The Ultimate Fighting Championship Middleweight Championship follows the weight guidelines set forth in the Uniform Rules of Mixed Martial Arts (maximum 185 lbs.).

The belt was first awarded to Dave Menne at UFC 33 Victory in Vegas after defeating Gil Castillo by unanimous decision. Menne dropped the strap in his first title defense losing to Murilo Bustamante at UFC 35 Throwdown.

Bustamante was stripped of the title in October 2002 after signing with PRIDE Fighting Championships. The title remained vacant for over two years, until the late Evan Tanner defeated David Terrell for the vacant title at UFC 51 Super Saturday in February 2005.

Tanner dropped the strap in his first title defense losing to Rich Franklin at UFC 53 Heavy Hitters. Franklin defending his title twice before losing to Anderson Silva at UFC 64 Unstoppable.

Silva has held the title since October 2006, defending the belt on a record eight straight occasions.

In March 2008, Silva unified the Middleweight Championship with the PRIDE Welterweight (183 lbs.) Championship by defeating Dan Henderson at UFC 82 Pride of a Champion.

After defending his belt in two of the most controversial bouts of 2010, Silva started off 2011 with a bang due to a first round knockout victory over Vitor Belfort.

==UFC Middleweight Title History==

Champion Defeated for Title Event Defenses Notes
”’Anderson Silva”’ Rich Franklin UFC 64 Unstoppable (October 14, 2006)

*Chael Sonnen at UFC 148 Silva vs Sonnen 2 (July 7, 2012)

*Yushin Okami at UFC 134 Silva vs Okami (August 27, 2011)

*Vitor Belfort at UFC 126 Silva vs Belfort (February 5, 2011)

*Chael Sonnen at UFC 117 Silva vs Sonnen (August 7, 2010)

*Demian Maia at UFC 112 Invincible (April 10, 2010)

*Thales Leites at UFC 97 Redemption (April 18, 2009)

*Patrick Cote at UFC 90 Silva vs Cote (October 25, 2008)

*Dan Henderson at UFC 82 Pride of a Champion (March 1, 2008)

*Rich Franklin at UFC 77 Hostile Territory (October 27, 2007)

*Nate Marquardt at UFC 73 Stacked (July 7, 2007)

”’Rich Franklin”’ Evan Tanner UFC 53 Heavy Hitters (July 4, 2005)

*David Loiseau at UFC 58 USA vs Canada (March 4, 2006)

*Nate Quarry at UFC 56 Full Force (November 19, 2005)

”’Evan Tanner”’ David Terrell UFC 51 Super Saturday (February 5, 2005) For vacant Middleweight Championship
”’Murilo Bustamante”’ Dave Menne UFC 35 Throwdown (January 11, 2002)

*Matt Lindland at UFC 37 High Impact (May 10, 2002)

”’Dave Menne”’ Gil Castillo UFC 33 Victory in Vegas (September 28, 2001) Menne was first-ever UFC Middleweight Champion