he ever has before. That’s how it feels at least. As his quest for sole possession of the all-time title defence record draws nearer to its conclusion, things have gotten pretty messy between him and the boss man, Dana […]
This is one of those iffy scenarios that come from UFC being too generous with interim belts.
When a champion is stripped of his belt, then only six month later fights for an “interim” title and wins, even though he never lost his real title – could you recognize that as a title defense? I know UFC officially doesn’t but I could go either way on it.
why is jon jones’ listed as having 9 title defenses on the ‘most title defenses’ page? he had 8
why is jon jones’ listed as having 9 title defenses on the ‘most title defenses’ page? he had 8
[…] for anyone, and if Johnson wins, like he is predicted too, that will move him into third place for all time title defenses at eight, tying […]
[…] illegal elbows. He has also defended the UFC Light Heavyweight title eight times, making him the longest reigning champion in the Light Heavyweight division. Early in his career, he was portrayed as a “good guy” […]
You not only write your be on right if we go by Matt Hughes saying you’re not really a champion until your defend your belt and the favoritism that Connor get is not only sickening but it affects many others the fight life is short in the championship window is even smaller injuries are bad enough and this is why the rule was always you had to drop the belt to challenge for a second otherwise there are many others much more deserving that would have done this long ago from BJ GSP Anderson Silva ect at the very minimum Connor should of had a rematch Josee who got caught when Dana White is or offered rematches to a bunch of people who got beat which is different than losing from Rhonda Velazquez Weidman ect and then fight Frankie before challenge in the second bell because now it’s causing a backup in the contenders at 1:55 like Alvarez who deserves the title shot and shouldn’t have to wait and there’s nobody in the top 5 open for a fight that’s not already scheduled its just BS…
You not only write your be on right if we go by Matt Hughes saying you’re not really a champion until your defend your belt and the favoritism that Connor get is not only sickening but it affects many others the fight life is short in the championship window is even smaller injuries are bad enough and this is why the rule was always you had to drop the belt to challenge for a second otherwise there are many others much more deserving that would have done this long ago from BJ GSP Anderson Silva ect at the very minimum Connor should of had a rematch Josee who got caught when Dana White is or offered rematches to a bunch of people who got beat which is different than losing from Rhonda Velazquez Weidman ect and then fight Frankie before challenge in the second bell because now it’s causing a backup in the contenders at 1:55 like Alvarez who deserves the title shot and shouldn’t have to wait and there’s nobody in the top 5 open for a fight that’s not already scheduled its just BS…
Fixed.
“Last Updated: 12/13/2015”
Fixed.
“Last Updated: 12/13/2015”
She is now, thanks for the heads up.
She is now, thanks for the heads up.
Why isn’t Joanna Champion here?
[…] belt for five full years, and before that was the WEC featherweight champion. His seven consecutive UFC title defenses are the fourth-most in the history of the sport. If anyone deserves another shot, it’s José […]
[…] belt for five full years, and before that was the WEC featherweight champion. His seven consecutive UFC title defenses are the fourth-most in the history of the sport. If anyone deserves another shot, it’s José […]
[…] belt for five full years, and before that was the WEC featherweight champion. His seven consecutive UFC title defenses are the fourth-most in the history of the sport. If anyone deserves another shot, it’s José […]
The last 3 title fights in the UFC the champion has lost that’s three in a row is that a record
[…] belt for five full years, and before that was the WEC featherweight champion. His seven consecutive UFC title defenses are the fourth-most in the history of the sport. If anyone deserves another shot, it’s José […]
The last 3 title fights in the UFC the champion has lost that’s three in a row is that a record
Corrected, thanks.
By the way, if Jones or GSP come back and fight for the title right away and win… Should their streaks continue, since they never lost? Or start over?
It says: “Last Updated: 1/7/2014”
…and Jones’ run is over.
Corrected, thanks.
By the way, if Jones or GSP come back and fight for the title right away and win… Should their streaks continue, since they never lost? Or start over?
It says: “Last Updated: 1/7/2014”
…and Jones’ run is over.
[…] old. Before his recent troubles, he had trailed only Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva for most consecutive title defenses. He was on his way to breaking the […]
[…] years old. Before his recent troubles, he had trailed only Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva for most consecutive title defenses. He was on his way to breaking the […]
[…] Jones makes his eighth title defense—he’s currently three behind tying Anderson Silva for the most in UFC history with 10—he caused a stir at the UFC 178 […]
[…] Jones makes his eighth title defense—he’s currently three behind tying Anderson Silva for the most in UFC history with 10—he caused a stir at the UFC 178 media […]
[…] successful light heavyweight title defenses […]
[…] successful light heavyweight title defenses […]
[…] successful light heavyweight title defenses […]
Every One Knows Jon Jones Lost That Fight But That Was The Last Claim Of Fame TITO Had. DANA THE SCAB Uses Fighters Making Money Off Of One Fighter To The Next
He Mad The So You Cant Click On TITO’s On The UFC Website & Has Removed Him From The UFC Hal Of Fame. He’s Also Missing From The LHW Lineal Champ List On Here “2000-2003”
DANA Also Gave Lyota Machida A Bonus Along With The KO, Submission & Fight Of the Night Awards When He Got Out Of Tito’s Arm Bar & Beat Tito.
