Staff Columnists
WALKER: What is each UFC Title really worth? Looking at the numbers and names behind each UFC belt
Feb 9, 2012 - 1:05:12 PM WALKER: What is each UFC Title really worth? Looking at the numbers and names behind each UFC belt

DISCUSS ALL THIS IN OUR NEW MMATORCH FORUM

...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!

By: Brad Walker, MMATorch Contributor

Here's how this works - I am going to look at a number of factors that can affect the value of each title currently being held and defended inside the UFC. I will list the factors, pros and cons and numbers behind each title - this will lead me to a final score the level of prestige that comes with winning the title as compared to the others - the numerical value of the title on a scale of 1 to 100.

UFC Heavyweight Championship:

Created: February 7, 1997
First Champion: Mark "The Hammer" Coleman
Total Number Of Reigns: 16 (20 Including Interim Titles)
Most Reigns: 2 (Randy Couture)
Times Successfully Defended: 12
Longest Reign: 1,113 Days (Randy Couture)

The Heavyweight Title is generally considered to be the most prestigious in all of fighting, regardless of what organization it is in. I understand the consensus behind that, but I don't necessarily agree with it. Many top level competitors have held this belt, including Bas Rutten, Randy Couture, Tim Sylvia, Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir. It has clearly been held by a number of current and future hall of famers, and that certainly adds some shine to the gold. I think the most dominant champion would probably be considered to be Brock Lesnar, as he came, saw, and conquered - then defended it twice to tie the record of most defenses. Given all of the factors, and removing the general field of thought, the numbers speak volumes about the title. Although there have been 16 undisputed champions, the title has only been defended successfully 12 times. This means that a defending heavyweight champion has a 25% chance of losing the belt in his first defense, with a decrease to 20% if you count the interim reigns. It is certainly one of the hardest titles to hold onto; with an increasingly dangerous division this belt certainly lends some serious swagger to its holder.

Total Value Out Of 100: 86

It's a hard title to win, and it's an even harder title to keep, that definitely increases its value. It is considered to be the most sought after title in the UFC, and for good reason; it means you're the biggest, baddest, and scariest guy in the world of mixed martial arts. That doesn't mean its actual value should be increased, that's why I have put it at an 86, because it's definitely a title everyone wants, but it is also a title that if you get in a match for it, you have a reasonable chance of getting it.

UFC Light-Heavyweight Championship:

Created: December 21, 1997
First Champion: Frank Shamrock
Total Number Of Reigns: 12 (13 Counting Interim)
Most Reigns: 3 (Randy Couture)
Times Successfully Defended: 17
Longest Reign: 1,260 Days (Tito Ortiz)

This title has a fantastic history, originally being called the middleweight title until it was renamed in 2001 with the adoption of the unified rules. A large majority of its time has been spent around the waist of current or future hall of famers, perhaps more than any other title in the UFC. I have many fond memories of its defenses and the feuds that went along with them, most notably Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. There were a number of times that I believed this title would never change hands; for instance, once Rampage won the belt, I figured, this is it - this guy's a monster. Fate has a funny way of moving the title, and no way could be funnier than Forrest Griffin's leg kick domination of Rampage. Some of the title reigns feeling like flukes do affect the value of the title, but I believe as it stands having a champion who is an absolute monster like Jon Jones will only serve to raise the value.

Total Value Out Of 100: 78

I only have it as low as 78 because of how hard the past champions have fallen. Chuck, Tito and Forrest have all become afterthoughts in the world of MMA, and it's for the best as they are clearly past their respective primes. The fact that it's highly defended certainly brought the number up quite a bit, but now that Jon Jones has his hands on the belt and holding down the throne, I would expect to see a great increase over the next year or two.

