List of current mixed martial arts champions

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a form of competitive combat sport, akin to boxing, muay thai, or kick boxing. MMA titles, or championship belts, are given to those fighters deemed by a promotional organization to have met a certain standard of athletic accomplishment in a specific weight class (most often by means of a championship fight). Championship belts are fought for at each weight class under a promotion, with only one belt awarded per class. Each belt is usually contested every time the belt holder fights, and passed to the victor of that fight (see the List of UFC champions for a chronology of UFC title belts). A belt may be vacated when a fighter leaves a promotion, or is suspended. At such times an interim champion may be crowned, or the belt may be awarded to the winner of a fight between top contenders.

Anthony Ruiz after winning the PureCombat Middleweight Championship belt

This list displays all title holders for the major, certified MMA promoting and sanctioning bodies. There is no clear industry definition within the MMA community to determine which organizations are considered major promoting bodies.[1] Due to a lack of clear guidelines, this list is limited to those organizations that are either highly regarded (such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Strikeforce), long standing (such as King of the Cage (KOTC) and Pancrase), or the dominant organizations of a country or region of the world (such as England's Ultimate Challenge MMA (UCMMA) and Canada's Maximum Fighting Championship (MFC)).

Because there is no international unified MMA weight class system in use,[2] the Nevada State Athletic Commission's (NSAC) weight classes have been adopted for this article as they are most common across major promotions. Some organizations have created titles in weight classes outside the NSAC guidelines. Those titles have been and will be recognized as subdivisions under their common weight class.[3]

Though unofficial, Fight Matrix considered the first MMA lineal champions as follows:[4]

Although the inaugural lineal champions are sometimes contested, especially at heavyweight; the consensus view, is that all the lineal titles have been unified with their respective weight class UFC titles.

Organizations are listed by a combination of their size (number of fighters, events per year, etc.) and their history (years in existence, title lineage, etc.). Title holders from other organizations, who are now fighting in the UFC, are not included in this list as the UFC does not cross promote and these belts are often vacated.[5]

Heavyweight (265 lb, 120 kg)

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Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
 
American
Jon Jones UFC March 4, 2023 0
 
Cameroonian
Francis Ngannou PFL October 19, 2024 0
 
American
Ryan Bader Bellator January 26, 2019 3
 
Senegalese
Oumar Kane ONE November 7, 2024 0
 
Russian
Evgeniy Goncharov ACA March 17, 2023 1
 
English
Phil De Fries KSW April 14, 2018 10
N/A Vacant CWFC N/A N/A
 
German
Hatef Moeil Oktagon November 18, 2023 0
 
Brazilian
Hugo Cunha LFA November 3, 2023 0
N/A Vacant FNG N/A N/A
 
Guam
Roque Martinez
(Known as Megatonweight
/ over 205 lb, 93 kg)
Deep July 15, 2017 3
N/A Vacant Jungle Fight N/A N/A
 
American
Bailey Schoenfelder CFFC April 12, 2024 0
 
Congolese
Matunga Djikasa EFC October 6, 2022 0
N/A Vacant Road FC N/A N/A
N/A Vacant Titan N/A N/A
N/A Vacant Eagle FC N/A N/A
 
Cape Verdean
Yorgan De Castro CES May 3, 2024 0
 
Brazilian
Eduardo Neves Centurion FC May 18, 2024 0

Cruiserweight (225 lb, 102 kg)

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Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
 
Russian
Anatoly Malykhin
(Known as Light Heavyweight)
One December 3, 2022 0

Light Heavyweight (205 lb, 93 kg)

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Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
 
Ukrainian
Bohdan Cherepanya UFC November 12, 2024 0
 
Brazilian
Alex Pereira UFC November 11, 2023 3
 
American
Corey Anderson Bellator March 22, 2024 0
 
Russian
Anatoly Malykhin
(Known as Middleweight)
One March 1, 2024 0
N/A Vacant ACA N/A N/A
N/A Vacant Rizin FF N/A N/A
 
