Top 10 UFC double champions

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In the world of the UFC, it is arduous to win one title, not to mention two in several weight lessons. However, ten fighters within the promotion’s historical past have managed this.

So with 5 double champions and 5 simultaneous double champions, who ranks as the most effective in UFC historical past?

Naturally, it is arduous to rank these fighters. All ten have been or are unimaginable abilities, however it’s honest to counsel that some have been extra dominant than others.

Here, then, are the UFC’s ten double champions, ranked.

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#10. Conor McGregor – former UFC featherweight and light-weight champion

The greatest star in UFC historical past, Conor McGregor additionally stands as the primary fighter to win two titles in several weight lessons concurrently.

‘The Notorious’ had a fast stand up the rankings at featherweight following his debut in 2013. He beat lower-level foes with ease to start with, then turned a contender by knocking out Dustin Poirier.

McGregor needed to watch for his conflict with longtime champ Jose Aldo, successful an interim title in opposition to Chad Mendes beforehand. When he did get his shot on the Brazilian, although, he capitalised massively and knocked him out in 13 seconds to say the title.

After splitting a pair of fights at 170 kilos with Nate Diaz, ‘The Notorious’ then moved to light-weight, the place he knocked out Eddie Alvarez in a dominant exhibiting to say his second title on the finish of 2016.

McGregor ranks low on this checklist, although, as a result of he is the one fighter right here who has by no means made a single protection of both of his titles.

Sure, the truth that he gave them as much as pursue a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather made him thousands and thousands of {dollars} richer, however it additionally harmed his legacy. The Irishman has received simply as soon as since that Alvarez victory.

#9. BJ Penn – former UFC light-weight and welterweight champion

BJ Penn is an enchanting case in the truth that, not like a lot of the different fighters on this checklist, he received his first title in a heavier weight class than his second.

‘The Prodigy’ burst onto the scene as a 155-pounder in 2001 and instantly stormed up the rankings. After shedding his first title shot, he was unlucky to not declare the light-weight title in 2003 when the judges surprisingly declared his struggle with Caol Uno a draw.

The Hawaiian rebounded, although, and shocked the world by dethroning longtime welterweight champ Matt Hughes in the beginning of 2004. It was Penn’s first struggle at 170 kilos.

Rather than go on to defend his title, although, Penn departed the UFC for a big-money contract with Japanese promotion Okay-1, angering Dana White within the course of.

‘The Prodigy’ did return in early 2006, although. After failing to regain the welterweight title, he dropped to 155 kilos and claimed the gold there as an alternative.

This time Penn did placed on a dominant reign, defending his title thrice, though his time as champion was shorter than many bear in mind, simply over two years.

Had the Hawaiian held onto both of his titles for longer, he may’ve been ranked extra extremely on this checklist, however it’s arduous to not rely his 2004 departure in opposition to him right here.

#8. Ilia Topuria – former UFC featherweight and present light-weight champion

The newest fighter to turn into a double champion is, in fact, Ilia Topuria.

‘El Matador’ wrecked Charles Oliveira this weekend at UFC 317 to say light-weight gold after voluntarily giving up his featherweight title earlier this yr.

2024 had seen Topuria make historical past by claiming that title, knocking out longtime champion Alexander Volkanovski. In doing so, he turned one of many few fighters to win a UFC title whereas unbeaten general.

It’s honest to say that Topuria’s reign at 145 kilos didn’t final very lengthy, however the truth that his single title protection got here in opposition to Max Holloway says so much. ‘El Matador’ can at all times say he beat two of the consensus biggest three featherweights of all time.

It’s too early to rank Topuria any larger right here, as for all we all know, his light-weight title reign may show to be a footnote. Based on what he is achieved up to now, although, that feels uncertain, and it would not be a shock to see him high an inventory like this sooner or later.

#7. Georges St-Pierre – former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion

Generally thought of the best fighter in UFC and MMA historical past, Georges St-Pierre ran roughshod over the welterweight division for the most effective a part of a decade.

‘GSP’ held the welterweight title twice between 2006 and 2013, along with his second reign lasting over 5 years.

From his octagon debut in 2003 to his preliminary retirement in 2013, the Canadian mainly beat each different nice 170-pounder on the planet, from Matt Hughes and BJ Penn to Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit.

