Ahead of the return of what many consider one of, if not the greatest of all time at UFC 285. We thought we’d take a look at all the title changes that have taken place in the UFC since Jon Jones last fought.
Jon last fought over three years ago, when he defended his light heavyweight title via unanimous decision against Dominick Reyes at UFC 247. The fight took place on February 8th 2020.
The fight would end controversially with many fans and media saying the outcome was incorrect. Jones would later vacate his light heavyweight belt to pursue the heavyweight title.
Well, now just days away from his return at UFC 285, where he’ll compete for the ultimate prize against France’s Ciryl Gane. Let’s look at every belt change since his last outing.
Heavyweight
At the time of Jones stepping away from the sport, the UFC heavyweight champion was Stipe Miocic. Miocic would defend his title once against Daniel Cormier at UFC 252 before losing his belt at UFC 260 to Francis Ngannou.
Ngannou would defend his belt once against interim champion Ciryl Gane, Jones’ upcoming opponent, at UFC 270. Ngannou would step away from the UFC in a dispute over pay, vacating the heavyweight strap in the process.
Light Heavyweight
The former division of Jones was left vacant after he stepped away. The vacant belt would be up for grabs at UFC 253, just over one month after Jones vacated the title.
Jan Blachowicz would defeat former title challenger Dominick Reyes to be crowned the light heavyweight king. Jan would defend the title one-time against Israel Adesanya at UFC 259.
Another of Jon’s former opponents would find more success in Jones’ absences. Glover Teixeira would fulfil his ultimate dream at UFC 267 taking the belt from Jan via second-round submission.
Glover’s belt wouldn’t last for long as Jiri Procházka would defeat the Brazilian in an all-time classic at UFC 275. Jiri made his debut after Jones’ last fight.
With a rematch between Glover and Jiri on the horizon. An injury to the latter would once again vacate the title. A title bout between Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 281 would end in a draw. Leaving the belt unowned once more.
In a move that shocked many, UFC president Dana White wasted no time putting the belt back on the line. At UFC 282 Glover would take on Jamahal Hill losing the bout via unanimous decision thus crowning Hill champion.
Middleweight
Israel Adesanya and Jones have had plenty of back and forth over the years. Israel was newly crowned champion when Jon Jones last fought. He’d go on to defend his belt five times in the time since. Even going up in weight to challenge Jan Blachowicz for the light heavyweight strap.
Israel’s fantastic run would come to an end at the hands of former kickboxing foe Alex Pereira. Taking the UFC by storm the ferocious Brazilian would rise the rankings quickly and earn a shot at gold.
Shocking the world Pereira would deliver a stunning comeback KO at UFC 281, to take the belt from Adesanya.
Welterweight
Kamaru Usman was well and truly into his run as welterweight champ when Jon stepped away. Winning the title and defending it once as well. Usman would go on to defend the belt four more times improving each performance.
The mixed martial arts world would be well and truly stunned at UFC 278. Kamaru with an astonishing 15-fight UFC winning streak would take on Leon Edwards undefeated in ten.
As the fight wore on many were resigned to another Usman victory with his superiority on the night clear. Leon had other ideas delivering a historic head kick KO deep into the final round becoming the new welterweight champion.
Lightweight
Khabib Nurmagomedov was a dominant force in his UFC tenure and he was just as dominant when he earned UFC gold. He’d defend his championship once before Jones stepped away adding to the two he already had. Khabib himself would vacate the belt, retiring in the process.
Charles Oliviera would be the man to earn the vacant strap. Defeating Michael Chandler via second-round KO at UFC 262. Oliviera would defend the belt once officially defeating Dustin Poirier at UFC 269 in the third round with a choke.
Weight complications would controversially force Charles to vacate the belt, but after defeating Justin Gaethje he was still considered the unofficial champion.
With the now ‘vacant’ title on the line. Islam Makhachev would defeat Charles for the belt in the second round at UFC 280. Islam has one defence to his name.
Featherweight
Alexander Volkanovski was the champion and has remained champion at featherweight. He has defended his featherweight crown four times, twice against Max Holloway whom he won the belt.
Volkanovski most recently challenged Islam Makhachev for lightweight gold. Losing a unanimous decision in a fight showcasing both men’s extremely high level.
Bantamweight
Henry Cejudo would earn the vacant belt before Jones stepped away. He’d defend the belt once at UFC 249 against Dominick Cruz before calling time on his career and vacating the belt.
Now vacant a championship bout was set up putting Petr Yan against Jose Aldo. The Russian Yan would win the fight in the fifth earning gold at UFC 251.
Yan would then attempt to defend his belt against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 259. In a UFC first Sterling would win the bout via disqualification when Petr landed an illegal knee rendering Sterling unable to continue.
Aljamain would then silence many doubters when he defended against Yan winning a unanimous decision at UFC 273. Sterling would defend his belt once more taking out T.J Dillashaw at UFC 280.
Flyweight
The flyweight title was officially vacated by Henry Cejudo the same month Jon last fought. Deiveson Figueiredo would find himself competing for the title against Joseph Benavidez. Unable to win the belt due to missing weight. Figueiredo would dominate the fight and earn a second-round TKO.
A rematch was set up with Deiveson making weight this time. Winning once again he would become the official champion at a UFC Fight Night. Defending the belt once against Alex Perez just one month after winning the belt.
The division would then get caught up in a four-fight feud between Deiveson and Brandon Moreno. The first fight between the two would end in a draw at UFC 256. After the indecisive nature of the fight and Brandon’s impressive performance a rematch was set up.
In the second fight, it was Moreno who would come out victorious. Defeating the Brazilian with a rear-naked choke at UFC 263. Deiveson would then win the belt back via unanimous decision after a third fight between the two happened at UFC 279.
Figueiredo was then out of action for a while. Due to this, an interim title was implemented. Brandon Moreno would win this, setting up a fourth encounter. The rivalry was finally put to bed with Brandon winning back the gold via TKO at UFC 283.
Women’s Bantamweight
Amanda Nunes already had five defences under her belt when Jones last stepped foot in the octagon. Many thought she’d make it six when Julianna Pena was her next opponent. However, Peña would shock many showing her heart taking the belt off of the “Lioness” in a spectacular performance.
At UFC 269 Julianna would submit Nunes and become the new bantamweight champion. Amanda wouldn’t be long without her belt winning it back at UFC 277 via unanimous decision.
Women’s Flyweight
The flyweight division has been dominated by one name since the current champion won the belt. With Valentina Shevchenko reigning supreme over the 125 lbs since December 2018. this hasn’t changed in the time since Jon Jones last fought.
Alexa Grasso could technically be added to this list with a win being that she fights Valentina in the co-main at the same event as Jones.
Women’s Strawweight
The champion at the time was Weili Zhang. Zhang defended the belt one event after Jon Jones last fought. In an all-time classic against Joanna Jędrzejczyk.
Weili would then lose the belt to former champion Rose Namajunas at UFC 261. Rose would defend the belt against Zhang once at UFC 268.
Rose would then lose the belt to another former champion. As the first-ever divisional champion Carla Esparza would defeat Namajunas via unanimous decision at UFC 274.
This wasn’t the last of the former champion merry-go-round. As Weili Zhang would regain her gold defeating Esparza at UFC 281, bringing us full circle.
What division has changed the most since Jon Jones last fought?
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
