5 incredible passing of the torch moments in UFC history

#4. Tony Ferguson vs. Charles Oliveira - UFC 256

Between 2013 and 2019, Tony Ferguson emerged as one of the most entertaining and dangerous fighters in the UFC lightweight division.

'El Cucuy' put together a scintillating 12-fight win streak and even won the interim title at the height of his powers. His unorthodox striking, coupled with his relentless pressure and sublime ground game, made him a fan-favorite. Unfortunately for Ferguson, he hit a slump in 2020 when he lost to Justin Gaethje at UFC 254.

He looked to bounce back and return to winning ways when he locked horns with Charles Oliveira later that year.

Tony Ferguson vs. Charles Oliveira [Image courtesy of @UFCEurope on Twitter]

Oliveira dominated Ferguson on the night. 'Do Bronx' cruised to a comfortable unanimous decision victory to break into the top 5 at 'El Cucuy's expense. Interestingly, there are a ton of similarities between the two fighters' style of fighting.

It's almost as if Oliveira is an upgraded version of Ferguson. The Brazilian's striking is slightly more polished and he's one of the best grapplers on the roster, just like the former interim champ. Since becoming the champion of the lightweight division in 2021, he has shown a toughness that is akin to a certain boogeyman we all know and love.

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#3. Demetrious Johnson vs. Henry Cejudo 2 - UFC 227

Demetrious Johnson became the UFC flyweight champion in 2012 and went on to defend his title 11 times. 'Mighty Mouse' remains one of the most dominant champions in MMA history and was largely untouchable during his time in the promotion.

One of those title defenses came against Henry Cejudo back in 2016. Johnson secured a first-round TKO victory on the night and Cejudo fell short just like every other contender at 125 lbs. Two years later, they squared off in a rematch at UFC 227.

Their rematch is one of the greatest title fights in the history of the flyweight division. Cejudo came away with a split-decision victory on the night to dethrone the long-reigning champion.

Interestingly, this was Johnson's last fight in the promotion. He was traded to ONE Championship while Cejudo took over the 125 lbs division. Since then, 'Triple C' has emerged as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet. He went on to defend the title against TJ Dillashaw before opting to move up to bantamweight.

In 2019, Cejudo became a two-division champion following his sensational TKO victory over Marlon Moraes. He went on to defend his 135 lbs title against Dominick Cruz, arguably the greatest bantamweight of all time, and retired soon after.

Both Cejudo and Johnson are among the greatest fighters to have ever competed inside the octagon. Their second bout represented a seismic change in the flyweight division. Today, the weight class that was once rumored to be on the chopping block is blossoming like never before.