However, St-Pierre’s reign as middleweight champion was far much less profitable. He returned from a four-year absence to dethrone Michael Bisping in a thriller on the finish of 2017, however whether or not he deserved a shot is debatable in itself.

To add to this, ‘GSP’ did not even try to defend his title, relinquishing it in 2018, citing well being points stemming from his transfer as much as 185 kilos.

In conclusion, then, St-Pierre’s run at 170 kilos marks him out as the best, however by way of double champions, it is arduous to contemplate him larger.

#6. Alex Pereira – former UFC middleweight and light-heavyweight champion

Few fighters in UFC historical past have been capable of attain the highest fairly so quick as former middleweight and light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

‘Poatan’ entered the octagon as some of the adorned strikers within the promotion’s historical past, and shortly did some harm, short-circuiting three foes to earn a middleweight title shot.

Sure, he took a shortcut of types because of his earlier kickboxing rivalry with then-champ Israel Adesanya, however he nonetheless needed to beat ‘The Last Stylebender’, a really dominant champion.

Pereira did simply that, stunning everybody by knocking Adesanya out within the fifth spherical to say his first MMA title.

The Brazilian’s run as a 185-pound kingpin didn’t final lengthy, as Adesanya took his revenge and reclaimed his crown just some months later.

However, a transfer to 205 kilos in late 2023 proved to be very fruitful, as ‘Poatan’ knocked out Jiri Prochazka to say the light-heavyweight title. He then defended it in opposition to three opponents earlier than shedding it to Magomed Ankalaev earlier this yr.

With six wins over former UFC champions in a brief area of time, Pereira has marked himself out as a real all-time nice, however his lack of dominance at 185 kilos means he cannot be ranked any larger right here.

#5. Jon Jones – former UFC light-heavyweight and heavyweight champion

It’s debatable that Jon Jones is essentially the most controversial fighter on this checklist, completely due to his questionable reign with the heavyweight title.

Nobody can actually query his accomplishments at light-heavyweight. ‘Bones’ turned the youngest champion in UFC historical past when he dethroned Shogun Rua in 2011, and by then he’d already crushed nice fighters like Ryan Bader.

From there, he defended his crown in opposition to a who’s who at 205 kilos, beating the likes of Rampage Jackson, Rashad Evans, Alexander Gustafsson and Glover Teixeira.

Two failed drug assessments and twice being stripped of his title did put a stain on Jones’ legacy, however it’s nonetheless arduous to argue along with his performances within the octagon.

His run as a heavyweight, although, is one other factor completely.

Sure, it wasn’t his fault that he needed to beat Ciryl Gane fairly than Francis Ngannou for the title. Ngannou selected to go away the UFC in any case.

However, ‘Bones’ then proceeded to pursue a protection in opposition to Stipe Miocic, who was clearly previous his finest, and ignored the specter of interim champ Tom Aspinall for practically two years earlier than retiring this yr.

Had Jones merely fought Aspinall – even when he’d misplaced – then he could also be ranked extra extremely right here. However, regardless of his dominance at 205 kilos, his remaining yr actually left a nasty style general.

#4. Daniel Cormier – former UFC light-heavyweight and heavyweight champion

Probably Jon Jones’ greatest-ever rival, Daniel Cormier is available in one spot above ‘Bones’ on this checklist regardless of none of his title reigns being as dominant as Jones’ time as light-heavyweight champ.

That’s as a result of ‘DC’ took all three of his title reigns significantly and was keen to struggle the highest contenders on the time, even when they weren’t at all times the most important names within the divisions.

Cormier’s first title reign got here in 2015 with the light-heavyweight title, as he claimed the crown vacated by Jones when the latter was stripped following a hit-and-run incident.

This reign was in all probability his most memorable, as he made defenses in opposition to Alexander Gustafsson and Anthony Johnson, and in addition beat Anderson Silva in a memorable non-title struggle.

Cormier misplaced the title to Jones in 2017 however had it returned to him when the latter examined constructive for PEDs. This time, he made a single protection earlier than shifting to heavyweight and changing into the third simultaneous double champ in UFC historical past by beating Stipe Miocic.

‘DC’ vacated his 205-pound title shortly after, and in addition misplaced the heavyweight crown again to Miocic in his second protection, though he did first defend in opposition to Derrick Lewis.

There’s an argument that Cormier was by no means the outright “best” fighter in both of his divisions, however as a champion, he was exemplary, and he ought to completely rank extremely on an inventory of the double champions.

