A new report claims Conor McGregor and Daniel Cormier will be among the final UFC fighters to hold two titles at once inside the organization.
Holding a UFC title is the ultimate (pun intended) dream for almost every single fighter who begins a career in mixed martial arts. Landing a spot on the roster is a notable achievement. Being ranked in one of their divisions is proof of being better than most. And earning a title opportunity means a fighter has reached the pinnacle of the sport.
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However, actually winning UFC gold is a truly special accomplishment that only a fraction of fighters in MMA history have done. Yet, there are even higher levels some can reach. And that is being a competitor that wins a belt in two divisions. Only nine fighters in the company’s history have won belts in two weight classes. Even fewer held two belts at once.
That unique realization is what helped Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, and Henry Cejudo stand above other fighters who have been UFC champions. However, the days of holding belts in two divisions at once may now be over.
UFC reportedly ending the practice of fighters holding belts in two divisions
In the spring, featherweight contender Diego Lopes will face Alexander Volkanovski for the vacant UFC featherweight title at UFC 314. Ilia Topuria relinquished the belt this week. He plans to move up to lightweight and rumors are he will face champion Islam Makhachev next.
This week Lopes spoke with Papá Legaspi about his upcoming fight and revealed an interesting nugget of news. “If you want to go up a division, you have to leave your title vacant,” he said [h/t Bloody Elbow]. “That is what has been told to all the champions who are thinking of going up a division.”
The company giving fighters like Conor McGregor and Amanda Nunes the chance to win a second belt helped to create some legendary moments. However, it also led to matchmaking nightmares for worthy contenders and the company. It will be interesting to see if the company stays true to this next plan. Or if they bring it back for a very lucrative scenario.
Nunes, McGregor, Cormier, Cejudo, Jon Jones, Randy Couture, BJ Penn, Georges St. Pierre, and Alex Pereira are the only fighters to ever win UFC titles in two divisions.
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