UFC Middleweight Championship:

Created: September 28, 2001
First Champion: Dave Menne
Total Number Of Reigns: 5
Most Reigns: Nobody has held this title twice
Times Successfully Defended: 12
Longest Reign: 1,939 Days (Anderson Silva)

It certainly works in this title's favor that it has the best pound for pound fighter in the world wearing it around his waist, and he has been for over five years now. He is clearly the most dominant champion in UFC history and adds such a large amount of value to this belt. Sure, most people look at the name Dave Menne and go "Who the heck is that?" And I don't blame them - the guy is truly an after-thought in the MMA world, but that's no fault of his own - he was the inaugural champion after all. The title started gaining its value when Rich Franklin took it from Evan Tanner in 2005, and ever since it has been the hardest title to get your hands on. Did I mention that Anderson Silva is the best fighter on the planet and will probably retire holding this belt? In 10 years of existence this belt has only had five champions; the most recent owner (Silva) has had it for half of its lifespan! This is the hardest to attain belt in mixed martial arts right now, and for good reason as the champion should be considered MMA royalty.

Total Value Out Of 100: 97

The only thing that could raise the value of this belt is having the first two champions erased from the record and start the title history with a fighter like Evan Tanner. When Evan Tanner passed away in 2008 he felt he had gone flat inside the cage, but he did lose the title to Rich Franklin, a future hall of famer. This belt doesn't have the lengthy history that the others do, but that's exactly why it's the most coveted belt in the world.

UFC Welterweight Championship:

Created: October 16th 1998
First Champion: Pat Miletich
Total Number Of Reigns: 8 (9 counting Interim belts)
Most Reigns: 2 (Tie - GSP and Matt Hughes)
Times Successfully Defended: 17
Longest Reign: 1,363 Days (GSP)

This title has almost exclusively been held by current and future members of the UFC Hall of Fame, with the exception of Carlos Newton and Matt Serra. Starting with Pat Miletich and moving to Georges St-Pierre, this title has been on the waist of some of the greatest fighters in MMA history. GSP is clearly the second best pound for pound fighter in the world and since regaining the title in 2008 has showed an unmatched brilliance inside of the cage. Between GSP, Hughes and Miletich you have every title defense ever in the history of this belt. B.J. Penn also notably held this title in 2004 before being stripped for making the jump to K-1. There has not been a lot of controversy around this belt and I don't currently believe anyone in the division is going to get it off of the current champ anytime soon. If it winds up in the hands of Nick Diaz or Carlos Condit and they have a one and done type of reign the value will drop.

Total Value Out Of 100: 89

The fact that GSP looks like a vulnerable champion right now with only two solid contenders left in the division took away some overall points, but the division although the top tier looks a little crowded isn't as deep as it could be, because St-Pierre has already beaten almost anybody who he could fight for the title aside from Diaz and Condit, and possibly Johny Hendricks. I expect to see it around the waist of GSP for a couple of more years before someone manages to take it away.

UFC Lightweight Championship:

Created: Feb 23, 2001
First Champion: Jens Pulver
Total Number Of Reigns: 4
Most Reigns: Nobody has held this title twice
Times Successfully Defended: 8 with 1 draw.
Longest Reign: 812 Days (B.J. Penn)
 
This title has had kind of an odd history; the first champion was stripped of the title, and then a four man tournament was held which ended in a draw. It was then left vacant until 2006 when it was captured by Sean Sherk, who was in turn stripped of the title for testing positive for steroids. After that things kind of evened out with B.J. Penn taking the title to some prominence, and Frankie Edgar also lending a hand to the value. I don't know if I believe that Edgar will still be the champion after UFC 144 and his bout with Ben Henderson, because things in the lightweight division are really churning up right now. There are so many powerful prospects and top notch contenders are lying in wait for a shot at the belt.

Total Value Out Of 100: 65

There are just so many stains on the history of this belt that it's hard to give it a promising value. It was stripped from the first two champions, and B.J. Penn's downfall hasn't exactly added value to the legitimacy of past champions. I would love to see a truly dominant fighter get his hands on this belt and defend it for years on end like GSP or Silva have with their belts. That is about the only way to get the overall value of this title increased, for all I know Frankie Edgar could be the guy to take this title up to the 80's or 90's in value, but as it stands he has to get past Benson Henderson first.

I am going to wait a few months to evaluate the Featherweight, Bantamweight, and Flyweight titles, because their history is just beginning.


Remember to follow me on twitter @BradMMATorch. I am always taking requests for writing topics and love to hear all of your comments on my columns.