5 UFC fighters who are the only champions from their country
The UFC possesses a global reach. The promotion's roster consists of countless fighters from every continent except Antarctica. However, the majority of UFC champions throughout the promotion's history tend to be either American or Brazilian. With the exception of a few outliers, it has been difficult to break the mold.
In recent years, however, more elite fighters have arisen from different territories as MMA continues its expansion across the globe, reaching countries and cultures that were once closed off to the prospect of combat sports under a ruleset that permitted elbows, knees, kicks, chokes, etc., in addition to punches and kicks. Champions from the international community have since emerged to represent their countries.
Joanna Jędrzejczyk and Jan Błachowicz have both honored the nation of Poland as the country's first UFC champions. Similarly, MMA legends Carlos Newton and Georges St-Pierre were the first Canadians to capture UFC gold for the Great White North. This list, however, looks at five fighters who were the first to win UFC world championships for their nation and remain the only champions their country has ever had.
#5. UFC lightweight champion Jiří Procházka, Czech Republic
The latest fighter to become his country's first-time UFC champion, Jiří Procházka is the reigning light heavyweight titleholder. A native of the Czech Republic, Procházka is no stranger to milestones in mixed martial arts, having been the inaugural Rizin and Gladiator light heavyweight champion.
Jiri Prochazka becomes the first UFC champion from the Czech Republic #UFC275 https://t.co/KAFSWueXom
The peak of MMA success, however, entails capturing UFC gold. After embarking on a 12-fight win streak that included 11 knockouts and only 1 decision win, the Czech phenom earned a title fight against the former light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira at UFC 275. In a Fight of the Year candidate, Jiří Procházka defeated the Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist by forcing his foe to submit to a rear-naked choke in the final minute of the fight, something that many expected Teixeira to do to Procházka himself.
After five grueling rounds of fierce combat, he was declared the winner by way of submission and became the Czech Republic's first-ever (and still only) UFC champion.