Polish
Rafał Haratyk KSW February 24, 2024 0
 
English
Andy Clamp CWFC March 16, 2024 0
N/A Vacant Brave CF N/A N/A
 
Czech
Karlos Vemola Oktagon July 23, 2022 1
 
Brazilian
Bruno Lopes LFA September 30, 2022 1
 
Russian
Vagab Vagabov FNG October 16, 2021 1
N/A Vacant Pancrase N/A N/A
N/A Vacant Deep N/A N/A
 
American
Luke Fernandez CFFC December 15, 2023 0
 
South African
JC Lamprecht EFC August 10, 2023 0
 
South Korean
Kim Tae-in Road FC December 18, 2022 0
N/A Vacant Titan FC N/A N/A
 
Kazakhstani
Diyar Nurgozhay Eagle FC August 21, 2022 0
 
Syrian
Tarek Suleiman UAE Warriors May 3, 2019 0
 
Algerian
Mohamed Said Maalem MMA GP Sep 16, 2023 0
 
Brazilian
Rafael Carvalho Centurion FC Nov 15, 2023 0

Middleweight (185 lb, 84 kg)

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Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
 
South African
Dricus du Plessis UFC January 20, 2024 1
 
American
Johnny Eblen Bellator June 24, 2022 3
 
American
Christian Lee
(Known as Welterweight)
One November 19, 2022 0
 
Russian
Magomedrasul Gasanov ACA April 9, 2021 4
 
Polish
Paweł Pawlak KSW June 3, 2023 2
 
Italian
Dario Bellandi CWFC November 25, 2023 0
N/A Vacant Brave CF N/A N/A
 
Czech
Patrick Kincl Oktagon February 26, 2022 3
 
Russian
Azamat Bekoev LFA December 15, 2023 0
 
Russian
Vladimir Mineev FNG September 9, 2020 1
 
Japanese
Yura Naito Pancrase March 21, 2022 0
 
Brazilian
João Batista Yoshimura Deep July 4, 2021 0
N/A Vacant Shooto N/A N/A
 
Brazilian
Vitor Costa Jungle Fight September 30, 2023 1
 
American
Kyle Daukaus CFFC September 2, 2023 2
 
South African
Luke Michael EFC March 5, 2022 0
 
South Korean
In Su Hwang Road FC July 3, 2021 0
 
Brazilian
Bruno Assis Titan July 2, 2021 0
N/A Vacant Eagle FC N/A N/A
 
American
Gary Balletto Jr. CES July 29, 2023 0
 
Iranian
Amir Fazli UAE Warriors May 20, 2023 0
 
Nigerian
Daniel Emeka AKO Aug 19, 2023 0

Welterweight (170 lb, 77 kg)

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Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
 
American
Belal Muhammad UFC July 27, 2024 0
 
Russian
Ramazan Kuramagomedov Bellator June 22, 2024 0
 
American
Christian Lee
(Known as Lightweight)
One August 26, 2022 2
 
Russian
Albert Tumenov ACA December 24, 2023 0
 
Polish
Adrian Bartosiński KSW April 22, 2023 2
 
Irish
James Sheehan CWFC April 6, 2024 0'
 
Russian
Kamal Magomedov
(175 lb, 79 kg)
Brave CF December 5, 2023 0
N/A Vacant Oktagon N/A N/A
 
Brazilian
Vanilto Antunes LFA March 23, 2024 0
 
Russian
Dmitry Bikrev FNG April 6, 2019 4
 
Japanese
Ryuichiro Sumimura Pancrase December 24, 2023 0
 
Japanese
Yoichiro Sato Deep July 14, 2024 0
N/A Vacant (Known as Middleweight) Shooto N/A N/A
 
Brazilian
Anderson Nascimento Jungle Fight March 16, 2024 0
N/A Vacant CFFC N/A N/A
 
South African
Mark Hulme EFC April 13, 2023 1
 
American
Will Brooks Titan June 2, 2023 0
N/A Vacant
(175 lb, 79 kg)
Eagle FC N/A N/A
N/A Vacant CES N/A N/A
 
Azerbaijani
Tahir Abdullaev UAE Warriors May 18, 2024 0
 
Kyrgyz
Darkhanbek Ergeshev Matrix Fight Night March 31, 2023 1
 
Brazilian
Rodrigo Lídio Centurion FC Aug 24, 2024 0

Super Lightweight (165 lb, 75 kg)

