After Alex Pereira won his second UFC title last weekend, we look back at all the other fighters who have won two belts in the UFC. https://youtu.be/1EI5pfl2gjs?si=D3PmePJjJhwCz-sF p>
Alex Pereira joined a special group of fighters with his victory over Jiri Prochaska last weekend. The Brazilian fighter became the light heavyweight world champion, winning his second world title in just his seventh fight in the UFC. In light of his victory, we look back at all the other fighters who have won two belts, including Conor McGregor and Jon Jones.
Also read: Conor McGregor gives important update on next UFC fight, fans react – “USADA”
Winning a title in the UFC is already very difficult. The best mixed martial artists compete in the UFC, as it is the world’s leading MMA promotion. Therefore, winning a belt in a weight class is already a huge accomplishment. However, only a select few won two belts.
From Conor McGregor to Jon Jones, how many UFC fighters have been two-division champions?
1. Randy Couture
The first UFC fighter to win two belts was American heavyweight Randy Couture. Couture won his first heavyweight gold medal in 1997. He won the belt in 2000. However, after losing his second heavyweight title, Couture moved to light heavyweight and briefly moved up to 205 pounds. Title match against Chuck Liddell. In the next fight he won the title. He became the first UFC fighter to win titles in his two divisions.
2. BJ Penn
The second fighter to win two belts in two divisions was another MMA great. BJ Penn won his first welterweight title in 2004 by defeating Matt Hughes by submission. However, due to a contract dispute with the UFC, he had to give up the title. Penn returned a few years later, and in 2008 he defeated Joe Stevenson to become world lightweight champion.
3. Conor McGregor
No. 3 on the list is also the first fighter to win and hold two titles at the same time. Conor McGregor defeated Jose Aldo in 13 seconds to win the featherweight title. And after that overwhelming victory, McGregor challenged for the lightweight championship. The Irishman stepped up and won the lightweight title with a great performance against Alvarez, making him the first fighter to hold two titles at the same time.
4. Georges St-Pierre
Next on the list of fighters who won two titles in two divisions was Georges St. Pierre. The Canadian won his first title in 2006 by defeating Matt Hughes at welterweight. And more than a decade later, he came out of retirement to take on Michael Bisping in a big fight at middleweight and also secured the middleweight belt.
5. Amanda Nunes
Next on the list is probably the greatest female MMA fighter of all time. Brazilian Amanda Nunes defeated Miesha Tate to win her women’s bantamweight title in 2016. She then moved up to featherweight and fought Cris Cyborg for her title. Nunes also handled Cyborg easily and became a two-division champion. She was her second fighter to hold her two belts at the same time, and the first and only fighter to defend both belts.
6. Daniel Cormier
Heavyweight Daniel Cormier also won two weight classes at the same time. He defeated Anthony Johnson in 2015 to win his first light heavyweight title. Then, in 2018, Cormier moved up to heavyweight and took on Stipe Miocic. Cormier put on a phenomenal performance and won the heavyweight belt, making him only the third fighter in UFC history to hold his two belts at the same time.
7. Henry Cejudo
Former Olympic champion Henry Cejudo also accomplished the feat of holding two belts at the same time. He won his first title in 2018 by defeating Demetrius Johnson for the flyweight title. Cejudo then moved up in weight to face Marlon Moraes for the bantamweight title. And the American surpassed Moraes to become his fourth fighter in UFC history to hold his two belts simultaneously.
8. Jon Jones
Jon Jones is widely considered to be the greatest of all time and recently won his second title in the UFC. Jones dominated the light heavyweight division for many years. The only time he lost the title was outside the octagon. But Jones was unbeatable in the Octagon. He won his first title in 2011 by defeating Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. However, in 2020, Jon Jones said he was moving up to heavyweight. Three years later, Jones made his heavyweight debut and dismantled Ciryl Gane in less than a minute to win his second belt in the UFC.
9. Alex Pereira
The youngest player on this list is Brazilian Alex Pereira. As we all know, “Poitan” defeated Israel Adesanya in 2022 to win his first UFC title. However, after losing the rematch, Pereira decided to move up to light heavyweight. After securing his shot at the title with a win over Jan Blachowicz, Pereira easily defeated Jiri Prochaska to become the ninth fighter in UFC history to win two titles.
You are now done. There are nine fighters in UFC history who have won two titles. Which double champion left the most impression on you?
