In the realm of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the clash of champions is a spectacle that often surpasses all others in terms of prestige. Such was the case with UFC 284, where lightweight champion Islam Makhachev faced off against featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski in what many consider being the pinnacle of mixed martial arts competition. While the trend of champions challenging titleholders in other divisions is relatively new, the UFC has a history of these high-stakes encounters. Interestingly, some of these matchups take place before the fighters involved have secured their own championship titles, providing a unique look at their journey to the top.
One notable example of future champions meeting in the Octagon is the fight between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway at UFC Fight Night 26 in 2013. At the time, McGregor was just entering his second UFC fight, while Holloway had already racked up ten professional MMA bouts. The fight was a testament to McGregor’s adaptability as he resorted to wrestling and grappling after suffering an ACL injury during the match. Despite Holloway’s efforts, McGregor emerged victorious by unanimous decision. Both fighters would later go on to win the featherweight championship, with McGregor famously knocking out José Aldo in 13 seconds and Holloway securing a TKO victory over Aldo in three rounds.
Another pre-championship encounter featured Kamaru Usman and Sean Strickland at UFC 210. Usman, who would later become the welterweight champion, dominated Strickland with his wrestling and striking power. Although he didn’t finish Strickland, Usman’s unanimous decision win contributed to his ascent in the UFC. Strickland, on the other hand, would eventually find success after moving up to the middleweight division.
Usman’s journey also included a bout with Leon Edwards at UFC on Fox 17, where he showcased his powerful wrestling and endurance. Despite Usman’s victory by unanimous decision, their rivalry would continue with Edwards stunning the MMA world with a head kick knockout in their second fight during Usman’s welterweight title reign, followed by a majority decision win in their immediate rematch.
Before becoming the UFC flyweight champion, Alexandre Pantoja faced Brandon Moreno at UFC Fight Night 129. Pantoja’s grappling and physicality proved too much for Moreno, but the fight hinted at the potential within ‘The Assassin Baby.’ Pantoja would later defeat Moreno again, this time in a closely contested battle for the championship title.
Lastly, Alex Pereira’s third UFC fight against Sean Strickland at UFC 276 was a decisive moment in his quest for middleweight gold. Pereira’s precision in striking, particularly a left hook that caught Strickland off guard, led to a knockout victory. Pereira would go on to win the middleweight title by defeating Israel Adesanya, although he lost it in a subsequent rematch, only to see Strickland claim the title after a five-round contest.
