Following the name of the champion(s): Indicates the number of times the competitor has held that title at that point.
[...]
Indicates a gap in the listing where title changes are not known.
<
Title was held or changed hands no later than this. In these cases, it is known that a competitor held the title at a certain time but not when he/she won it.
@
Order uncertain. Different titleholders may be known for the same year, for example, but it is not known who held the title before whom.
#
Unofficial or disputable claims. These are usually matches that certainly took place, but where there is doubt that the competitor shown should be recognized as a true title holder. These listings are also italicized.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
World Light Heavyweight Title [205lb/93kg limit]
(as of 2025-09-16)
* Middleweight Title until 2001-05.
* Bolded letters in the competitor's name, if any, indicate the surname/family name.
Frank Shamrock
1997-12-21
Yokohama, JPN
Defeats Kevin Jackson to become the first UFC Middleweight champion; vacant in 99-11 when Shamrock retires.
Tito Ortiz
2000-04-14
Tōkyō, JPN
Defeats Wanderlei Silva; becomes the World Light Heavyweight Title in 01-05 according to the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts established in 00; due to Ortiz's injury/contractual dispute with UFC, Randy Couture defeats Chuck Liddell on 03-06-06 in Las Vegas, NV for an interim title.
Randy Couture
2003-09-26
Las Vegas, NV
Defeats Tito Ortiz to become the undisputed champion.
Stripped on 15-04-28 after Jones is arrested for hit-and-run charges.
Daniel Cormier
2015-05-23
Las Vegas, NV
Defeats Anthony Johnson; Jon Jones defeats Ovince Saint Preux to become interim champion on 16-04-23 in Las Vegas, NV but is stripped on 16-11-09 due to his 1-year suspension related to a failed pre-fight drug test.
Jon Jones #
2017-07-29
Anaheim, CA
Defeats Cormier but stripped on 17-09-13 when the decision is reversed to a no-contest due to a failed pre-fight drug test.
Daniel Cormier #
2017-09-13
Reinstated as the champion; wins World Heavyweight Title on 18-07-07 and vacates the light heavyweight title on 18-12-28.
Jon Jones [2]
2018-12-29
Inglewood, CA
Defeats Alexander Gustafsson; vacates on 20-08-17.
Jan Błachowicz
2020-09-27
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Defeats Dominick Reyes.
Glover Teixeira
2021-10-30
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Jiří Procházka
2022-06-12
Kallang, SIN
Vacates on 22-11-23 due to shoulder injury; Jan Błachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev fight to a draw on 22-12-10 in Las Vegas, NV for the vacant title.
Jamahal Hill
2023-01-21
Rio de Janeiro, BRA
Defeats Glover Teixeira; vacates on 23-07-14 due to an achilles tendon rupture.
