List of UFC champions

This is a list of Ultimate Fighting Championship champions at each weight class.cite web
url=http://www.ocregister.com/sports/ufc-def-title-1751549-round-heavyweight
title=UFC Championship Lineage
publisher=The Orange County Register
date=July 2, 2007
accessdate=2007-09-14]

At the time of the UFC's inception in 1993, the sport of mixed martial arts was unsanctioned in the United States, and as such weight classes did not exist; instead of the traditional championship model, tournaments were held with the winner receiving a permanent appellation. [cite web
url=http://www.slate.com/id/46344
title=Fight Clubbed
last=Plotz
first=David
publisher=Slate
date=1999-11-07
accessdate=2007-03-21] In response to criticism from Senator John McCain which saw the loss of their television deal and the banning of the sport in thirty-six states, the UFC increased its cooperation with state athletic commissions and introduced weight classes in 1997. [cite book
last=Gentry III
first=Clyde
title=No Holds Barred: Ultimate Fighting and the Martial Arts Revolution
publisher=Milo Books
year=2003
edition=Paperback Edition
isbn=ISBN 0-903854-90-X
pages=106, 123]

The original codification for weight classes introduced only two divisions—heavyweight; which grouped competitors above 200 lb (91 kg), and lightweight; which encompassed all other competitors. The UFC would later rename their lightweight division to middleweight, and add lightweight (170 lb, 77 kg) and bantamweight (155 lb, 70 kg) divisions. In 2000, the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board completely took over regulation in its home state, and their rules and weight classes became the de facto rule set for mixed martial arts today. [cite web
url=http://www.state.nj.us/lps/sacb/docs/martial.html
title=Mixed Martial Arts Unified Rules of Conduct
publisher=New Jersey State Athletic Control Board
year=2000
accessdate=2007-09-08] The UFC realigned their weight classes to comply with the new regulations in 2001. [cite web
url=http://www.ivansblog.com/2006/07/mixed-martial-arts-new-jersey.html
title=New Jersey Commission Corrects Mainstream UFC Stories
last=Trembow
first=Ivan
publisher=MMA Weekly
format=Reprint
year=2000
accessdate=2007-09-08]

Title histories

Heavyweight championship (265 lb, 120 kg)

Welterweight championship (170 lb, 77 kg)

:"The welterweight title was known as the lightweight title prior to UFC 31 (May 4, 2001)"

Tournaments

ee also

*List of PRIDE champions
*List of Pancrase champions
*List of UFC events
*Mixed martial arts weight classes

References

;General
*cite web
url=http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=fighter.TitleHolders&cid=3
title=Title Holders
publisher=UFC
date=2007
accessdate=2007-08-12
*cite web
url=http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=fighter.PreviousTitleHolders
title=Previous Title Holders
publisher=UFC
date=2007
accessdate=2007-08-12;Specific