UFC Champions 2025

Last Modified Apr 13, 2025 09:02 GMT

List of All Current UFC Champions

DivisionChampionDate SinceDefenses
HeavyweightJon Jones4-March-20231
Heavyweight (interim)Tom Aspinall12-November-20231
Light HeavyweightMagomed Ankalaev8-March-2025-
MiddleweightDricus du Plessis20-January-20242
WelterweightBelal Muhammad28-July-2024-
LightweightIslam Makhachev21-October-20224
FeatherweightAlexander Volkanovski12-April-2025-
BantamweightMerab Dvalishvili14-September-20241
FlyweightAlexandre Pantoja8-July-20233
Women's BantamweightJulianna Pena5-October-2024-
Women's FlyweightValentina Shevchenko14-September-2024-
Women's StrawweightZhang Weili12-November-20223
BMF (Baddest Mo*******er) Max Holloway13-April-2024-

Above is the list of all current UFC Champions concerning their weight classes.

Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) champions are mixed martial artists who have won and held UFC Championships concerning their weight classes and divisions. At the time of the UFC's inception in 1993, MMA was unsanctioned in the US and did not include any weight classes. However, in 1997, UFC introduced weight-specific titles, starting with UFC 12.

By UFC 31, the Ultimate Fighting Championship had had five active weight divisions: Lightweight, Welterweight, Middleweight, Light Heavyweight, and Heavyweight.

In 2010, the UFC would expand its lower weight classes, and the first addition came in late 2010 when the UFC merged with its sister organization World Extreme Cagefighting, and the Featherweight and Bantamweight Divisions were introduced in the UFC.

In 2012, the dissolution of UFC's sister promotion Strikeforce, allowed the UFC to add female fighters to their roster for the first time in the promotion's history.

There are currently 12 UFC weight classes—eight divisions for men and four for women.

See here: Latest UFC Schedule

UFC Heavyweight Champion 2025

Jon Jones

SinceMarch 4, 2023
Defenses1

Jon Jones became the UFC heavyweight champion by defeating the No.1 contender, Ciryl Gane at UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane on March 4, 2023. He defended the title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 on November 16, 2024.

UFC 285: Jones v Gane
UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones

However, Jon Jones recently got injured during his sparring session before UFC 295 and, therefore, had to pull out from his title defense matchup against the former UFC heavyweight champion, Stipe Miocic. Hence, a heavyweight bout between Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall took place for the UFC interim heavyweight title. Tom Aspinall won the bout via a first-round TKO and is currently the interim heavyweight champion of the promotion. At UFC 304, Aspinall defended his interim title against Curtis Blaydes via a first-round KO.

UFC 295: Pavlovich v Aspinall
UFC 295: Pavlovich v Aspinall

UFC Middleweight Champion 2025

Dicrus du Plessis

SinceJanuary 20, 2024
Defenses2
UFC 297: Strickland v Du Plessis
UFC 297: Strickland v Du Plessis

Dicrus du Plessos became the new UFC middleweight champion by defeating the former champion Sean Strickland via decision at UFC 297 on January 20, 2024. He defended his title against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 on August 18, 2024.

UFC Lightweight Champion 2025

Islam Makhachev

SinceMay 21, 2022
Defenses3
Islam Makhachev with his lightweight belt (photo credits: UFC Twitter: @ufc)

Islam Makhachev defeated Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi and became the new UFC lightweight champion of the world. Makhachev submitted Oliveira in the second round with a triangle arm choke.

Makhachev is currently on a fourteen-win streak in UFC. And his win over Volkanovski made him the No. 1 fighter in the men's pound-for-pound rankings.

Here's the Latest News from UFC Fight Night

UFC Welterweight Champion 2025

Belal Muhammad

SinceJuly 28, 2024
Defenses-
Image via @bullyb170 on Instagram

At UFC 304, Belal Muhammad clinched the UFC welterweight title by beating Leon Edwards via a unanimous decision.

UFC Featherweight Champion 2025

Alexander Volkanovski

SinceApril 12, 2025
Defenses-
UFC 314: Volkanovski vs. Lopes
UFC 314: Volkanovski vs. Lopes

At UFC 314, Alexander Volkanovski became a two-time featherweight champion by beating Diego Lopes via a unanimous decision and claiming the vacant title.

UFC Light Heavyweight Champion 2025

Magomed Ankalaev

SinceMarch 8, 2025
Defenses-
UFC 313: Pereira v Ankalaev
UFC 313: Pereira v Ankalaev

Magomed Ankalaev dethroned Alex "Poatan" Pereira's reign as the light heavyweight champion by beating him via a unanimous decision at UFC 313. This fight took place on March 8, 2025.

Check out the Latest UFC Schedule

UFC Bantamweight Champion 2025

Merab Dvalishvili

SinceSeptember 14, 2024
Defenses1
UFC 306 at Riyadh Season Noche UFC
UFC 306 at Riyadh Season Noche UFC

Merab Dvalishvili became the new UFC bantamweight champion by defeating the former champion Sean O'Malley via unanimous decision. Dvalishvili's first title defense was against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311.

UFC Flyweight Champion 2025

Alexandre Pantoja

SinceJuly 8, 2023
Defenses3
UFC 290: Volkanovski v Rodriguez
Alexandre Pantoja

Alexandre Pantoja won the UFC flyweight title by defeating the former champion Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 on July 8, 2023. He defended his title for the first time against Brandon Royval at UFC 296 on December 16, 2024.

UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion 2025

Raquel Pennington

UFC 269: Oliveira v Poirier
UFC 269: Oliveira v Poirier
SinceOctober 5, 2024
Defenses-

Julianna Pena became the new UFC women's bantamweight champion by defeating Raquel Pennington at UFC 307 via a split decision.

