A History of Two-Division Champions, Part 1 | UFC Freedom 250

First Title: Heavyweight Title (won December 21, 1997 — UFC Japan)
Second Title: Light Heavyweight (won September 26, 2003 — UFC 44)

“The Natural” was the first fighter in UFC history to win titles in two weight classes and still holds the record for the most championship reigns in UFC history, having been the undisputed champion five times across two divisions and held the interim light heavyweight title once as well.

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Couture was the first and only multi-divisional champion to have won back both titles over the course of his career, having recaptured the heavyweight title on two occasions and reclaimed the light heavyweight strap once. He is also the oldest fighter to win a UFC title, the oldest fighter to successfully defend a UFC title, and the oldest fighter to be UFC champion.

First Title: Welterweight Title (won January 31, 2004 — UFC 46)
Second Title: Lightweight Title (won January 19, 2008 — UFC 80)

The fact that Penn won the welterweight title before he ever held the lightweight title speaks to what a truly prodigious and impressive talent he was, especially given the fact that he did so by submitting Matt Hughes in the first round. Hughes was on a 13-fight winning streak, had successfully defended the UFC welterweight title four times, and Penn rolled in and halted his reign in less than five minutes.

But what really showcased the depth of Penn’s skills and excellence was his run atop the lightweight division between January 19, 2008, when he won the title at UFC 80, and when he dropped the belt to Frankie Edgar at UFC 112 on April 10, 2010. His title win over Joe Stevenson was dominant, his walk-off finish of Sean Sherk remains iconic, and his subsequent successful defenses against Kenny Florian and Diego Sanchez illustrated that the Hawaiian was simply on another level than the competition at the time.

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By the way, he also challenged Georges St-Pierre for the welterweight title amid that lightweight title reign as well.

First Title: Featherweight Title (won December 12, 2015 — UFC 194)
Second Title: Lightweight Title (won November 12, 2016 — UFC 205)

As the contingent from Ireland that often made the trip abroad during the height of McGregor’s run inside the Octagon chanted, “There is only one Conor McGregor!”

The first man to simultaneously hold UFC titles in two weight classes, “The Notorious” won the interim featherweight title in the summer of 2015 with a win over Chad Mendes, then unified the belts with his stunning 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo at UFC 194, which the late Thomas Gerbasi crowned the top knockout of the first 25 years of the UFC.

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After splitting a pair of fights with Nathan Diaz when his initial shot at the lightweight title was postponed, McGregor turned the UFC’s first appearance at Madison Square Garden into the signature moment of his career, picking apart and putting away Eddie Alvarez with captivating precision and surprising ease to become the “Champ-Champ.”

If there is one knock on McGregor’s triumphant times at the helm of two different weight classes, it’s that, unlike so many of his contemporaries on this list, “The Notorious” never defended either title.

First Title: Welterweight Title (won November 18, 2006 — UFC 65)
Second Title: Middleweight Title (won November 4, 2017 — UFC 217)

First Title: Light Heavyweight Title (won May 23, 2015 — UFC 187)
Second Title: Heavyweight Title (won July 7, 2018 — UFC 226)

First Title: Women’s Bantamweight Title (won July 9, 2016 — UFC 200)
Second Title: Women’s Featherweight Title (won December 29, 2018 — UFC 232)

Nunes’ list of accomplishments is staggering, and her induction into the UFC Hall of Fame was automatic, as “The Lioness” is the lone woman to hold UFC titles in two weight classes, the third simultaneous two-division champion in UFC history, and the lone titleholder — male or female — to successfully defend each of their titles without relinquishing one of the belts.

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She posted three successful bantamweight title defenses after claiming the belt in punishing fashion with a win over Miesha Tate in the main event of UFC 200, then earned “Double Champ” status with a 51-second knockout win of Cris Cyborg at UFC 232, ending the Brazilian’s decade-long unbeaten streak. From there, Nunes successfully defended the bantamweight title twice more, then returned to featherweight to successfully defend that title twice as well.

Though she lost the bantamweight title to Julianna Pena at UFC 269, Nunes reclaimed the belt the following summer and successfully defended it once more at UFC 289 in Vancouver before relinquishing both her belts when she announced her retirement following the bout.

Ready For More? Check Out Part 2.