Since it was brought into existence on Oct. 16, 1998 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, nine men have strapped the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight title to their waist. It has been passed from Pat Miletich, Carlos Newton, Matt Hughes, B.J. Penn and Georges St. Pierre to Matt Serra, Johny Hendricks, Robbie Lawler and Tyron Woodley. Their respective reigns have led to some of the most memorable fights in UFC history.
Hughes and St. Pierre stand head and shoulders above the rest in a historical context, at least for the time being.