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The UFC as an organisation has grown exponentially as a company since it's formation in November 1993.
It's first title was introduced at UFC 5, the Superfight Championship - although it wasn't awarded until UFC 6, due to a draw in the first title match. Ken Shamrock was the first Champion.
UFC introduced weight-classes at UFC 12, when Mark Coleman won the Heavyweight Championship. From there, the company introduced the Light-Heavyweight Championship at UFC Japan in December 1997, the Welterweight Championship at UFC Brazil in October 1998 and the Middleweight Championship at UFC 33 in September 2001.
The company has continued to add belts to its men's and women's divisions and now has a total of 12 active championship titles.
The following list looks at the five best currently on the UFC roster.
#5 Khabib Nurmagomedov - Lightweight Champion
Won: April 7, 2018, vacant title versus Al Iaquinta (UFC 223)
Successful Defences: Not yet defended
Khabib Nurmagomedov won the vacant Lightweight Championship at UFC 223 in April. The unbeaten Nurmagomedov has won all 26 of his MMA fights and is the very definition of a Champion.
A man who breaks opponents wills as well as bones, the Judo and Sambo specialist, Nurmagomedov is an imperious fighter who could well retire as Champion.
However, his upcoming clash with Conor McGregor at UFC 229 in October will be his greatest test of all time.
#4 TJ Dillashaw - Bantamweight Champion
Won: November 4, 2017 from Cody Garbrandt (UFC 217)
Successful Defences: One, versus Cody Garbrandt (UFC 227)
TJ Dillashaw won the Bantamweight belt for the first time at UFC 173 on May 24, 2014. A late replacement for Raphael Assuncao (who was injured) Dillashaw faced Champion Renan Barao. In a colossal upset, Dillashaw dominated a man who was previously considered one of the finest MMA fighters in the world. Dillashaw earned the TKO with kicks and punches, inflicting only the second loss of Barao's career on the Champion.
From there, Dillashaw defeated Joe Soto and Barao in a rematch before dropping the title to former Champion Cruz.
Dillashaw quickly bounced back and emulated Cruz's achievement by becoming a two-time Champion himself when he defeated Cruz's conquerer Cody Garbrandt for the gold at UFC 207 and defended the strap in a rematch at UFC 227. After a cumulative reign as Champion of nearly 900 days, Dillashaw is the man to beat in the Bantamweight division.
#3 Amanda Nunes - Women's Bantamweight Champion
Won: July 9, 2016 from Miesha Tate (UFC 200)
Successful Defences: Three, versus Ronda Rousey (UFC 207), Valentina Shevchenko (UFC 215), Raquel Pennington (UFC 224)
Amanda Nunes ended the Championship reign of Miesha Tate at the first hurdle. However, Nunes was a fearsome test for anybody.
The Brazilian, aptly nicknamed the "Lioness" roars like no other. After breezing past the experienced Tate, Nunes crushed the legendary, Ronda Rousey in her first title defence in less than a minute. A defeat so devastating for Rousey, she retired afterwards.
Nunes's greatest test came against Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 215 in a keenly fought contest, which she won on a close split decision.
Nunes returned to her best form at UFC 224 where she defeated Raquel Pennington in the first UFC main event between two openly gay fighters. Nunes dominated the bout, finishing Pennington with ground and pound in the final round.
Nunes, undefeated in her last seven fights is the Queen of her division and looks unlikely to yield her throne any time soon.
#2 Cris Cyborg - Featherweight Champion
Won: July 29, 2017, vacant title versus Tonya Evinger (UFC 214)
Successful Defenses: Two, versus Holly Holm (UFC 219), versus Yana Kuznitskaya (UFC 222)
Cris Cyborg, unbeaten in her last 21 fights, won the Featherweight Championship at UFC 214 and hasn't looked back since.
Cyborg defended the title against former Bantamweight Champion, Holly Holm in a dominating decision win at UFC 219 and followed that up with another successful defence at UFC 222 versus Yana Kunitskaya, with a quick TKO first round victory.
With only one defeat in her entire career, who can stop Cyborg?
#1 Daniel Cormier - Light-Heavyweight Champion and Heavyweight Champion
Light Heavyweight Title - Won May 23, 2015, vacant title versus Anthony Johnson (UFC 187)
Successful Defences: Three, versus Alexander Gustafsson (UFC 192), versus Anthony Johnson (UFC 210), versus Volkan Oezdemir (UFC 220)
Heavyweight Title - Won July 27, 2018 from Stipe Miocic (UFC 226)
Successful Defences: Not yet defended
Daniel Cormier is unquestionably the greatest Champion currently active in the UFC. A double Champion, Cormier is the reigning Heavyweight and Light-Heavyweight title-holder.
Cormier won the Light-Heavyweight strap at UFC 187 defeating Anthony Johnson in a battle for the vacant belt. In the "performance of the night" Cormier submitted Johnson with a rear-naked choke in the third round.
Cormier defended the the title successfully at UFC 192 versus Alexander Gustafsson and in a re-match with Johnson at UFC 210. Controversy reigned at UFC 214, where Jon Jones defeated Cormier for the title in a match wherein the decision was overturned and the belt returned to Cormier. Jones had tested positive for steroids immediately following the contest rendering the result null and void.
Cormier next defended the title successfully against Volkan Oezdemir in a match where he once again won "performance of the night" honors.
Cormier's greatest career win was his most recent. Competing at Heavyweight, Cormier challenged UFC Heavyweight Champion, Stipe Miocic at UFC 226. Miocic, who was the first UFC Heavyweight Champion in history to successfully defend the title three times succumbed to Cormier's stunning punching power in the first round.
Cormier, a two-weight Champion sits atop of the UFC food chain, with the small matter of the "Beast" Brock Lesnar waiting to feed.
