All-time UFC middleweight champions

Jan 21, 2024, 02:00 AM ET

The champions are listed in reverse chronological order.

Click here for the list of current UFC champions in each division and here for the champions in each MMA promotion.

Current champion

Dricus Du Plessis
• Won title: Jan. 20, 2024
• Outcome: SD over Sean Strickland (UFC 297)
• Defenses: 2

Sean Strickland
• Won title: Sept. 9, 2023
• Outcome: UD over Israel Adesanya (UFC 293)
• Defenses: 0

Israel Adesanya
• Won title: April 8, 2023
• Outcome: TKO2 over Alex Pereira (UFC 287)
• Defenses: 0

Alex Pereira
• Won title: Nov. 12, 2022
• Outcome: TKO5 over Israel Adesanya (UFC 281)
• Defenses: 0

Israel Adesanya
• Won title: Oct. 6, 2019
• Outcome: TKO2 over Robert Whittaker (UFC 243)
• Defenses: 5

Robert Whittaker
• Won title: July 8, 2017
• Outcome: UD against Yoel Romero (UFC 213)
• Defenses: 0

Georges St-Pierre
• Won title: Nov. 4 2017
• Outcome: KO1 over Michael Bisping (UFC 217)
• Defenses: 0*

* -- Vacated the title on Dec. 7, 2017, because of injury

Michael Bisping
• Won title: June 4, 2016
• Outcome: KO1 over Luke Rockhold (UFC 199)
• Defenses: 0

Luke Rockhold
• Won title: Dec. 12, 2015
• Outcome: TKO4 over Chris Weidman (UFC 194)
• Defenses: 1

Chris Weidman
• Won title: July 6, 2013
• Outcome: KO2 over Anderson Silva (UFC 162)
• Defenses: 3

Anderson Silva
• Won title: Oct. 14, 2006
• Outcome: KO1 over Rich Franklin (UFC 64)
• Defenses: 10

Rich Franklin
• Won title: June 4, 2005
• Outcome: TKO4 over Evan Tanner (UFC 53)
• Defenses: 2

Evan Tanner
• Won title: Feb. 5, 2005
• Outcome: TKO1 over David Terrell (UFC 51)
• Defenses: 0

Murilo Bustamante
• Won title: Jan. 11, 2002
• Outcome: TKO2 over Dave Menne (UFC 35)
• Defenses: 1*

* -- Stripped of title on Oct. 5, 2002, when he left UFC for Pride

Dave Menne
• Won title: Sept. 28, 2001
• Outcome: UD5 over Gil Castillo (UFC 33)
• Defenses: 0