List of Strikeforce champions

Strikeforce was an American mixed martial arts organization. It crowned male champions in the lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions, and female champions in featherweight and bantamweight.

Strikeforce Men's World Championship belt
Strikeforce Women's World Championship belt

World champions

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Men's championships

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Heavyweight Championship

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206 pounds (93 kg) to 265 pounds (120 kg)

No.NameEventDateReignDefenses
1 Alistair Overeem
def. Paul Buentello
Strikeforce: Four Men Enter, One Man Survives
San Jose, CA, USA
November 16, 20071,351 days1. def. Brett Rogers at Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery on May 15, 2010
Overeem vacated the title on July 29, 2011 when his contract was absorbed by the UFC.[1]

Light Heavyweight Championship

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186 pounds (84 kg) to 205 pounds (93 kg)

No.NameEventDateReignDefenses
1 Bobby Southworth
def. Vernon White
Strikeforce: Triple Threat
San Jose, CA, USA
December 8, 2006714 days1. def. Anthony Ruiz at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson on Jun 27, 2008
2 Renato SobralStrikeforce: Destruction
San Jose, CA, USA
November 21, 2008267 days
3 Gegard MousasiStrikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg
San Jose, CA, USA
August 15, 2009245 days
4 Muhammed LawalStrikeforce: Nashville
Nashville, TN, USA
April 17, 2010126 days
5 Rafael CavalcanteStrikeforce: Houston
Houston, TX, USA days
August 21, 2010196 days
6 Dan HendersonStrikeforce: Feijão vs. Henderson
Columbus, OH, USA
March 5, 2011198 days
Henderson vacated the title on September 19, 2011 when his contract was absorbed by the UFC.[2]

Middleweight Championship

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171 pounds (78 kg) to 185 pounds (84 kg)

No.NameEventDateReignDefenses
1 Frank Shamrock
def. Phil Baroni
Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Baroni
San Jose, CA, USA
June 22, 2007281 days
2 Cung LeStrikeforce: Shamrock vs. Le
San Jose, CA, USA
March 29, 2008588 days
Le vacated the title on September 17, 2009 due to filming obligations.[3]
3 Jake Shields
def. Jason Miller
Strikeforce: Fedor vs Rogers
Hoffman Estates, IL, USA
November 7, 2009287 days1. def. Dan Henderson at Strikeforce: Nashville on Apr 17, 2010
Shields vacated the title on July 1, 2010 when signed with the UFC.[4]
4 Ronaldo Souza
def. Tim Kennedy
Strikeforce: Houston
Houston, TX, USA
August 21, 2010385 days1. def. Robbie Lawler at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg on Jan 29, 2011
5 Luke RockholdStrikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov
Cincinnati, OH, USA
September 10, 2011490 days1. def. Keith Jardine at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine on Jan 7, 2012
2. def. Tim Kennedy at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy on Jul 14, 2012
The Strikeforce Middleweight title was vacated after the Strikeforce banner was dissolved into the UFC on January 12, 2013.

Welterweight Championship

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156 pounds (71 kg) to 170 pounds (77 kg)

No.NameEventDateReignDefenses
1 Nick Diaz
def. Marius Žaromskis
Strikeforce: Miami
Sunrise, FL, USA
January 30, 2010495 days1. def. K. J. Noons at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons II on Oct 9, 2010
2. def. Evangelista Santos at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg on Jan 29, 2011
3. def. Paul Daley at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley on Apr 9, 2011
Diaz vacated the title on June 9, 2011 when his contract was absorbed by the UFC.[5]
2 Nate Marquardt
def. Tyron Woodley
Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy
Portland, OR, USA
July 14, 2012182 days
3 Tarec SaffiedineStrikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
January 12, 20130 days
The Strikeforce Welterweight title was vacated after the Strikeforce banner was dissolved into the UFC on January 12, 2013.

Lightweight Championship

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146 pounds (66 kg) to 155 pounds (70 kg)

No.NameEventDateReignDefenses
1 Clay Guida
def. Josh Thomson
Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Gracie
San Jose, CA, USA
March 10, 200691 days
2 Gilbert MelendezStrikeforce: Revenge
San Jose, CA, USA
June 9, 2006749 days1. def. Gabe Lemley at Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Le on March 29, 2008
3 Josh ThomsonStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson
San Jose, CA, USA
June 27, 2008540 days
Gilbert Melendez
def. Rodrigo Damm for interim title
Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz
San Jose, CA, USA
April 11, 20091. def. Mitsuhiro Ishida at Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg on Aug 15, 2009
4 Gilbert Melendez (2)Strikeforce: Evolution
San Jose, CA, USA
December 19, 20091,218 days1. def. Shinya Aoki at Strikeforce: Nashville on Apr 17, 2010
2. def. Tatsuya Kawajiri at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley on Apr 9, 2011
3. def. Jorge Masvidal at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal on Dec 17, 2011
4. def. Josh Thomson at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier on May 19, 2012
The Strikeforce Lightweight Title was unified with the UFC Lightweight Title on April 20, 2013, when Benson Henderson defeated Melendez at UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Melendez.

