Story perspectives

UFC's Evolution: 12 Weight Divisions and Current Champions

12/8/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The UFC was established in 1993 and added weight classes in 1997, starting with heavyweight and lightweight divisions.
Mark Coleman became the first heavyweight champion in 1997.
The promotion currently features 12 weight divisions, with champions Tom Aspinall (heavyweight), Alex Pereira (light heavyweight), Khamzat Chimaev (middleweight), and Islam Makhachev (lightweight).
Women’s divisions are represented by Kayla Harrison (women's bantamweight) and Valentina Shevchenko (women's flyweight).

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Story summary

The UFC was established in 1993 and added weight classes in 1997, starting with heavyweight and lightweight divisions.
Mark Coleman became the first heavyweight champion in 1997.
The promotion currently features 12 weight divisions, with champions Tom Aspinall (heavyweight), Alex Pereira (light heavyweight), Khamzat Chimaev (middleweight), and Islam Makhachev (lightweight).
Women’s divisions are represented by Kayla Harrison (women's bantamweight) and Valentina Shevchenko (women's flyweight).