Heavyweight (MMA)
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
Current champions
This table was last updated on June 21, 2025.
| Organization | Reign Began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFC | June 21, 2025 | Tom Aspinall | 15–3 (12KO 3SUB) | 0 |
| 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 | 27–6 (1) (7KO 15SUB) | 12 |
Most wins in heavyweight title bouts
- Note: the list includes wins in bouts for heavyweight titles of major promotions (UFC, Bellator, ONE, Pride, Strikeforce, WEC, KSW)
- Note: the list includes both undisputed and interim champions
- Active title reign
| Name | Promotion | Title bout wins | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Phil De Fries | KSW | 13 |
| 2. | Randy Couture | UFC | 6 |
| Stipe Miocic | UFC | ||
| 3. | Tim Sylvia | UFC | 5 |
| 4. | 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
| 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
- List of current MMA Heavyweight champions
- List of UFC Heavyweight Champions
- List of Strikeforce Heavyweight Champions
- List of Pancrase Heavyweight Champions
- List of Road FC Heavyweight Champions
References
- ^ Nevada State Athletic Commission. "Nevada Revised Statutes: Chapter 467 - Unarmed Combat". Retrieved 9 May 2017.
- ^ "Unified Rules of MMA". Association of Boxing Commissions. Archived from the original on 2012-07-05. Retrieved 2012-07-15.