Following the name of the champion(s): Indicates the number of times the competitor has held that title at that point.
[...]
Indicates a gap in the listing where title changes are not known.
<
Title was held or changed hands no later than this. In these cases, it is known that a competitor held the title at a certain time but not when he/she won it.
@
Order uncertain. Different titleholders may be known for the same year, for example, but it is not known who held the title before whom.
#
Unofficial or disputable claims. These are usually matches that certainly took place, but where there is doubt that the competitor shown should be recognized as a true title holder. These listings are also italicized.
* Bolded letters in the competitor's name, if any, indicate the surname/family name.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
2001-11-03
Tōkyō, JPN
Defeats Heath Herring to become the first champion.
Emelianenko Fedor
2003-03-16
Yokohama, JPN
Emelianenko signs to fight for a rival event on 03-12-31; Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira defeats Mirko Filipovic on 03-11-09 in Tōkyō, JPN for an interim title; Emelianenko defeats Nogueira on 04-12-31 in Saitama, JPN to become the undisputed champion; still champion as of 06-12-31.