UFC Women's Flyweight Champion 2025

Valentina Shevchenko

SinceSeptember 14, 2024
Defenses-
UFC 306 at Riyadh Season Noche UFC
UFC 306 at Riyadh Season Noche UFC

Valentina Shevchenko won the UFC women's flyweight championship by defeating Alexa Grasso at UFC 306: O'Malley vs. Dvalishvili via a unanimous decision.

UFC Strawweight Champion 2025

Zhang Weili

SinceNovember 12, 2022
Defenses3
UFC 281: Adesanya v Pereira
Zhang Weili celebrating her win at UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pe.reira.

Zhang Weili became the UFC strawweight champion by defeating the former champion Carla Esparza at UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira on November 12, 2022, at Madison Square Garden, New York, United States.

She defended her title against Amanda Lemos at UFC 292 on August 19, 2023, and against Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300 on April 13, 2024.

BMF Champion 2025

Max Holloway

SinceApril 13, 2024
Defenses-
UFC 300: Pereira v Hill
UFC 300: Pereira v Hill

Max Holloway clinched the BMF title from Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in jaw-dropping fashion by putting 'The Highlight' to sleep in the last second of their fight at UFC 300.

Click to learn about UFC Rankings.

FAQs On UFC Champions 2024

A. The current UFC Champions are - Jon Jones (heavyweight), Tom Aspinall (interim heavyweight), Magomed Ankalaev (light heavyweight), Dricus du Plessis (middleweight), Belal Muhammad (welterweight), Islam Makhachev (lightweight), Alexander Volkanovski (featherweight), Merab Dvalishvili (bantamweight), Alexandre Pantoja (flyweight), Julianna Pena (women's bantamweight), Valentina Shevchenko (women's flyweight), Zhang Weili (women's strawweight), and Max Holloway (BMF).


A. Magomed Ankalaev is currently the UFC light heavyweight champion. 

Related Stories

Will Islam Makhachev fight Justin Gaethje next? UFC icon claims 'The Highlight' could get next title shot and lauds MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz Will Islam Makhachev fight Justin Gaethje next? UFC icon claims 'The Highlight' could get next title shot and lauds MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz
Will Islam Makhachev fight Justin Gaethje next? UFC icon claims 'The Highlight' could get next title shot and lauds MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz
1h
Belal Muhammad channels inner Khabib Nurmagomedov while threatening Craig Jones ahead of UFC 315 showdown with Jack Della Maddalena Belal Muhammad channels inner Khabib Nurmagomedov while threatening Craig Jones ahead of UFC 315 showdown with Jack Della Maddalena
Belal Muhammad channels inner Khabib Nurmagomedov while threatening Craig Jones ahead of UFC 315 showdown with Jack Della Maddalena
5h
Exclusive: Mateusz Gamrot gets honest about Islam Makhachev's scope for success in the UFC welterweight division Exclusive: Mateusz Gamrot gets honest about Islam Makhachev's scope for success in the UFC welterweight division
Exclusive: Mateusz Gamrot gets honest about Islam Makhachev's scope for success in the UFC welterweight division
6h
UFC legend defends Dricus du Plessis, Belal Muhammad confirms stance on Islam Makhachev fight, Tai Tuivasa shares return update: MMA News Roundup UFC legend defends Dricus du Plessis, Belal Muhammad confirms stance on Islam Makhachev fight, Tai Tuivasa shares return update: MMA News Roundup
UFC legend defends Dricus du Plessis, Belal Muhammad confirms stance on Islam Makhachev fight, Tai Tuivasa shares return update: MMA News Roundup
6h
Exclusive: Mateusz Gamrot issues definitive prediciton for potential Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria clash Exclusive: Mateusz Gamrot issues definitive prediciton for potential Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria clash
Exclusive: Mateusz Gamrot issues definitive prediciton for potential Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria clash
6h
Islam Makhachev meets Spanish fan who traveled to Dagestan to ask him one question, fans react to wholesome encounter: "Champ is too chill" Islam Makhachev meets Spanish fan who traveled to Dagestan to ask him one question, fans react to wholesome encounter: "Champ is too chill"
Islam Makhachev meets Spanish fan who traveled to Dagestan to ask him one question, fans react to wholesome encounter: "Champ is too chill"
16h
Chael Sonnen torches possibility of Islam Makhachev being stripped of title thanks to "King Khabib" while sharing theory on Ilia Topuria Chael Sonnen torches possibility of Islam Makhachev being stripped of title thanks to "King Khabib" while sharing theory on Ilia Topuria
Chael Sonnen torches possibility of Islam Makhachev being stripped of title thanks to "King Khabib" while sharing theory on Ilia Topuria
16h
Dricus du Plessis’ coach takes savage swipe at “jealous” Alex Pereira while weighing in on 'Poatan' feud Dricus du Plessis’ coach takes savage swipe at “jealous” Alex Pereira while weighing in on 'Poatan' feud
Dricus du Plessis’ coach takes savage swipe at “jealous” Alex Pereira while weighing in on 'Poatan' feud
1d
Dricus du Plessis’ coach drops major hint on Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria headlining UFC 317, confirms next foe for ‘Stillknocks' Dricus du Plessis’ coach drops major hint on Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria headlining UFC 317, confirms next foe for ‘Stillknocks'
Dricus du Plessis’ coach drops major hint on Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria headlining UFC 317, confirms next foe for ‘Stillknocks'
1d
Dricus du Plessis’ coach makes eye-opening claim about Alex Pereira’s future Dricus du Plessis’ coach makes eye-opening claim about Alex Pereira’s future
Dricus du Plessis’ coach makes eye-opening claim about Alex Pereira’s future
1d