MMA WORLD TITLE HISTORY (Linear)
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SUPER-HEAVYWEIGHT
over 265 pounds
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(NO HISTORY)
HEAVYWEIGHT
205-265 pounds
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Mark Coleman defeated Dan Severn by Submission(Side Choke), at UFC 12,
FEB 7th, 1997 to become the first World Heavyweight Champion.
Maurice Smith defeated Mark Coleman by Unanimous Decision, at UFC 14,
JUL 27th, 1997 to become the new World Heavyweight Champion.
Randy Couture defeated Maurice Smith by Majority Decision, at UFC Japan
1, DEC 21st, 1997 to become the new World Heavyweight Champion.
Enson Inoue defeated Randy Couture by Submission(Arm Bar), at Vale Tudo
Japan 98, OCT 28th 1998 to become the new World Heavyweight Champion.
Mark Kerr defeated Enson Inoue by Decision, at Pride: Grand Prix 2000,
JAN 30th, 2000 to become the new World Heavyweight Champion.
Kazuyuki Fujita defeated Mark Kerr by Unanimous Decision, at Pride:
Grand Prix 2000, MAY 1st, 2000 to become the new World Heavyweight
Champion.
Mark Coleman defeated Kazuyuki Fujita by TKO (Corner Threw in the Towel
due to a Knee Injury), at Pride: Grand Prix 2000, MAY 1st, 2000 to
become the first TWO-TIME World Heavyweight Champion.
Rodrigo Nogueira defeated Mark Coleman by Submission(Triangle-Arm Bar),
at Pride 16, SEP 24th, 2001 to become the new World Heavyweight
Champion.
Fedor Emelianenko defeated Rodrigo Nogueira by Unanimous Decision, at
Pride 25, MAR 16th, 2003 to become the new World Heavyweight Champion.
LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT
185-205 pounds
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Tito Ortiz defeated Wanderlei Silva by Unanimous Decision, at UFC 25,
APR 14th, 2000 to become the first World Light Heavyweight Champion.
Randy Couture defeated Tito Ortiz by Unaimous Decision, at UFC 44,
SEP 26th, 2003 to become the new World Light Heavyweight Champion.
Vitor Belfort defeated Randy Couture by TKO(Doctor Stoppage from an
Eye Abrasion), at UFC 46, JAN 31st, 2004 to become the new World Light
Heavyweight Champion.
Randy Couture defeated Vitor Belfort by TKO (Referee stoppage on
doctor’s recommendation due to strikes), at UFC 49, AUG 21st, 2004
to become the 1st two-time World Light Heavyweight Champion.
Chuck Liddell defeated Randy Couture by KO (Punches) at
UFC 52-Couture vs Liddell 2, APR 16th, 2005 to become the new World
Light Heavyweight Champion.
Quinton Jackson defeated Chuck Liddell by TKO (Punches) at
UFC 71-Liddell vs. Jackson May 26th, 2007 to become the new World
Light Heavyweight Champion.
Forrest Griffin defeated Quinton Jackson by Decision (Unanimous) at
UFC 86 – Jackson vs. Griffin July 5th, 2008 to become the new World
Light Heavyweight Champion.
MIDDLEWEIGHT
170-185 pounds
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Dan Henderson defeated Murilo Bustamante by split decision, at
PRIDE-Shockwave, DEC 31st, 2005 to become the first World Middleweight
Champion.
Kazuo Misaki defeated Dan Henderson by split decision, at
PRIDE-Bushido 12, AUG 26th, 2006 to become the new World Middleweight
Champion.
Paulo Filho defeated Kazuo Misaki by Submission (Armbar), at
PRIDE-Bushido 13, NOV 5th, 2006 to become the new World Middleweight
Champion.
WELTERWEIGHT
155-170 pounds
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Matt Hughes defeated Hayato Sakurai by TKO (Referee Stoppage), at
UFC 36, MAR 22nd, 2002 to become the first World Welterweight Champion.
BJ Penn defeated Matt Hughes by Submission (Rear Naked Choke), at
UFC 46, JAN 31st, 2003 to become the new World Welterweight Champion.
3/26/2005 – BJ Penn does not defend title. Title vacant.
NOTE: Winner of Matt Hughes -vs- BJ Penn 2 will be recognized
as new champion (providing neither loses before then).
