[MMArules]

Tracking the lineage of the UFC Heavyweight Title:

Royce Gracie
The original Ultimate Fighting Champion. After winning the UFC 1, 2 & 4 tournament championships, Royce was an obvious pick to be in the first UFC Superfight bout which took place at UFC 5. Gracie's opponent was King of Pancrase, Ken Shamrock, who was 3-1 in the UFC (his only loss to Gracie at UFC 1). After a 30-minute regulation period and two 3-minute overtime periods, the fight was ruled a Draw.

Ken Shamrock
With Royce Gracie's departure from the UFC after UFC 5, Ken Shamrock fought against UFC 5 Tournament Champion Dan Severn for the Superfight title. Shamrock won the fight by choke submission just a couple minutes into the bout. Shamrock would go on to keep his title at UFC 7 with a draw against UFC 6 tournament champ Oleg Taktarov, and submission win at UFC 8 against Kimo.

Dan Severn
In a rematch to their UFC 6 Superfight, Severn won the UFC Superfight title against Ken Shamrock via split decision (This will go down as one of the worst fights in UFC history, where the two fighters spent most of the fight circling around the Octagon).

Mark Coleman
Coleman won back to back tournaments at UFC 10 & 11, then met Dan Severn at UFC 12 for the first official Heavyweight title. Coleman soundly defeated Severn to become the first ever UFC Heavyweight Champion.

Maurice Smith
For Mark Coleman's first title defense at UFC 14, he was pitted against the Extreme Fighting Heavyweight Champion Maurice Smith. In a surprise, Smith won a unanimous decision victory over Coleman to claim the belt. Smith would go on to defend his title against David 'Tank' Abbott at UFC 15.

Randy Couture
At UFC Japan, Randy Couture won a decision over Maurice Smith to become the new UFC Heavyweight Champion. Couture would vacate the title and would not be seen again in the Octagon for nearly three years.

Bas Rutten
At UFC 20, Bas Rutten (who defeated Tsuyoshi Kohsaka at UFC 18) and Kevin Randleman (who defeated Maurice Smith at UFC 19) were set to battle for the vacant Heavyweight title. The fight went the 21-minute distance, and amidst some controversy, Rutten was awarded the decision victory over Randleman. Rutten would vacate the title and has not fought since, however he is scheduled to fight soon against Kimo.

Kevin Randleman
After Randleman defeated Pete Williams at UFC 23, he met Pedro Rizzo (who had defeated Tsuyoshi Kohsaka at UFC 23) for the vacant title at UFC 26. Randleman won the decision and the title.

Randy Couture
Couture returned to the Octagon in 2000 to battle the Heavyweight Champ Kevin Randleman. Couture dominated the UFC 28 bout, winning with strikes in the 3rd round. Couture then earned two successful title defenses against Pedro Rizzo at UFC 31 & 34.

Josh Barnett
At UFC 36, Josh Barnett, who was coming off of two consecutive UFC wins over Semmy Schilt and Bobby Hoffman, proved to be too big for Randy Couture. Barnett won the title from Couture late in the 2nd round via TKO. Illegal substance use issues caused Barnett to vacate the title, he didn’t fight again in MMA for over a year and has not returned to the UFC.

Ricco Rodriguez
At UFC 39, Ricco Rodriguez met former champ Randy Couture for the vacant Heavyweight belt. In the 5th round, Rodriguez's striking put an end to the bout. Ricco Rodriguez became the new UFC Heavyweight champion.

Tim Sylvia
At UFC 41, Tim Sylvia put a quick end to Rodriguez's reign as champ. It took Sylvia just a few minutes in the first round to land enough strikes to end the fight. Sylvia won the title. He defended the title against Gan McGee at UFC 44, where he again ended the fight with punches. Illegal substance use issues were raised as Sylvia tested positive for steroids for the McGee bout.

Frank Mir
At UFC 48, Frank Mir, who had won a pair of fights against Wes Sims at UFC 43 & 46 fought against Tim Sylvia. In less than one minute, Mir was able to apply a bone-breaking armbar on Sylvia to win the title. Unfortunately, Mir was in an accident which left him out of UFC action for more than 18 months.

Andre Arlovski
After three strong UFC wins against Ian Freeman (UFC 40), Vladimir Matyushenko (UFC 44) and 'Cabbage' Correira (UFC 47), Andre Arlovski met Tim Sylvia for the 'interim' Heavyweight Championship title. This UFC 51 bout was quick as Arlovski landed a strong punch which dropped Sylvia, then followed up with an ankle lock to end the fight. Arlovski was crowned the new champ. He defended his title two times… the first a TKO against Justin Eilers (UFC 53) and then a KO against Paul Buentello (UFC 55).

Tim Sylvia
In their UFC 59 rematch in April 2006, Tim Sylvia came from behind to score a KO victory against Andre Arlovski less than 3-minutes into the first round. Sylvia regained the UFC Heavyweight title.

Will we see the title change hands again at Sylvia-Arlovski III?

[ninjamonkey]

It's always been a revolving door.

Randy left for money, Bas left for retirement, Randy came back, Barnett punked Randy, Barnett punked himself, Ricco punked Randy, Ricco got punked by Tim, Tim punked himself, Mir punked Tim, Mir punked himself, Andrei punked Tim, Tim punked Andrei...

[Seano]

If Sylvia beats AA, I thinkhe will, I think he'll have the title for a while. I don't see anyone at HW better than AA and Sylvia.

[ebondark]

Originally Posted by Seano

If Sylvia beats AA, I thinkhe will, I think he'll have the title for a while. I don't see anyone at HW better than AA and Sylvia.

True

Maybe Vera will be able to go for it in 6-10 months though.

[UfAkIaKeFe]

I think it happens when a top Pride HW comes over.

[Weston]

You left out Ruas and Frye. Also, the Superfight winner was never really given 'Champ" status in the early years the way tourney winners were. Granted, only the best fought in the Superfight, but if you are talking about champs, leave Shamrock out and add Jennum, Ruas, Frye, and Belfort. That's just off the top of my head.

[sharmpitz]

Loved that Ruas and VArelans fight. Thats the fight that got me hooked on MMA. I thought the big guy would crush the little guy. Awsome match

[sharmpitz]

Didin't taktarov win UFC 6? not sure can't remember gotta check it out.

[batman69]

you have mixed superfights and champs together, maybe you should change the thread title?

[TIMELESS TRUTH]

edit
oops, I missed the word heaveyweight in the thread title.