Alex Pereira and four of the most active champions in UFC history
To capture UFC gold is the dream of nearly every fighter who signs with the promotion. Not only does championship ascension earn fighters acknowledgment from both their peers and the sport's spectators, but it also lands them life-changing contracts.
The amount of negotiating power enjoyed by UFC champions, along with the perks, causes many to try and force the promotion's hand. Some begin demanding unlikely 'money fights,' targeting the likes of Conor McGregor, Georges St-Pierre, and, at one point, Nick Diaz.
But what of the champions that scoff at such an approach? Sometimes, the promotion's titleholders have such a fighting spirit that they are willing to take on all comers: anywhere, any time. Who then, are these fighters?
#5. Ronda Rousey, former UFC women's bantamweight champion
While Ronda Rousey's reputation has soured following her MMA retirement, especially in recent months, there is no disputing how game she was as a champion. 'Rowdy' reigned as the UFC's first-ever female champion, earning the women's bantamweight belt in 2012. Thereafter, her run was historic.
Check out Ronda Rousey submitting Cat Zingano:
She defended her title twice in 2013, submitting both Liz Carmouche and Miesha Tate, before doing the same in 2014, defending her belt in knockouts over Sara McMann and Alexis Davis. 2015, however, was her most active-ever year, as she fought thrice, submitting Cat Zingano and knocking out Bethe Correia effortlessly.
Unfortunately, her third title defense that year marked the end of her stranglehold on the belt. She faced Holly Holm at UFC 193, where she was on the wrong end of one of the greatest upsets in MMA history, getting knocked out after two rounds of being outworked.
#4. Alexander Volkanovski, former UFC featherweight champion
Alexander Volkanovski's need to stay active is so strong that it's become memeable. After capturing the UFC featherweight strap from Max Holloway, and defending it twice against 'Blessed' in an immediate rematch and Brian Ortega in a fresh matchup, 'The Great's' activity skyrocketed.
Check out Alexander Volkanovski TKO'ing Yair Rodriguez:
He defended his belt twice in 2022, TKO'ing Chan Sung Jung, and dominating his rival, Holloway, stunningly. His activity levels increased thereafter. In 2023, he challenged Islam Makhachev for lightweight gold, losing but bouncing back five months later to defend his featherweight title against Yair Rodriguez.
Then, in a widely ill-advised move, he replaced Charles Oliveira at UFC 294, on just 10 days' notice, after the latter had injured himself, facing Makhachev in a rematch. He lost via brutal knockout but returned just four months later to defend his featherweight title against Ilia Topuria, losing via knockout.
#3. Israel Adesanya, former UFC middleweight champion
There is a reason Israel Adesanya has become a must-see action in MMA. He is one of the promotion's stars for various reasons, not least of which is his desire to be active. After knocking out Robert Whittaker to become the undisputed middleweight champion, Adesanya defended his title twice in 2020.
Check out Israel Adesanya knocking Robert Whittaker out:
Then, in 2021, he challenged Jan Błachowicz for the light heavyweight belt, losing a hard-fought unanimous decision. Undeterred, he returned to middleweight that same year, outworking a tough Marvin Vettori to defend his title. Then, in 2022, he fought thrice, starting the year by beating Whittaker in a rematch.
Afterward, he picked Jared Cannonier apart, before locking horns with Alex Pereira. Unfortunately for 'The Last Stylebender,' he lost via TKO but regained the belt in 2023 in a rematch with a thunderous knockout. His second reign, though, didn't last, ending that same year with a shocking loss to Sean Strickland.
#2. Alex Pereira, UFC light heavyweight champion
There is something different about how Alex Pereira conducts himself as a champion. He became the promotion's middleweight king after TKO'ing Israel Adesanya in late 2022, and defended his new belt in early 2023, losing via brutal knockout. However, it hardly mattered to him.
Check out Alex Pereira knocking Jamahal Hill out:
Just three months afterward, he moved up to light heavyweight, beating power puncher Jan Błachowicz in a title eliminator. Then, four months later, he faced Jiří Procházka for the vacant light heavyweight title, winning with a second-round TKO. Five months later, he headlined UFC 300, knocking out Jamahal Hill.
Yet, despite his active run, he has opted against resting, and just three months later, is set to face Procházka in a light heavyweight title rematch for UFC 303, which he accepted on just two weeks' notice.
#1. Anderson Silva, former UFC middleweight champion
No one embodies a true champion's fighting spirit quite like Anderson Silva did. After capturing middleweight gold in 2006, 'The Spider' fought thrice in 2007. While only two of those bouts were title defenses, it was through no fault of his own, as one of his opponents had missed weight.
Check out Anderson Silva knocking out Forrest Griffin:
Silva repeated this three-fight run of success in 2008, defending his title twice and winning a light heavyweight bout. In 2009, he scored one title defense, before again moving up to 205 pounds, this time authoring his finest-ever performance by completely outclassing Forrest Griffin in a three-minute demolition.
Two more title defenses followed in 2010, and again in both 2011 and 2012. His legendary championship run came to a jaw-dropping end in 2013 when Chris Weidman shocked the world by knocking him out.