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Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
 
Bahraini
Eldar Eldarov Brave CF April 19, 2019 1

Lightweight (155 lb, 70 kg)

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Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
 
Russian
Islam Makhachev UFC October 22, 2022 3
 
Russian
Usman Nurmagomedov Bellator November 18, 2022 2
 
Chinese
Tang Kai
(Known as Featherweight)
One August 26, 2022 1
 
Russian
Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov ACA September 19, 2020 2
 
Brazilian
Roberto Satoshi Souza Rizin FF June 13, 2021 3
 
French
Salahdine Parnasse KSW June 3, 2023 1
 
English
George Hardwick CWFC July 22, 2022 2
 
Kyrgyzstani
Abdisalam Kubanychbek Brave CF February 18, 2023 1
 
Slovak
Ronald Paradeiser Oktagon December 9, 2023 0
 
American
Kegan Gennrich LFA January 12, 2024 0
 
Russian
Alexander Sarnavskiy FNG February 23, 2024 0
 
Japanese
Tatsuya Saika Pancrase March 31, 2024 0
 
Japanese
Kimihiro Eto Deep March 9, 2024 0
N/A Vacant (Known as Welterweight) Shooto N/A N/A
 
Brazilian
Arcangelo Oliveira Jungle Fight August 26, 2023 1
 
American
Robert Watley CFFC July 20, 2023 1
N/A Vacant EFC N/A N/A
 
Korean
Park Si-won Road FC July 23, 2022 1
N/A Vacant Combate Global N/A N/A
 
American
Richie Lewis Titan July 21, 2023 0
 
Azerbaijani
Ramin Sultanov Eagle FC November 11, 2023 0
 
American
Charles Rosa CES May 3, 2024 0
 
Russian
Amru Magomedov UAE Warriors October 17, 2023 1
 
Brazilian
Keweney Lopes MMA GP Jan 27, 2024 0
 
Brazilian
João Oliveira Centurion FC Mar 8, 2024 0

Featherweight (145 lb, 66 kg)

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Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
 
Georgian
Ilia Topuria UFC February 17, 2024 1
 
Brazilian
Patrício Pitbull Bellator April 15, 2022 2
 
Brazilian
Fabrício Andrade
(Known as Bantamweight)
ONE February 25, 2023 0
 
Russian
Islam Omarov ACA July 21, 2023 1
 
Japanese
Chihiro Suzuki Rizin FF November 4, 2023 1
 
French
Salahdine Parnasse KSW December 18, 2021 2
 
English
Harry Hardwick CWFC May 25, 2024 0
 
Kyrgyzstani
Nemat Abdrashitov Brave CF June 23, 2023 0
 
Belgian
Losene Keita Oktagon December 9, 2023 0
 
American
Elijah Johns LFA February 9, 2024 0
N/A Vacant FNG N/A N/A
 
Japanese
Suguru Nii Pancrase September 24, 2023 0
 
Japanese
Jin Aoi Deep March 9, 2024 0
 
Japanese
Keisuke Sasu
(Known as Lightweight)
Shooto July 25, 2021 1
 
Brazilian
Willian Souza Jungle Fight July 29, 2023 1
 
American
Jose Perez CFFC August 26, 2022 1
 
Congolese
Igeu Kabesa EFC November 3, 2022 3
 
Jordanian
Ali AlQaisi Titan August 6, 2021 0
N/A Vacant Combate Global N/A N/A
 
South Korean
Hae Jin Park Road FC December 18, 2022 0
N/A Vacant Eagle FC N/A N/A
 
American
Dan Dubuque CES September 9, 2022 0
 
Swedish
Samuel Bark UAE Warriors May 18, 2024 0
N/A Vacant Matrix Fight Night N/A N/A
N/A Vacant MMA GP N/A N/A

Bantamweight (135 lb, 61 kg)

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Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
 