Matt Hughes defeated BJ Penn by TKO (Strikes), at UFC 63, SEP 23rd, 2006
to become the first two-time World Welterweight Champion.
Georges St. Pierre defeated Matt Hughes by TKO (Strikes)
at UFC 65, NOV 18th, 2006 to become the new World Welterweight Champion.
Matt Serra defeated Georges St. Pierre by TKO (Punches)
at UFC 69, APR 7th, 2007 to become the new World Welterweight
Champion.
Georges St. Pierre defeated Matt Serra by TKO (Knees to the Body) at
UFC 83, APR 19th, 2008 to regain the World Welterweight
Championship.
LIGHTWEIGHT
145-155 pounds
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Jens Pulver defeated Caol Uno by Majority Decision, at UFC 30,
FEB 23rd, 2001 to become the first World Lightweight Champion.
Duane Ludwig defeated Jens Pulver by KO (Punch), at UCC 12, JAN 25th,
2003 to become the new World Lightweight Champion.
(NOTE: Although BJ Penn recently defeated Duane Ludwig, in Japan,
it was at 170lbs. therefore there is no title change.)
5/22/2004 – Duane Ludwig moves up in weight, does not defend title.
Title vacant.
9/25/2005 – Takanori Gomi is recognized as the new World Lightweight
Champion.
Marcus Aurelio defeated Takanori Gomi by Technical Submission
(Arm Triangle choke), at PRIDE-Bushido 10, April 2, 2006 to become
the new World Lightweight Champion.
Mitsuhiro Ishida defeated Marcus Aurelio by Decision (Unanimous),
at PRIDE-Bushido 11, June 4th, 2006 to become the new World Lightweight
Champion.
Takanori Gomi defeated Mitsuhiro Ishida by TKO (Strikes), at
PRIDE-Shockwave 2006,
Dec 31st, 2006 to become the first two-time World Lightweight Champion.
(NOTE: Although Gomi did lose to Nick Diaz, the fight was overturned
and ruled a “No Contest”. So there is no title change. Besides, Diaz has never fought at 155lbs)
Sergey Golyaev defeated Takanori Gomi by Decision (Split), at Sengoku-Sixth Battle, November 1st, 2008 to become
the new World Lightweight Champion.
FEATHERWEIGHT
135-145 pounds
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5/4/2004 – Alexandre Nogueira is the recognized World Featherweight
Champion.
Hideo Tokoro defeated Alexandre Nogueira by KO (Spinning Back Fist)
at K-1-Hero’s 2, JUL 6th, 2005 to become the new World Featherweight
Champion.
Erikas Petraitis defeated Hideo Tokoro by KO (Knee) at ZST 9 – The
Battle Field 9,
FEB 18th, 2006 to become the new World Featherweight Champion.
Kazuyuki Miyata defeated Erikas Petraitis by Submission (Armbar)
at K-1-Hero’s 4, MAR 15th, 2006 to become the new World Featherweight
Champion.
Norifumi Yamamoto defeated Kazuyuki Miyata by KO (Flying Knee)
at K-1-Hero’s 5, May 3, 2006 to become the new World Featherweight
Champion.
BANTAMWEIGHT
125-135 pounds
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5/4/2004 – Ryota Matsune is the recognized World Bantamweight Champion.
FLYWEIGHT
115-125 pounds
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5/4/2004 – Mamoru Yamaguchi is the recognized World Flyweight Champion.
Shinichi Kojima defeated Mamoru Yamaguchi by Technical Submission (Rear
Naked Choke) at Shooto-Champion Carnival, Oct 14th, 2006 to become the
new World Flyweight Champion.
LIGHT FLYWEIGHT
115 pounds and under
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Atsushi Takeuchi defeated Kenichi Takeda by KO (Punches) at Shooto -
Battle Mix Tokyo 1,January 26, 2007 to become the first World Light
Flyweight Champion.
Takehiro Harusaki defeated Atsushi Takeuchi by Decision (Split) at
Shooto -Battle Mix Tokyo 3, May 26, 2007 to become the new World Light
Flyweight Champion.
Shinya Murofushi defeated Takehiro Harusaki by Decision (Unanimous) at
Shooto – Shooto Tradition 2, July 18th, 2008 to become the new World
Light Flyweight Champion.
