Founded around 32 years ago in 1993, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Often hailed as one of the most deadly and dominant competitions, the UFC features elite fighters from around the world competing across multiple weight classes using various combat disciplines like boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai, and much more.
The history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship has witnessed numerous legendary fighters creating an impact and dominating their opponents with their spine-chilling action moves, including legendary fighters like Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Jon Jones. Over the years, a few UFC champions have solidified their unmatched legacy with the most successful and roaring title defenses.
In this article we will take a look at the top four UFC champions who have witnessed the highest number of title defenses in the history of UFC.
Top 4 UFC Champions with Most Title Defenses
| Rank | Fighter | Category | Titles |
| 1 | Demetrious Johnson | Flyweight | 11 |
| 2 | Anderson Silva | Middleweight | 10 |
| 3 | Georges St-Pierre (GSP) | Welterweight | 9 |
| 4 | Jon Jones | Light Heavyweight | 9 |
Demetrious Johnson, Flyweight – 11 Titles
The American former professional Mixed Martial artist, Demetrious Khrisna Johnson popularly referred to as Demetrious Johnson is at the first spot in our list of the top four Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters who have dominated their divisions with the most successful title defenses.
Often hailed as the greatest mixed martial artist of all-time, Demetrious Johnson established himself as the inaugural UFC Flyweight Champion on September 22, 2012, after brutally defeating Joseph Benavidez via split decision at UFC 152. As of April 2025, the legendary former mixed martial artist from America, Demetrious Johnson holds the record for the highest number of title defenses in the history of Ultimate Fighting Championship, I.e. 11.
Anderson Silva, Middleweight- 10 Titles
At the second spot in our list of the top four Ultimate Fighting Championship champions who have witnessed the highest number of title defenses in the history of UFC, we have the Brazilian mixed martial artist and professional boxer, Anderson Silva, who also holds the record for the longest title reign in UFC history at 2,457 days.
Often popularly hailed as one of the most iconic fighters in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship in the Middleweight division (185 lbs), Anderson Silva became the reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship Middleweight Champion for the first time at the UFC 64 event on October 14, 2006. Ever since, the legendary Brazilian MMA fighter has witnessed the second-longest streak of UFC title defences, i.e. 10, from 2007 to 2012. Silva left the Ultimate Fighting Championship in November 2020 and re-joined boxing.
Georges St-Pierre (GSP), Welterweight – 9 Titles
Next, at the third spot in our list of the top four Ultimate Fighting Championship champions who have witnessed the highest number of title defenses in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, we have the iconic Canadian professional mixed martial artist, Georges St-Pierre, who is also often regarded as one of the greatest fighters in mixed martial arts (MMA) history. Georges St-Pierre witnessed a total of nine consecutive successful title defenses between 2008 and 2013 — one of the longest reigns in Ultimate Fighting Championship history.
One of the most notable UFC defenses of Georges St-Pierre came against BJ Penn at the UFC 94 event in a highly anticipated “Champion vs. Champion” bout. Additionally, Georges St-Pierre made headlines after he made a roaring comeback after a four-year-long hiatus in November 2017 (UFC 217) and defeated Michael Bisping to clinch the UFC Middleweight title.
Jon Jones, Light Heavyweight- 9 Titles
The American professional mixed martial artist Jonathan Dwight Jones, popularly referred to as “Jon Jones”, is at the fourth spot in our list of the top four Ultimate Fighting Championship champions who have witnessed the highest number of title defenses in the history of UFC. Interestingly, Jon Jones established himself as the youngest champion in UFC history with his title victory over Maurício Rua at age twenty-three at UFC 128 on March 19, 2011.
Although Jon Jones’ career was plagued to a great extent by multiple suspensions and title strips due to legal issues and failed drug tests, he ended up dominating the opponent fighters and creating his own legacy with the fourth-highest total of nine Ultimate Fighting Championship title defenses. A couple of years back in 2023, Jones moved up to Heavyweight and clinched the UFC Heavyweight Championship at the UFC 285 event.