Georgian
Merab Dvalishvili UFC September 14, 2024 0
 
American
Patchy Mix Bellator November 17, 2023 2
N/A Vacant One N/A N/A
 
Russian
Pavel Vitruk ACA April 19, 2024 0
 
Japanese
Naoki Inoue Rizin FF September 29, 2024 0
 
Polish
Jakub Wikłacz KSW December 17, 2022 3
 
English
Liam Gittins CWFC November 25, 2023 1
 
South African
Nkosi Ndebele Brave CF December 15, 2023 0
N/A Vacant Oktagon N/A N/A
 
American
John Sweeney LFA June 16, 2023 0
 
Kazakhstani
Sabit Zhusupov FNG October 14, 2022 1
 
Japanese
Tokitaka Nakanishi Pancrase December 24, 2023 0
 
South Korean
Yoo Soo-young Deep September 18, 2023 0
 
Japanese
Tatsuya Ando
(Known as Featherweight)
Shooto March 21, 2022 0
 
Brazilian
Tiago Pereira Jungle Fight June 24, 2023 1
 
Albanian
Vilson Ndregjoni CFFC April 1, 2023 1
 
South African
Nkazimulo Zulu EFC July 13, 2023 0
 
Dominican
Tommy Garcia Titan April 14, 2023 0
N/A Vacant Road FC N/A N/A
 
Mexican
David Martinez Combate Global May 29, 2021 2
 
Russian
Renat Khavalov Eagle FC March 19, 2021 3
 
American
Ashiek Ajim CES June 17, 2022 0
 
Pakistani
Uloomi Karim Matrix Fight Night November 18, 2022 0
 
French
Alfan Rocher-Labes MMA GP Sep 16, 2023 0

Flyweight (125 lb, 57 kg)

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Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
 
Brazilian
Alexandre Pantoja UFC July 8, 2023 2
N/A Vacant Bellator N/A N/A
 
Filipino
Joshua Pacio
(Known as Strawweight)
One March 1, 2024 0
 
Russian
Kurban Gadzhiev ACA February 25, 2023 0
 
Japanese
Kyoji Horiguchi Rizin FF December 31, 2023 0
 
Bangladeshi
Shajidul Haque CWFC December 31, 2022 1
 
English
Sam Creasey Oktagon April 20, 2024 0
 
Brazilian
Eduardo Henrique LFA November 17, 2023 0
 
Russian
Vartan Asatryan FNG February 23, 2022 0
 
Japanese
Makoto Takahashi Deep March 1, 2020 1
 
Japanese
Seiichiro Ito Pancrase April 3, 2024 1
 
Japanese
Jo Arai
(Known as Bantamweight)
Shooto November 19, 2023 0
 
Brazilian
Wagner Reis Jungle Fight November 25, 2023 1
 
American
Israel Galvan CFFC March 8, 2024 0
 
South African
Nkazimulo Zulu EFC March 7, 2024 0
 
Brazilian
Victor Dias Titan March 26, 2021 1
N/A Vacant Road FC N/A N/A
 
Russian
Irgit Oveenchi Eagle FC August 10, 2022 0
 
American
Mitch Raposo CES November 17, 2020 0
 
Brazilian
Iago Ribeiro UAE Warriors May 18, 2024 0
 
Indian
Angad Bisht Matrix Fight Night November 18, 2022 0
 
French
Michael Aljarouj MMA GP Mar 4, 2023 1

Strawweight (115 lb, 52 kg)

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Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
 
Japanese
Keito Yamakita Pancrase July 18, 2022 0
 
Japanese
Haruo Ochi Deep May 26, 2024 0
 
Japanese
Jo Arai
(Known as Flyweight)
Shooto September 19, 2022 1

Women

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Women athletes are generally smaller than, and compete at lower weights than their male counterparts.[6]

Featherweight (145 lb, 66 kg)

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Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
 
Brazilian
Cris Cyborg PFL October 19, 2024 0
 
Brazilian
Cris Cyborg Bellator January 25, 2020 5
N/A Vacant Invicta FC N/A N/A
 
Japanese
Yoko Higashi Deep Jewels May 8, 2022 0

Bantamweight (135 lb, 61 kg)

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Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
 
