Amanda Nunes, Georges St-Pierre and more: 5 UFC champions who regained their titles from the fighter who took it from them
This week has seen the announcement that former UFC light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira will have a chance to regain his title from the man who dethroned him, Jiri Prochazka, when they rematch in December.
The rematch is set!!!
Jiri Prochazka and Glover Teixeira will meet again at #UFC282 on Dec. 10 in Las Vegas, UFC exec Hunter Campbell has confirmed to me.
Story coming to @SInow. https://t.co/Xkjr83yhF8
Over the years, we’ve seen a number of rematches with UFC gold on the line. However, surprisingly, only a few champions were able to regain their titles from the fighter who initially dethroned them.
Sometimes, these champions won in instant rematches. On other occasions, they had to record at least one more win before getting their shot at redemption.
Here are five UFC champions who regained their title from the fighter who took it from them.
#5. Randy Couture vs. Vitor Belfort – UFC 49
Vitor Belfort’s UFC light heavyweight title win over Randy Couture at the beginning of 2004 was undoubtedly one of the most controversial in the history of the promotion.
The much-hyped fight ended in less than a minute, as a missed punch from Belfort saw his glove instead catch Couture’s eyelid, practically ripping it off. ‘The Natural’ wasn’t exactly hurt per say, but it was clear he couldn’t continue. So, when the doctor stopped the bout, Belfort essentially won the title by default.
Jan31.2004
Vitor Belfort def. Randy Couture by TKO,
to become the new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion https://t.co/LIAVOg805a
It came as no surprise that the UFC signed an instant rematch between the two rivals, as neither man seemed truly happy with the outcome.
The fight took place just seven months after the controversial meeting. While ‘The Phenom’ promised that he’d beat Couture cleanly, it simply wasn’t to be for the Brazilian.
‘The Natural’ thoroughly outclassed his rival from the start, using the clinch to abuse him with punches and uppercuts. He then began to secure takedowns to punish him with brutal ground-and-pound.
In the end, Belfort was left bloody and beaten. Ironically, the bout ended in the same way as their previous one had, as the cageside doctor called a halt to proceedings at the end of the third round.
This time there was no controversy, though, as Couture had regained his title from the man who dethroned him in climactic fashion.
#4. Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno – UFC 270
After a wild fight at the end of 2020 that was declared a draw, it made perfect sense for the UFC to sign a rematch between flyweight titleholder Deiveson Figueiredo and challenger Brandon Moreno.
However, given that the draw was only made possible by Figueiredo losing a point for a couple of fouls, nobody expected ‘The Assassin Baby’ to be able to pull off a huge upset. Incredibly, though, the Mexican proved everyone wrong, and choked out ‘Deus Da Guerra’ in the third round.
Given the dearth of true title challengers in the division, it was no surprise when the promotion decided to make a third fight between the rivals, particularly when Figueiredo blamed a bad weight cut for his surprisingly poor performance.
In the end, the Brazilian’s theory appeared to be right. Despite Moreno’s best efforts, it was Figueiredo who came out on top in the trilogy bout, largely dominating his Mexican foe in all areas across five rounds to regain his crown.
Leaving it ALL in the Octagon 🤜🤛 #UFC270 https://t.co/1hRJuwBw28
Despite this, in the months that have followed, Moreno has won an interim title and is now set for another shot at Figueiredo. That means that if he wins, he could find himself on a list like this in his own right in the future!
#3. Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos – UFC 155
When the UFC debuted on the Fox network with a massive heavyweight title clash between champion Cain Velasquez and top contender Junior dos Santos, everyone expected an epic bout.
Instead, dos Santos stunned everyone by catching Velasquez with a right hook to the temple in the first minute of the fight, knocking him down before finishing him with some follow-up strikes.
Not only had the Brazilian become the first man to defeat Velasquez in the octagon, he’d stolen his title away, too. Unfortunately for ‘JDS’, it didn’t take his rival long to recover.
