- Jose Aldo was the first-ever UFC featherweight champion.
- Aldo was the only fighter in the division’s history to become a two-time featherweight champion.
- Alexander Volkanovski was the longest reigning UFC featherweight champion, having been champion for four years and two months.
The UFC featherweight division was graced by some of the few MMA greats who reigned in the weight class for multiple years. MMA legends such as Jose Aldo, Conor McGregor, Max Holloway, and Alexander Volkanovski have made the division relevant.
These legends also became constant favourites in MMA odds when fans placed their bets online because of their exciting fighting styles. See the details of the respective reigns below.
History of UFC Featherweight Champions: All Title Holders
| Fighter Name | Duration of Reign | Number of Months/Years |
|---|---|---|
| Jose Aldo | November 2010 to December 2015 | 5 years and 1 month |
| Conor McGregor | December 2015 to November 2016 | 11 months |
| Jose Aldo | November 2016 to June 2017 | 7 months |
| Max Holloway | June 2017 to December 2019 | 2 years and 6 months |
| Alexander Volkanovski | December 2019 to February 2024 | 4 years and 2 months |
| Ilia Topuira | February 2024 to April 2025 | 1 year and 3 months |
| Alexander Volkanovski | April 2025 to present | Current champion |
Aldo became the inaugural UFC featherweight champion in November 2010 after the UFC and WEC merged because he was the WEC featherweight champion then. He brought this dominance inside the Octagon and was the division’s undisputed king for more than five years.
However, he ran into McGregor, who dethroned him in December 2015 with an iconic 13-second knockout to start a new era in the 145-pound division. But “The Notorious” failed to defend the belt because he pursued a two-division status and bigger opportunities.
This prompted the promotion to strip him of the belt, and Aldo reclaimed it in November 2016. His second stretch of supremacy only lasted seven months, as Holloway defeated him in June 2017.
“Blessed” defended his title three times, which lasted more than two years before Volkanovski toppled him in December 2019 to start the longest reign in the division’s history. Following that championship triumph, Volkanovski had five title defences and spent more than 1,500 days as the undisputed champion.
After more than four years of being the undisputed featherweight champion, Volkanovski was defeated by Ilia Topuria in February 2024 via knockout and began a new reign in the 145-pound division.
