The List Of Current UFC Champions

The List Of Current UFC Champions
The UFC Legacy Championship Belt (UFC/YouTube)

Who are the all-time and current UFC champions?

Read on to find out.

Mixed Martial Art (MMA) has been in existence way before now. 

Some believed it is dated back to over 5,000 years.

During this time, there was no strict rule as fighters can be so brutal as if the devil himself inspired them.

Funny enough, as ancient as it is, it had little recognition and acceptance until the advent of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

The UFC has abided by some basic rules and regulations ever since it started in 1993. 

Over the years, it has provided numerous champions ranging from different weight classes.

These champions have made mixed-martial art more popular, acceptable, and attractive.

Currently, there exist 12 UFC weight divisions, eight of which are for men and four for women.

The following is a list of current UFC champions and standings as of March 27, 2021, across every weight division.

The Current UFC Champions & Standings

Heavyweight Champion: Francis Ngannou, 16-3-0

Since: Mar 27, 2021

Result: KO2 over Stipe Miocic (UFC 260)

Defenses: 0

Ngannou, the hardest puncher recorded in the history of UFC, is presently among the most prominent personalities in the promotion right now.

The Cameronian legend Francis Ngannou became the UFC Heavyweight Champion on March 27, 2021, in a rematch for the title against Miocic.

He Knocked out Miocic in the second round and thus, became the current UFC heavyweight champion.

His victory earned the performance of the night award.

Having recorded 16 victories out of 19 fights over the years, Ngannou is indeed a champ other UFC fighters should bow to at the moment.

Light Heavyweight Champion: Jan Blachowicz, 28-8-0

Since: September 27, 2020

Result: TKO2 over Dominick Reyes (UFC 253)

Defenses: 1

Blachowicz became the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion on September 26, 2020, thereby replacing Jon Jones, who vacates the title due to salary negotiation issues. 

Ever since he still holds strong unto the title.

Blachowicz is the first Polish fighter to emerge as the light heavyweight champ.

His recent victory against the Nigerian champion, Israel Adesanya, earned him more respect because he is the first fighter ever to defeat Adesanya in his entire MMA career.

Blachowicz has proven himself a real champ that shouldn’t be messed with in the octagon.

Middleweight Champion: Israel Adesanya, 20-1

Since: October 6, 2019

Result: TKO2 over Robert Whittaker (UFC 243)

Defenses: 2

Israel Adesanya, the “style bender” with great punches, became the UFC Middleweight Champion on October 6, 2019.

Considering his short time in the UFC, the Nigerian-born New Zealand MMA fighter was fast to rise to fame.

He has suffered only one defeat all through his MMA career.

Victory eluded him via unanimous decision by the judges.

There is nothing to feel pity about; he has also claimed many victories through unanimous decisions.

Welterweight Champion: Kamaru Usman, 16-1

Since: March 2, 2019

Result: UD over Tyron Woodley (UFC 235)

Defenses: 3

Kamaru “The Nigerian Nightmare” became the UFC Welterweight Champion after he lived up to his nickname by defeating Tyron Woodley.

He knocked down Woodley twice before gaining some strikes in the fifth round.

Usman has defended the title against Colby Covington. 

It might also interest you to know that the champion was once a wrestler, a freestyle wrestler, and now an MMA champion.

Usman is a man of so much martial arts experience.

Lightweight Champion: Vacant

“The Eagle” of Dagestan, Khabib Nurmagomedov was the longest-reigning UFC Lightweight Champion, holding on to the title from April 2018 to March 2021, with three title defenses.

His last fight was with Gaethje, where he dominated his opponent to submission.

He vacated his title in March 2021.

Men’s Featherweight Champion: Alexander Volkanovski, 21-1

Since: December 14, 2019

Result: UD over Max Holloway (UFC 245)

Defenses: 1

The Australian mixed martial artist emerged as the UFC Men’s Featherweight Champion on December 14, 2019, against Max Halloway through a unanimous decision.

A rematch was set, which he won, although few controversies are surrounding his victory.

He was supposed to defend his title against Brian Ortega on March 27, 2020, but the fight had to be canceled due to Covid 19.

