The heavyweight division in mixed martial arts (MMA) generally groups fighters between 206–265 lb (93.4–120.2 kg).

Although many ambiguities exist within the lowerweight classes regarding division naming and weight limits, the heavyweight division is, for the most part, uniform. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and most other North American MMA organizations such as Bellator MMA, WSOF, and King of the Cage (KOTC) abide by this interpretation to their 206–265 lb athletes as heavyweights. ONE Championship's heavyweight division is at 226–265 lb. Pancrase's overweight division was 198.4–220.5 lb (90.0–100.0 kg) before being revised to its current 205–264.5 lb (93.0–120.0 kg).

The heavyweight upper weight limit, as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission[1] and the Association of Boxing Commissions[2] is 265 lb (120 kg).

Professional champions

edit

Current champions

edit

This table was last updated on November 9, 2024.

Organization Reign Began Champion Record Defenses
UFC March 4, 2023   Jon Jones 28–1 (1) (11KO 7SUB) 1
PFL October 19, 2024   Francis Ngannou 18–3 (13KO 4SUB) 0
Bellator MMA August 21, 2020   Ryan Bader 31–8 (1) (13KO 3SUB) 3
ONE Championship November 9, 2024   Oumar Kane 7–1 (3KO 0SUB) 0
ACA March 17, 2023   Evgeniy Goncharov 20–7 (8KO 2SUB) 2
KSW April 14, 2018   Phil De Fries 24–6 (6KO 14SUB) 10

Most wins in heavyweight title bouts

edit
Note: the list includes wins in bouts for heavyweight titles of major promotions (UFC, Bellator, ONE, Pride, Strikeforce, WEC)
Note: the list includes both undisputed and interim champions
  Active title reign
Name Promotion Title bout wins
1.   Randy Couture UFC 6
  Stipe Miocic UFC
2.   Tim Sylvia UFC 5
3.   Fedor Emelianenko Pride 4
  Cain Velasquez UFC
  Ryan Bader Bellator MMA
5.   Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira UFC, Pride 3
  Andrei Arlovski UFC
  Brandon Vera ONE
  Brock Lesnar UFC
  Francis Ngannou UFC, PFL
6.   Alistair Overeem Strikeforce 2
  Vitaly Minakov Bellator MMA
  Frank Mir UFC
  Fabricio Werdum UFC
  Kevin Randleman UFC
  Maurice Smith UFC
  Daniel Cormier UFC
  Tom Aspinall UFC
  Junior Dos Santos UFC
  Ron Waterman WEC
  James Irvin WEC
  Jon Jones UFC

Most consecutive defenses of heavyweight title

edit
Name Promotion Title defenses
1.   Fedor Emelianenko Pride 3
  Stipe Miocic* UFC
  Ryan Bader Bellator MMA
3.   Randy Couture UFC 2
  Tim Sylvia UFC
  Brandon Vera* ONE
  Brock Lesnar UFC
  Cain Velasquez UFC
7.   Alistair Overeem Strikeforce 1
  Vitaly Minakov Bellator MMA
  Daniel Cormier UFC
  Junior dos Santos UFC
  Fabricio Werdum UFC
  Kevin Randleman UFC
  Maurice Smith UFC
  Francis Ngannou UFC
  Ron Waterman WEC
  James Irvin WEC
  Brian Olsen WEC
  Jon Jones UFC
  • First title reign.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Nevada State Athletic Commission. "Nevada Revised Statutes: Chapter 467 - Unarmed Combat". Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Unified Rules of MMA". Association of Boxing Commissions. Archived from the original on 2012-07-05. Retrieved 2012-07-15.