On the same night that dos Santos completed a title defense against Frank Mir, Velasquez destroyed Antonio Silva to cement himself as the top contender in the division. Unsurprisingly, a rematch with ‘JDS’ was signed for the final show of 2012.
Junior dos Santos vs Cain Velasquez for the heavyweight championship of the world! #ufc155 http://t.co/jcPP3ycV
Velasquez had always claimed that serious injuries to his knee and shoulder had hampered his performance in his first bout with the Brazilian. Within minutes of their rematch beginning, his theory seemed to be correct.
He simply put so much pressure on dos Santos that the champion wilted. When he was sent down by a crushing right hand late in the first round, the fight looked like it was over.
‘JDS’ did survive the distance, but when the final buzzer sounded, there was no doubt as to who the better man was. Sure enough, Velasquez had reclaimed his title from the man who’d dethroned him a year prior.
A year later, he'd go on to prove it again by beating dos Santos in their trilogy bout to win their rivalry for good.
#2. Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Pena – UFC 277
When Julianna Pena defeated Amanda Nunes to claim the bantamweight title at UFC 269 in late 2021, the entire MMA world was left stunned.
Not only had ‘The Lioness’ held the title since the summer of 2016, but she’d also turned back the challenge of five different opponents. She'd also claimed the featherweight title for good measure. Essentially, she was the greatest female fighter in MMA history, and nobody was giving Pena a chance against her.
Remarkably, though, ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ produced the performance of a lifetime, as she absorbed some early punishment from Nunes before turning the tables on her, eventually submitting her in the second round.
Given Nunes’ legendary status, it came as no surprise when the UFC inked an instant rematch. However, given that ‘The Lioness’ was 34 years old and had been competing at the top for so long, a number of observers questioned whether she’d have the hunger to regain her crown.
The Brazilian proved those doubters wrong, though, and thoroughly dominated Pena in the rematch. Not only did she beat her down on the feet, but she punished her on the ground too, leaving her a bloody mess once the bout came to an end.
#UFC277What. A. Fight. 👏 #UFC277 https://t.co/yTxqP6aXPN
The fact that Nunes was able to regain her title from the same woman who dethroned her was massively impressive, and the feat has only added to her already remarkable legacy.
#1. Georges St-Pierre vs. Matt Serra – UFC 83
When Georges St-Pierre dethroned longtime welterweight champion Matt Hughes to claim UFC gold for the first time in late 2006, it felt like a new era had begun at 170lbs.
Few fans expected anyone to be able to defeat the young Canadian, let alone Matt Serra, who was positioned as his first challenger.
‘The Terror’ had never really looked like a top-class fighter. He had also claimed his title shot by winning TUF 4 rather than beating any of the other top contenders in the division.
However, in one of the biggest upsets in UFC history, Serra caught St-Pierre with a right hook to the temple that wrecked his equilibrium. He never let up until the referee was forced to step in late in the first round.
avenged the loss and never tasted defeat again!13 years ago today...
Matt Serra knocked out Georges St-Pierre in one of the biggest upsets in UFC history 🤯
The 🐐 avenged the loss and never tasted defeat again! https://t.co/RcgHciElLJ
The finish was so stunning that many observers, including Dana White, questioned whether GSP would ever fully recover. However, he quickly proved the doubters wrong by defeating Josh Koscheck and Hughes in an interim title bout, setting up a rematch with Serra.
By the time the rematch came around in early 2008, ‘The Terror’ had not even completed one title defense, as he’d been on the shelf with a back injury. More to the point, he was walking into hostile territory too as the fight was booked to take place in GSP’s hometown of Montreal.
Sure enough, there was no upset this time around. St-Pierre thoroughly dominated Serra in all areas, finishing him in the second round with a series of knees to the body to reclaim his title from the man who had dethroned him.
Remarkably, ‘GSP’ would never lose another fight in the octagon, making this the best example of a champion who regained his crown by beating the fighter who took it from him.