Current UFC middleweight champion

Adrian Bishop Updated: 12 May 26 10:21

With a lineage including some of the most legendary names the sport of mixed martial arts has ever seen, the UFC middleweight championship has been at stake in some of the most memorable showdowns in the promotion's history.

The inaugural champion Dave Menne held the belt for just 105 days, before he was defeated by Murilo Bustamante at UFC 35. Bustamante departed the UFC to join Japanese promotion PRIDE shortly after, with the belt subsequently laying dormant for nearly three years.

When it returned the late Evan Tanner laid claim to the throne by defeating David Terrell before he was usurped as champion by Rich Franklin. It wasn't until Franklin was knocked out by Anderson Silva however that the division was put to the forefront. The Brazilian made a record 10 defences over a seven-year reign of dominance.

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Current UFC middleweight champion

Sean Strickland is the current middleweight champion, having defeated Khamzat Chimaev via split decision to claim the belt for a second time at UFC 328 in May 2026.

Chimaev had never previously tasted defeat as a professional, but Strickland was able to defend against his vaunted grappling and consistently find a home for his jab when they returned to the feet.

The new champion is one of the most polarising figures in UFC history, with his divisive outbursts and frequent controversies producing admirers and detractors in almost equal measure.

Strickland is just the second person to reclaim UFC gold at 185lbs since the division's inception, with only the man he defeated to claim the belt for his first reign, Israel Adesanya, having previously achieved the feat.