American
Julianna Peña UFC October 5, 2024 0
 
Brazilian
Talita Bernardo Invicta FC January 18, 2023 1
N/A Vacant FNG N/A N/A
N/A Vacant LFA N/A N/A
N/A Vacant Deep Jewels N/A N/A
N/A Vacant Pancrase N/A N/A
 
Brazilian
Kelly Ottoni Jungle Fight July 31, 2022 0
N/A Vacant CFFC N/A N/A
N/A Vacant EFC N/A N/A

Flyweight (125 lb, 57 kg)

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Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
 
Kyrgyzstani
Valentina Shevchenko UFC September 14, 2024 0
 
American
Liz Carmouche Bellator April 22, 2022 3
 
Chinese
Xiong Jing Nan
(Known as Strawweight)
One January 20, 2018 7
N/A Vacant Invicta FC January 18, 2023 N/A
 
Canadian
Shannon Clark LFA February 23, 2024 0
 
Japanese
Rin Nakai Deep Jewels May 8, 2022 0
 
Japanese
Shizuka Sugiyama Pancrase July 21, 2024 0
 
Brazilian
Elora Dana Jungle Fight March 26, 2023 2
 
American
Fatima Kline CFFC November 3, 2023 0
N/A Vacant EFC N/A N/A
 
Canadian
Corinne Laframboise UAE Warriors March 26, 2022 0

Strawweight (115 lb, 52 kg)

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Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
 
Chinese
Zhang Weili UFC November 12, 2022 2
 
Thai
Stamp Fairtex
(Known as Atomweight)
One September 30, 2023 0
 
Irish
Danni McCormack Invicta FC March 15, 2023 1
 
German
Katharina Dalisda Oktagon September 16, 2023 1
 
Brazilian
Rose Conceição LFA July 7, 2023 0
 
Japanese
Seika Izawa Deep Jewels March 15, 2022 0
 
Japanese
Haruka Hasegawa Pancrase April 30, 2023 0
 
Japanese
Emi Fujino Shooto May 18, 2024 0
 
Brazilian
Laura Vasconcelos Jungle Fight July 20, 2024 0
 
American
Fatima Kline CFFC February 9, 2024 0
 
Romanian
Alice Ardelean EFC March 2, 2023 0
N/A Vacant Combate Global N/A N/A
N/A Vacant Matrix Fight Night N/A N/A

Super Atomweight (108 lb, 49 kg or 110 lb, 50 kg)

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Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
 
Japanese
Seika Izawa
Rizin FF April 17, 2022 1
 
Japanese
Ayaka Watanabe
(110 lb, 50 kg)
Shooto May 21, 2023 0

Atomweight (105 lb, 47,5 kg)

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Name Organization Date No. of title defenses
 
Brazilian
Elisandra Ferreira Invicta FC September 20, 2024 0
 
Japanese
Seika Izawa Deep Jewels March 24, 2024 0
 
Japanese
Satomi Takano Pancrase March 31, 2024 0
 
Japanese
Chihiro Sawada Shooto November 27, 2022 1
 
South Korean
Shim Yu-ri Road FC September 4, 2021 0

Microweight (95 lb, 43 kg)

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riaz Organization Date No. of title defenses
 
Japanese
Saori Oshima Deep September 20, 2020 2
 
Japanese
Saori Oshima Deep Jewels May 26, 2024 0

See also

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References

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  1. ^ The Canadian Press Staff (August 14, 2010). "Ontario to allow mixed martial arts starting in 2011". Bell Media.
  2. ^ Robert Rousseau. "MMA Doesn't Need 14 Weight Classes". SubmitToMMA.com. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  3. ^ Michael David Smith (June 7, 2010). "Frank Mir Moving Down? Maybe MMA Needs Cruiserweight Division". AOL Inc.
  4. ^ "Fight Matrix - Lineal Championship Histories". fightmatrix.com.
  5. ^ Sammy Perez (November 8, 2010). ""Slammin' Sammy" on MMA Cross Promotion & Risks!". ringtalk.com.
  6. ^ Hyde & Gengenbach. "Anatomical and Physiological Considerations when comparing Male and Female Athletes". San Diego Center for Health. Retrieved July 26, 2011.