Women's championships

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Women's Featherweight Championship

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136 pounds (62 kg) to 145 pounds (66 kg)Formerly known as the Women's Lightweight Championship and the Women's Middleweight Championship

No.NameEventDateReignDefenses
1 Cris Cyborg
def. Gina Carano
Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg
San Jose, CA, USA
August 15, 2009874 days1. def. Marloes Coenen at Strikeforce: Miami on Jan 30, 2010
2. def. Jan Finney at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum on Jun 26, 2010
NC. vs. Hiroko Yamanaka at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal on Dec 17, 2011
Cyborg was stripped of the title on January 6, 2012 after testing positive for anabolic steroids in a post-fight drug test.[6]

Women's Bantamweight Championship

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126 pounds (57 kg) to 135 pounds (61 kg)Formerly known as the Women's Welterweight Championship

No.NameEventDateReignDefenses
1 Sarah Kaufman
def. Takayo Hashi
Strikeforce Challengers: Kaufman vs. Hashi
San Jose, CA, USA
February 26, 2010225 days1. def. Roxanne Modafferi at Strikeforce Challengers: del Rosario vs. Mahe on Jul 23, 2010
2 Marloes CoenenStrikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons II
San Jose, CA, USA
October 9, 2010294 days1. def. Liz Carmouche at Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson on Mar 5th, 2011
3 Miesha TateStrikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson
Hoffman Estates, IL, USA
July 30, 2011217 days
4 Ronda RouseyStrikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Columbus, OH, USA
March 3, 2012278 days1. def. Sarah Kaufman at Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Kaufman on Aug 18, 2012
The title was vacated on December 6, 2012 when Rousey became the first UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion.[7]

U.S. champions

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Middleweight U.S. Championship

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170 pounds (77 kg) to 185 pounds (84 kg)

No.NameEventDateReignDefenses
1 Eugene Jackson
def. Ronald Jhun
Strikeforce: Triple Threat
San Jose, CA, USA
December 8, 20062,227 days
The Strikeforce Middleweight U.S. title was vacated after the Strikeforce banner was dissolved into the UFC on January 12, 2013.

Lightweight U.S. Championship

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145 pounds (66 kg) to 155 pounds (70 kg)

No.NameEventDateReignDefenses
1 Josh Thomson
def. Nam Phan
Strikeforce: Triple Threat
San Jose, CA, USA
December 8, 20062,227 days

1. def. Nick Gonzalez at Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Baroni on Jun 22, 2007

The Strikeforce Lightweight U.S. title was vacated after the Strikeforce banner was dissolved into the UFC on January 12, 2013.

Tournament winners

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EventDivisionWinnerRunner-upDate
Strikeforce: Four Men Enter, One Man SurvivesMiddleweight Jorge Santiago Trevor PrangleyNovember 17, 2007
Strikeforce Challengers: Riggs vs. TaylorWomen's Bantamweight Miesha Tate Hitomi AkanoAugust 13, 2010
Strikeforce: Barnett vs. CormierHeavyweight Daniel Cormier Josh BarnettMay 19, 2012

Records

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Most wins in title bouts

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Title winsChampionDivisionVDNCL
9 Gilbert MelendezLightweight9001
4 Nick DiazWelterweight4001
3 Cristiane JustinoWomen's Featherweight3010
Luke RockholdMiddleweight3000
2 Bobby SouthworthLight Heavyweight2001
Sarah KaufmanWomen's Bantamweight2001
Ronaldo SouzaMiddleweight2001
Marloes CoenenWomen's Bantamweight2001
Jake ShieldsMiddleweight2000
Alistair OvereemHeavyweight2000
Ronda RouseyWomen's Bantamweight2000

Most consecutive title defenses

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DefensesChampionDivisionPeriod
4 Gilbert MelendezLightweightApril 19, 2009 – January 12, 2013
3 Nick DiazWelterweightJanuary 30, 2010 – June 9, 2011
2 Cristiane JustinoWomen's FeatherweightAugust 15, 2009 – January 6, 2012
Luke RockholdMiddleweightSeptember 10, 2011 – January 12, 2013
1 Bobby SouthworthLight HeavyweightDecember 8, 2006 – November 21, 2008
Jake ShieldsMiddleweightNovember 7, 2009 – July 1, 2010
Alistair OvereemHeavyweightNovember 16, 2007 – July 29, 2011
Sarah KaufmanWomen's BantamweightFebruary 26, 2010 – October 9, 2010
Ronaldo SouzaMiddleweightAugust 21, 2010 – September 10, 2011
Marloes CoenenWomen's BantamweightOctober 9, 2010 – July 30, 2011
Ronda RouseyWomen's BantamweightMarch 3, 2012 – December 6, 2012

Champions by nationality

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The division champions include only linear and true champions. Interim champions who have never become linear champions will be listed as interim champions. Fighters with multiple title reigns in a specific division will also be counted once. Runners-up are not included in tournaments champions.

CountryDivision
champions
Tournaments
champions
Total
 United States14216
 Brazil415
 Netherlands33
 Belgium11
 Canada11
 Vietnam11

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "STRIKEFORCE RELEASES ALISTAIR OVEREEM". MMAFighting.com. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
  2. ^ "Shogun Rua Tabbed to Welcome Dan Henderson Back at UFC 139 - MMAWeekly.com". mmaweekly.com. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  3. ^ "LE STEPS DOWN; SHIELDS VS. MILLER FOR 185 BELT". MMAWeekly.com. Archived from the original on 2009-09-22. Retrieved 2009-09-18.
  4. ^ "SHIELDS RELEASED BY STRIKEFORCE, UFC DEAL EXPECTED". MMAWeekly.com. Archived from the original on 2010-07-04. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
  5. ^ Martin, Damon (June 9, 2011). "Nick Diaz Vacates Belt to Face GSP at UFC 137". Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  6. ^ "Cris 'Cyborg' Santos Stripped of Title, End of the 145lb Division? - MMAWeekly.com". mmaweekly.com. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  7. ^ Dana White Media Scrum, Post-UFC 154 (18:30)