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The UFC has had many great champions throughout its history. Some of the most prolific and memorable mixed martial artists have made legendary careers by competing in the world's most prestigious MMA promotion. However, there are many UFC champions who at one point have fought in different organizations. While competing there, these combatants were able to win the championships of other major promotions and continue building their legacy.
These MMA stars weren't limited to UFC's Octagon when it comes to finding championship success. Without further ado, let's take a look at 10 UFC champions who found additional gold elsewhere in their fighting careers.
10 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will go down as one of the best heavyweights in MMA history. Big Nog has compiled an impressive 34-10 professional record throughout his career and has competed in both the UFC and Pride.
Besides winning the UFC interim heavyweight championship in 2008, Nogueira is also a two-time Pride heavyweight champion. He has competed against the top heavyweights in the world including Fedor Emelianenko, Cain Velasquez, Tim Sylvia, and Josh Barnett.
9 Luke Rockhold
After Zuffa decided to close Strikeforce, a group of fighters were designated to join the UFC roster. Between 2013 and 2015, Luke Rockhold compiled a 5-1 record in the UFC and claimed the UFC middleweight championship.
However, the Santa Cruz native was also a Strikeforce middleweight champion and defended his belt twice before joining the UFC roster.
8 Carlos Condit
Carlos Condit is one of those fighters that hardcore MMA fans will simply never forget. The former interim UFC welterweight championship is one of the most devastating finishers in MMA history. He compiled a 321-4 record in MMA before retiring in 2021.
Condit has finished 28 opponents by submission or knockout and is one of the most skilled strikers in UFC welterweight history. Before joining the UFC, Condit competed in the WEC where he was WEC welterweight championship and defended his belt three times.
7 Robbie Lawler
Robbie Lawler is well-known for possessing some of the most thunderous knockouts in MMA history. His aggression, resilience, and power allowed him to claim the UFC welterweight championship and defend his throne twice against Rory MacDonald and Carlos Condit.
Before his second UFC run, Lawler also competed in EliteXC where he won the middleweight championship.
6 Benson Henderson
Benson Henderson was one of several WEC lightweights that joined the UFC roster after the WEC and UFC merged. He won the UFC lightweight championship by defeating Frankie Edgar and then defended his belt in a highly anticipated rematch with the former champ.
He defended his belt three times and was considered the best lightweight in the world in 2012. Henderson was also the second to last WEC lightweight champion and took part in two epic showdowns with Donald Cerrone.
5 Justin Gaethje
The UFC lightweight division has been the strongest in MMA for some time. It only got stronger once the UFC signed Justin Gaethje. Gaethje competed in the World Series of Fighting for three years before joining the UFC.
During that time, he won the lightweight championship and defended his belt twice. After competing in the UFC for three years, he captured the UFC interim lightweight championship by defeating Tony Ferguson on short notice at UFC 249.
4 Cris Cyborg
It is not unreasonable to say that Cris Cyborg was considered the best female fighter in the world between 2009 and 2018. During this time, she captured the Strikeforce Women's featherweight champion, the Invicta FC Women's featherweight championship, and the UFC women's featherweight championship.
Cyborg was among the most feared and skilled strikers in all of mixed martial arts and has compiled 20 wins by knockout. She is currently the Bellator Women's featherweight champion and has defended her belt three times.
3 Jose Aldo
Jose Aldo is the most decorated featherweight of all time and is a three-time world champion. He won the WEC featherweight champion in 2009 and defended his belt twice in impressive fashion.
After the merger between UFC and WEC, Aldo was promoted to the UFC featherweight champion and defended his belt seven times in six years. After losing the belt to Conor McGregor, Aldo fought Frankie Edgar for the UFC interim featherweight championship. He defeated Edgar and was promoted to the undisputed championship after McGregor permanently moved up to lightweight. Aldo moved down to bantamweight in 2019 and is currently riding a three-fight win streak.
2 Dominick Cruz
Dominick Cruz's MMA career is truly a 'what could have been' story. Cruz competed in the WEC and won the bantamweight championship back in 2010. He defended his belt twice and was later promoted to the inaugural UFC bantamweight champion.
He was eventually forced to vacate his belt and did not compete for three years. After recovering from his injuries, he returned to action and eventually recaptured the UFC bantamweight champion by defeating T.J. Dillashaw. After recovering from another set of injuries, the former champion is currently still competing in the bantamweight division and is on a two-fight win streak.
1 Anthony Pettis
Anthony Pettis is responsible for the most incredible moment in WEC history. He faced Benson Henderson in the last WEC fight in the company's history at WEC 53. The bout was extremely competitive, and many outlets had it 2-2 going into round five.
In round five, Pettis turned the tide by landing The Showtime Kick which involved him jumping off the cage and kicking Henderson in the face with the same leg. Pettis became an overnight sensation and many expected him to find similar success in the UFC.
After a rocky start, he eventually compiled a three-fight win streak and earned a rematch against current UFC champion Benson Henderson. Pettis defeated Henderson again by securing a painful armbar submission to become the new UFC champion. Showtime will go down as one of the most exciting fighters in MMA history.