The UFC Needs To Stop Crowning Two-Division Champions

I will be completely honest, seeing a fighter hoist up two UFC championships at the same time is very compelling.

It makes for easy promotion, easy stories to write, easy interviews to conduct for all involved.

But it just is not working for anybody.

Not Conor McGregor.

Not Daniel Cormier.

Not Henry Cejudo.

And probably not for Amanda Nunes either.

All four have at one time held two UFC titles at the same time. Three of the four lost one – or both – belts without ever defending it. Recently, reports have stated that Cejudo will relinquish the flyweight belt to continue his recovery from an injury, remaining bantamweight champion.

Back in 2018, Cejudo ended the long run of Demetrious Johnson, scoring a stunning split decision to win his first belt. Earlier this year, he added the bantamweight title by topping Marlon Moraes.

Now, the self-proclaimed “Triple C” will need a new nickname as he has lost a belt without ever defending it. His year-plus long stint included one title defense, which happened to come against then-bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw back in January.

McGregor was the first to be a two-division reigning champion, knocking out Eddie Alvarez in 2016 after doing the same to Jose Aldo. “Notorious” held both the featherweight and lightweight titles, but never defended either of them.

Cormier became the second fighter to accomplish the feat, winning the heavyweight belt while being light heavyweight champion when he stopped Stipe Miocic. “DC” had claimed the light heavyweight title with a victory over Anthony Johnson in 2015.

Now, it all falls on Nunes to see if she can carry the torch – and weight – of two divisions at the same time.

The Brazilian won the female bantamweight title in 2016 with an upset of Miesha Tate, defending it three times including a victory over Ronda Rousey. Late in 2018, she pulled an even bigger upset, ending the 13-year unbeaten run of Cris Cyborg to become featherweight champion.

Nunes defended the bantamweight title earlier this month, scoring a decision over Germaine de Randamie. She has yet to put the featherweight belt on the line, so unless it happens soon in 2020, one would expect her to suffer the same fate as those who came before.