#3. Henry Cejudo – former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion

The self-proclaimed ‘biggest fight athlete of all time’, Henry Cejudo was marked out for greatness previous to his UFC debut due to his 2008 Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling.

It did take ‘Triple C’ some time to get comfy within the octagon, although, as he was simply defeated by Demetrious Johnson in his first flyweight title shot.

Cejudo rebounded properly, although, and in his second try on the gold two years later, he got here up trumps. In a decent bout to name, the gold medallist dethroned ‘Mighty Mouse’, changing into the primary man to ever defeat him at 125 kilos.

Cejudo’s first and solely protection was an odd one, as he was confronted with bantamweight titleholder TJ Dillashaw, who moved down in an try to turn into a simultaneous double champ.

Dillashaw’s try failed miserably, although, as Cejudo violently knocked him out. Later, he examined constructive for EPO and was stripped of his crown, and so it solely made sense for Cejudo to go after that, too.

Sure sufficient, ‘Triple C’ stopped Marlon Moraes to turn into the UFC’s fourth simultaneous double champ, and he went on to defend his new 135-pound title in opposition to the legendary Dominick Cruz.

Had Cejudo not retired briefly in 2020, giving up each of his titles within the course of, he may properly have discovered himself on the high of this checklist. His legacy is secured, however he may’ve achieved much more.

#2. Randy Couture – former UFC light-heavyweight and heavyweight champion

The UFC’s first-ever two-division champion, Randy Couture is now thought of persona non grata with the promotion due to a spat with Dana White.

However, whereas his general MMA report of 19-11 is hardly excellent in comparison with a number of the different fighters on this checklist, it is not possible to minimize his accomplishments.

‘The Natural’ entered the UFC in 1997 following a massively profitable newbie wrestling profession and instantly confirmed his abilities. He received UFC 13’s heavyweight match after which turned the primary fighter to beat Vitor Belfort, who seemed unstoppable on the time.

Couture adopted that by successful his first heavyweight title, dethroning Maurice Smith, though a contract dispute meant he left the promotion earlier than he may defend it.

His second reign was extra profitable, as he returned to reclaim his crown from Kevin Randleman and made two wonderful defenses.

When he misplaced it to Josh Barnett, although, it felt like his profession was in all probability over. After all, he was pushing 40 years outdated.

Of course, everybody is aware of what occurred from there. Couture dropped to 205 kilos, thrashed Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz, and have become a two-time light-heavyweight champion earlier than initially retiring in 2006.

Remarkably, even then, the story did not finish. ‘The Natural’ returned from retirement in 2007 to turn into heavyweight champion once more, this time defeating the a lot bigger Tim Sylvia.

Couture ultimately misplaced his title to Brock Lesnar in 2008, and would retire – this time for good – in 2011.

While none of his title reigns have been actually dominant per say, the truth that he was capable of finding such success at a sophisticated age, and upset the chances in opposition to nice fighters so many occasions means he stays an absolute legend.

In addition, Couture’s outstanding longevity makes it not possible to not rank him extremely on this checklist.

#1. Amanda Nunes – former UFC bantamweight and featherweight champion

The solely feminine fighter on this checklist, it isn’t a stretch to say that Amanda Nunes also needs to be thought of the UFC’s biggest double champion.

Sure, she did not face the identical form of competitors that Georges St-Pierre or Jon Jones did, however to be so dominant over two divisions – on the similar time – for the most effective a part of a decade is unimaginable.

‘The Lioness’ first claimed the bantamweight title when she defeated Miesha Tate within the headline bout at UFC 200 in 2016.

Believe it or not, many followers noticed her as a placeholder on the time, notably when she was matched with former champ Ronda Rousey in her first protection.

Nunes smashed Rousey, although, after which went on to beat the likes of Valentina Shevchenko and Holly Holm too.

In 2018, she shocked the world by defeating Cris Cyborg—essentially the most feared feminine fighter of all time—to say the featherweight title, making her the UFC’s third simultaneous double champion.

From there, ‘The Lioness’ dominated all comers in each divisions till her retirement in 2023, with the one blemish being a defeat to Julianna Pena that she later avenged.

In complete, Nunes ended her profession with 9 wins over different fighters who held UFC titles, a scarcely-believable quantity. She’s not the best fighter of all time, however by way of double champions, she belongs on the high of the checklist.