Winning a UFC title puts an athlete at the top of the sport, but staying there is what defines a lasting legacy.
Each title defense brings a new challenger, a different set of obstacles, and an opportunity to prove why that athlete is better than everyone else. Over the years, five athletes have established themselves as some of the most dominant names in UFC history. Here's a look at the athletes who have recorded the most successful title defenses.
1. Jon Jones
13 Defenses
Jon Jones is Widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes in MMA history, competing professionally from 2008 to 2025. He finished his legendary career with a stellar 28-1 record, with his only loss coming via a controversial disqualification against Matt Hamill in 2009.
Jones became the youngest UFC champion in history at 23 years old by defeating Mauricio Rua for the Light-Heavyweight title at UFC 128 in 2011, going on to dominant the division with 11 successful defenses. After claiming the UFC Heavyweight Championship in 2023 and successfully defending that title, Jones tops the all-time UFC record with 13 title defenses.
2. Demetrious Johnson
11 Defenses
Demetrious Johnson is the inaugural UFC Flyweight Champion whose legendary career his highlighted by 11 consecutive title defenses. Johnson made his UFC debut at UFC 126 in February 2011 competing in the bantamweight division.
Upon moving down to the 125-pound weight class in 2012, he had a historic reign of dominance that included victories over elite contenders such as John Dodson, Joseph Benavidez, Henry Cejudo, and Ray Borg. Johnson's legendary streak finally came to a close at UFC 227 in August 2018.
3. Anderson Silva
10 Defenses
Anderson Silva is a former champion who held the UFC Middleweight Championship for a staggering 2,457 days, from October 2006 to July 2013. During his iconic run, he successfully defended his middleweight belt 10 times and strung together 16 consecutive victories, ultimately finishing his career with a 34-11-0 MMA record. Silva was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in July 2023.
4. George St-Pierre
9 Defenses
George St-Pierre captured titles in both the welterweight and middleweight divisions. He made his promotional debut in January 2004, the Canadian compiled a stellar 20-2 UFC record. St-Pierre first captured the welterweight championship by defeating Matt Hughes at UFC 65.
Though he briefly lost the belt at UFC 69, he reclaimed it at UFC 83 by defeating Matt Serra via TKO, igniting a dominate run of 9 consecutive title defenses. St-Pierre won the 185-pound title at UFC 217 but had to vacate the title shortly after due to health reasons.
5. Valentina Shevchenko
9 Defenses
Valentina Shevchenko is a two-time Women's Flyweight Champion and widely regarded as one of the greatest female MMA athletes in UFC history. She made her promotional debut in December 2015, initially competing in the bantamweight division before the UFC established the 125-pound weight class.
Once the flyweight division opened, Shevchenko captured the vacant title at UFC 231 in December 2018 by defeating Joanna Jedrzejczyk via unanimous decision. She went on to successfully defend her belt 9 times before her historic run ended in March 2023 when she suffered a submission loss to Alexa Grasso.
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