Issue 043
November 2008
In the sport of MMA, titles can be confusing. There are many promotions and usually each has their own form of a title, be it a local, regional or even world title. Some dispense with geography and simply refer to their champs as the ‘XYZ Federation Champion of the Universe’. It’s not difficult to see that pretty much anyone can go off and make their own title belt, but true champions exists at only the highest level of the sport.
In 2007 the biggest title fight to date took place when Dan Henderson and Quinton Jackson fought to unify the UFC and Pride titles. For years, arguments had raged over which promotion had the superior champions, and this fight brought that debate to an end. Jackson walked away with both belts, and with the death of Pride FC, the UFC established itself as the ‘ultimate’ title to hold. If you are the UFC titleholder, you in effect hold the truest world title there is. This month’s guide is to the UFC champions in each weight class.
THE CHAMPIONS
Randy Couture
16-8-0
Las Vegas
‘Minotauro’ Nogueira
31-4-1(1NC)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Forrest Griffin
16-4-0
Las Vegas
Anderson Silva
22-4-0
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Georges St, Pierre
17-2-0
Montreal, Canada
BJ Penn
13-4-1
Hilo, Hawaii
TITLE.HELD
Randy Couture
Heavyweight since UFC 68, 3 March 2007.
‘Minotauro’ Nogueira
Interim Heavyweight since UFC 81, 2 February 2008.
Forrest Griffin
Light Heavyweight since UFC 86, 5 July 2008.
Anderson Silva
Middleweight since UFC 64, 14 October 2008.
Georges St, Pierre
Welterweight since UFC 83, 19 April 2008.
BJ Penn
Lightweight since UFC 80, 19 January 2008.
Won belt from
Randy Couture
Defeated Tim Sylvia via a five-round bout in a stunning return to heavyweight.
‘Minotauro’ Nogueira
Submitted Tim Sylvia via second-round guillotine.
Forrest Griffin
Squeezed out a narrow decision over Quinton Jackson.
Anderson Silva
He tore his way through Rich Franklin in under three minutes for the win.
Georges St, Pierre
Matt Serra, whom he defeated in a revenge match in his hometown of Montreal.
BJ Penn
Defeated Joe Stevenson for the vacant title after Sean Sherk was stripped.
THE GOOD
Randy Couture
Seemingly ageless, excellent strategist, head of Xtreme Couture team.
‘Minotauro’ Nogueira
Excellent grappler with world-class submission skills. Extremely good chin.
Forrest Griffin
Improves with every fight, big for the weight class, hard worker.
Anderson Silva
Laser-accurate striking, developed ground game, always composed.
Georges St, Pierre
Extremely athletic, quick learner, varied arsenal of tricks.
BJ Penn
Sublime submission grappling, hard hitter, great chin.
THE BAD
Randy Couture
Time is not on his side. Has suffered against bigger, stronger grapplers.
‘Minotauro’ Nogueira
Limited stand-up striking and wrestling. Relatively unaccustomed to fighting in a cage.
Forrest Griffin
Has been known to lack self-confidence, although this is changing.
Anderson Silva
At this time, only a lack of serious challengers.
Georges St, Pierre
His chin is suspect since his brush with Serra, although this is conjecture.
BJ Penn
Has lacked motivation to train properly in the past, but seems to have overcome this.
Other accolades
Randy Couture
Two-time former light heavyweight champion, three-time heavyweight champion.
‘Minotauro’ Nogueira
Former Pride FC heavyweight champion – lost his title to Fedor.
Forrest Griffin
Winner of Season One of The Ultimate Fighter.
Anderson Silva
Won British promotion Cage Rage’s middleweight title.
Georges St, Pierre
Previously held the title for six months before losing and winning it back from Serra.
BJ Penn
Won UFC Welterweight title in 2004 but a contract dispute saw him stripped of it.
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