It’s not wanting good for former UFC welterweight champion, Belal Muhammad. Not solely did he lose his final outing to Jack Della Maddelena at UFC 315, but when historical past is to repeat itself, he’s set to undergo a tough run of type.
After shedding the belt, UFC welterweight champions undergo a troublesome time, traditionally talking. We check out a few of the former UFC welterweight champions and their post-championship careers.
Type of Former UFC Welterweight Champions
Leon Edwards
Leon Edwards dropped the belt in a really lacklustre efficiency in opposition to Muhammad in Manchester at UFC 304. He appeared gun shy, devoid of confidence and easily put, got here out with the fallacious gameplan in opposition to Bully B, which finally result in him dropping the belt.
The struggle after that, he was dominated by Sean Brady, once more in his residence nation. Within the 2025 UFC London essential occasion, Edwards was appeared recent out of concepts as to cope with wrestlers. 5 takedowns later and 11:10 of management time later, Edwards slipped to 0-2, having been the champion.
Kamaru Usman
Kamaru Usman was some of the dominant UFC welterweight champions in current reminiscence. All through his reign, he added vicious hanging to his arsenal.
After 5 straight defences of his belt, he appeared set to make his six straight, till he was caught with a brilliantly timed headkick by the hands (or toes) of Leon Edwards. In a rematch, Usman wasn’t capable of get the win again in opposition to Edwards.
After that, he dropped a brief discover struggle in opposition to Khamzat Chimaev, taking him to 0-3 in his final three outings after a 19 struggle successful run.
Tyron Woodley
T-Wooden, Tyron Woodley seemed to be probably the most harmful welterweight since Georges St Piere throughout his reign, spanning just a little wanting three years. His wrestling defence, potential offence and his vicious energy made him a feared man at 170.
Handing Stephen Thompson solely his second UFC loss, he negated Demien Maia’s recreation and dominated the beforehand undefeated Darren Until on his option to 4 straight UFC welterweight title defences.
After being dominated himself by Usman, Woodley would go on to undergo an extra three UFC losses earlier than transitioning into the world of influencer boxing, going 0-2 in opposition to Jake Paul.
Robbie Lawler
After back-to-back wars, Robbie Lawler lastly misplaced his belt to T-Wooden. Indisputably, Ruthless was some of the thrilling UFC welterweight champions in historical past.
Though he received the fast struggle after shedding to Woodley, a unanimous resolution victory over Donald Cerrone, his fortune wouldn’t be continued.
Struggling 4 straight losses after defeating Cerrone, Lawler would retire with a document 3-5, getting into the corridor of fame within the fashionable wing in 2025.
Johnny Hendricks
At UFC 181, Lawler was capable of defeat Johnny Hendricks to seize the belt. Previous to this, Hendricks had controversially misplaced to Georges St Pierre through cut up resolution, sending GSP into retirement (for 4 years) and defeated Lawler himself.
After dropping the belt to Lawler of their rematch, Hendricks would go on to endure a torrid run of type, going 2-5, together with lacking weight 3 times and never placing again to again wins collectively.
He’d transition into naked knuckle boxing, nevertheless, would lose his one and solely struggle by knockout to Dakota Cochrane in 2018.
Matt Serra
Matt Serra pulled off one of many greatest upsets in UFC historical past after he received The Final Fighter to get a title shot at GSP. The UFC welterweight title image altered massively throughout 2007-2008.
Serra was injured and needed to pull out of the rematch, as an alternative taking over St Pierre within the challenger’s residence nation of Canada. It didn’t go effectively for Serra. A dominant efficiency was put in by the Canadian native, ending issues in simply over seven minutes.
After dropping the belt, Serra went 1-2 and retired from the sport. In 2018, Serra was inducted into the Corridor of Fame, deservedly so.
Matt Hughes
Matt Hughes. One other former UFC welterweight champion who has entered the UFC Corridor of Fame and one other man who misplaced the belt and struggled afterwards. He took on GSP and misplaced the UFC welterweight belt again in 2006.
Regardless of beating Chris Lytle within the struggle immediately after shedding the belt, he went on to lose two straight to GSP in a rematch for the interim strap after which went on to get completed by Thiago Alves in London. Though he would go on to place three wins collectively, he by no means noticed a title struggle once more.
With that being mentioned, he retired a legend of the game.
Carlos Newton
Ah, Carlos Newton. Some of the recognisable faces from the early days of the UFC welterweight division, Newton entered the UFC title image in 2001. He had had a run within the UFC previous to his UFC welterweight title shot at UFC 17, nevertheless, that includes on large promotions like PRIDE and Shooto, Newton was prepared when the UFC name got here.
He received the belt in opposition to Pat Miletich at UFC 31, however sadly for Newton, misplaced it (in now-famous vogue) as a consequence of a slam knockout by the hands of Hughes.
He would retire with a post-title struggle document of 5-10. He retired as the primary Canadian UFC champion, one thing that nobody can take away from him.
Pat Miletich
Miletich was the primary UFC welterweight champion, capturing the inaugural belt at UFC Brazil 23 years in the past. He would go on to make 4 defences of his belt earlier than dropping it to Newton.
After shedding the belt, Miletich would go 2-2 earlier than retiring in 2008. He would make a return in 2023 underneath the Caged Aggression MMA banner at age 55 in opposition to Mike Jackson. He would retire from the struggle on the finish of the second spherical, a disappointing finish to his MMA tenure. With that being mentioned, he’s yet one more former UFC welterweight champion who’s featured within the UFC Corridor of Fame.
The Exception
There may be one man who we haven’t spoken about in our record of welterweight champions to struggled after dropping the belt. Georges St Pierre.
Rush misplaced the belt to Serra in 2007; nevertheless, he was capable of win the interim belt of their rematch. Since then, he’s gone undefeated. He made 9 defences of his UFC welterweight title earlier than retiring from the game.
He gave up the belt and allowed the division to thrive. He returned 4 years later, this time at middleweight to grow to be a two-weight world champion, defeating Michael Bisping.
He’s the one exception within the UFC welterweight division, a person who misplaced the belt however managed to rebound and located nice type afterwards.