DANA Doesn’t Pay Fighters What They Deserve & Most Fighters Don’t Complain To Loud Cuz They Know There’s Always Someone To Take Their Place Another Fighter DANA To Make Money Off Of
Every One Knows Jon Jones Lost That Fight But That Was The Last Claim Of Fame TITO Had. DANA THE SCAB Uses Fighters Making Money Off Of One Fighter To The Next
He Mad The So You Cant Click On TITO’s On The UFC Website & Has Removed Him From The UFC Hal Of Fame. He’s Also Missing From The LHW Lineal Champ List On Here “2000-2003”
DANA Also Gave Lyota Machida A Bonus Along With The KO, Submission & Fight Of the Night Awards When He Got Out Of Tito’s Arm Bar & Beat Tito.
DANA Doesn’t Pay Fighters What They Deserve & Most Fighters Don’t Complain To Loud Cuz They Know There’s Always Someone To Take Their Place Another Fighter DANA To Make Money Off Of
[…] becoming a champion Jones has defended his title five times, tying Tito Ortiz’s record of most light heavyweight title defenses. A win over Gustafsson would give Jones the record and […]
[…] A win by either or by both the next time out, and they’ll tie MMA heroes like Pat Miletich, Frank Shamrock and Chuck Liddell for consecutive title defenses. […]
[…] A win by either or by both the next time out, and they’ll tie MMA heroes like Pat Miletich, Frank Shamrock and Chuck Liddell for consecutive title defenses. […]
[…] Consecutive Title Defenses […]
Thanks for the correction.
Thanks for the correction.
Jose has 5 now
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Hey! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could find a captcha
plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having problems finding one?
Thanks a lot!
Right you are, Joe.
George St Pierre Title Defenses is at 7 eff 17-11-12 etc
GSP has 7
Edgar just lost the belt.
Edgar just lost the belt.
[…] who is the most popular and who earns most money. @ White Bob Sap. There you go /Thread. Fight Matrix | UFC Records » Title Defenses Top 20 UFC title holder, tied for #1 HW. There you go. /strawman Even Sapp couldn't fluke his way […]
[…] you, you know you should commit e-suicide as there is no way you are right. Anyway scroll down this list and see how many defenses Frankie has[…]
It is much appreciated. Thank you sir
All right, you win. Asterisk it is 🙂
I see your point, but I disagree. Can I at least hope for an asterisk next to their names maybe?
I see your point, but I disagree. Can I at least hope for an asterisk next to their names maybe?
Yeah it’s not clear-cut… I know that tecnically, Aldo’s and Cruz’s WEC titles were automatically converted into UFC titles before their first fights in UFC, it just feels wrong to consider their first UFC fight an official title defense.
But if Aldo had the title before his fight with Hominick the he defended it against Hominick. And Cruz won the UFC title by defeating Scott Jorgensen in a UFC title fight at WEC 53 and then went on to defend it twice.
I would have Aldo at 2. I don’t feel his first UFC fight should be considered a title defense. Same with Cruz.
So if Aldo wins his fight against Mendes Would you list him as having 3 defenses or 2? Just curious.
Jones is right here with two.
Cruz & Aldo are arguable, but I stand by my previous comment.
Jones is right here with two.
Cruz & Aldo are arguable, but I stand by my previous comment.
Dominick Cruz and Jon Jones? Where are they?
Dominick Cruz and Jon Jones? Where are they?
And now that I think about it, that should qualify Dominick Cruz for the Most Title Wins list.
Aldo was promoted from WEC to UFC champion last year so he was champion before the Hominick fight and therefore it was his first defense of the title.
Cruz first fought for the UFC title when he faced Scott Jorgensen WEC 53. That fight was to determine the last ever WEC Bantamweight champion and the first ever UFC Bantamweight champion.
I’m not sure about this one… I don’t think Hominick/Faber should be counted as a “defense” for Aldo & Cruz when it was their first time fighting for a UFC title.
How come Frankie Edgar was updated with 3 defenses but Dominick Cruz and Jose Aldo haven’t been added to the list. They each have two defenses. Cruz beat Urijah Faber and Demetrious Johnson. Aldo beat Mark Hominick and Kenny Florian. They both belong on this list.
Silva is now at 9 officially. But he should be at 10…if only Travis Lutter had made weight.
About time… just kidding.
All right, I give. Here’s your second Hughes reign. 🙂
As someone else said, Hughes should be on this list twice. In his second title reign, he successfully defended against Trigg and Penn.
If title fight is ruled a draw, the champ keeps the title. Therefore, it should absolutely count as a successful title defense.
Izac, good question. He technically did retain the title, but should it count as a defense – I’m not so sure. What are your thoughts?
Does Frankie Edgar’s draw with Gray Maynard count as a title defense?
Izac, good question. He technically did retain the title, but should it count as a defense – I’m not so sure. What are your thoughts?
Great effort Tito
Great effort Tito
I think you should include WEC title defenses at FW and BW after the Zuffa purchase. Jose Aldo and Dominick Cruz both have 2 title defenses against equally, if not more-so, difficult competition than the people on this list. And surely if Miletich and Shamrock’s runs count then Faber and Torres’ should as well.
Someone needs to stop silva I’d like to see gsp grow a pair and fight at 185 he might be the first to have 2 titles at once
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shouldn’t hughes have another streak of 2 from 2005-06, def. trigg and penn?
Dave, you’re right. Thanks for the correction.
Shouldn’t jens pulver be on this list with 2? Could be wrong, but I thought he beat Penn and Hallman
[…] Consecutive Title Defenses […]