A detailed timeline of every UFC champion since the start of the new millennium [UPDATED FEB 2024]
By Amy Kaplan
New UFC champions in 2012
Feb. 4 – Carlos Condit won the interim UFC welterweight title when he defeated Nick Diaz at UFC 143.
Feb. 26 – Benson Henderson won the UFC lightweight title when he defeated Frankie Edgar at UFC 144.
Sept. 22 – Demetrious Johnson defeated Joseph Benavidez at UFC 152 in the finale of a 4-man tournament for the inaugural title.
Dec. 6 – Ronda Rousey was given the UFC women’s bantamweight title at the UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Diaz pre-event press conference.
Dec. 29 – Cain Velasquez won the UFC heavyweight title when he defeated Junior dos Santos at UFC 155.
New UFC champions in 2013
July 6, 2013 – Chris Weidman won the UFC middleweight title when he defeated Anderson Silva at UFC 162.
Aug. 31 – Anthony Pettis won the UFC lightweight title when he defeated Benson Henderson at UFC 164.
Dec. 13 – Georges St-Pierre vacated the welterweight title to take time off from the sport.
New UFC champions in 2014
Jan. 6 – Renan Barão promoted to UFC bantamweight champion.
March 15 – Johny Hendricks won the UFC welterweight title when he defeated Robbie Lawler
May 24 – T.J. Dillashaw won the UFC bantamweight title when he defeated Renan Barao at UFC 173.
Nov. 15 – Fabrício Werdum won the interim UFC heavyweight title when he defeated Mark Hunt at UFC 180.
Dec. 6 – Robbie Lawler won the UFC welterweight title when he defeated Johny Hendricks.
Dec. 12 – Carla Esparza defeated Rose Namajunas for the inaugural women’s strawweight title in the tournament finale of The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned.