Issue 163
November -0001
Men whose names are etched in stone as the first UFC champions of their weight class.
Heavyweight Mark Coleman
‘The Hammer’ unified the superfight and tournament championship belts to create the first world title in ’97.
Light heavyweight Frank Shamrock
‘The Legend’ earned his nickname by defending his prize four times, before retiring as champion.
Middleweight Dave Menne:
‘The Warrior’ won the inaugural 185lb five- rounder at UFC 33 in 2001, but lost it to Murilo Bustamante just 105 days later.
Welterweight Pat Miletich:
Started a dynasty of title-holders from his gym in Iowa as the division’s leader from 1998-2000.
Lightweight Jens Pulver:
First known as the bantamweight belt, ‘Lil Evil’ had his strap stripped when he left the UFC due to a contract dispute.
Featherweight Jose Aldo:
Won the WEC belt in 2009, which was upgraded outside the cage to UFC gold when the promotions merged in 2010.
Bantamweight Dominick Cruz:
Another whose blue-cage hardware got swapped for the Octagon strap. Cruz was awarded his at the last WEC event.
Flyweight Demetrious Johnson:
The first, current, only, reigning and defending 125lb king. Champ since 2012 and 11 defenses in...
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