With 21 winnings and one loss, Volkanovski is definitely a champ.

It is amazing how one could emerge a champion in the UFC with a previous history as a rugby player. 

Men’s Bantamweight Champion: Aljamain Sterling, 20-30-0

Since: March 6, 2021

Result: DQ4 over Petr Yan (UFC 259)

Defenses: 0

Aljamain Sterling
Wikimedia

Aljamain is the current UFC Men’s Bantamweight Champion. He is the first fighter to ever claim his title via the disqualification of an opponent Petr Yan. 

The disqualification of Yan was a result of an illegal knee kick. 

Luck took the side of Sterling in that game because right before the illegal kick, Yan had secured two winnings out of the three scorecards.

Interestingly, Sterling’s career as a mixed martial artist started all from an invitation to a gym.

He got invited by Jones to join the BombSquad, and there, his journey began.

Men’s Flyweight Champion: Deiveson Figueiredo, 20-1-1

Since: July 18, 2020

Result: SUB1 over Joseph Benavidez (UFC Fight Night)

Defenses: 2

Deiveson became the UFC Men’s Flyweight Champion on July 18, 2020.

The fight was an epic one between him and Joseph Benavidez. 

ESPN reported that Benavidez was knocked out three times and got choked out in the very first round. 

A rematch was later set for July 19, 2020. 

Unfortunately, Figueiredo tested positive to Covid-19, so the match couldn’t hold. 

After various tests and treatments, the duo had their rematch, and Figueiredo was victorious. 

That victory earned him the performance of the night award.

Women’s Featherweight & Bantamweight Champion: Amanda Nunes, 21-4

Since: Featherweight (December 29, 2018); Bantamweight (July 9, 2016)

Result: Featherweight (TKO1 over Cris Cyborg, UFC 232); Bantamweight (SUB1 over Miesha Tate, UFC 200)

Defenses: Featherweight (2); Bantamweight (5)

On the other side of the male gender lies a warrior who has consistently proven her stance as a UFC champion.

Amanda Nunes did not only become the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion, but she has also secured the women’s UFC Featherweight as well.

She has defended both titles a whopping seven times.

It is still amazing how she seized victory to become the featherweight champion in 2018. 

It was a fight between Nunes and Cris Cyborg.

The lioness denied the fans the fun of watching a long fight as she knocked out Cyborg in the very first round.

Such an amazing performance can only be found in the coven of the strong and mighty.

Women’s Flyweight Champion: Valentina Shevchenko, 19-3

Since: December 8, 2018

Result: UD over Joanna Jedrzejczyk (UFC 231)

Defenses: 4

Shevchenko won the vacant UFC Women’s Flyweight title in 2018 after defeating Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 231. 

She has recorded victories over the years in her MMA endeavors before joining the UFC.

Shevchenko once enjoyed first-round victories in six consecutive MMA fights.

She secured a space in the UFC as a replacement for Germaine de Randemie at UFC on Fox 17, intended to be for a short period.

Then, she won the fight. 

After that time, she has recorded numerous victories under her name, and she has also defended her title most efficiently.

Women’s Strawweight Champion: Zhang Weili, 21-1

Since: August 31, 2019

Result: TKO1 over Jessica Andrade (UFC Shenzhen)

Defenses: 1

Weili is a powerful UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion since August of 2019.

To retain her title, she fought the former champion, Joanna, in March 2020, at UFC 248.

Her victory thrilled the fans who believe it is a fight of the year contender.

The second defense of her title has been scheduled for 24th April 2021.

She is to fight against Rose Namajunas.

Looking into her early age, the great champion has worked many jobs ranging from being a teacher, cashier, and clerk.

She was motivated to be a fighter via kungfu movies and she went ahead to pursue her newly found passion.

So, she began training and working out. 

Today, Weili is a UFC Champion.

Final Thoughts

With the coming and going of each day, champions are being made, and the UFC has given them enough room to thrive.

The above names are the current UFC champions who are at the peak of their career or, at least, close to it.

Just like the famous saying; It’s only a thin line between success and failure. 

Your action or inaction determines where you fall.

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