For any mixed martial artist, the ultimate symbol of glory isn’t a medal or a trophy—it is twelve pounds of gold and leather wrapped around their waist. The UFC championship belt has evolved from a simple tournament prize into one of the most recognized icons in modern sports. But unlike the generic trophies in other leagues, the UFC belt tells a story. It is a living document of the sport’s history, etched with flags, stones, and dates that track the rise of an empire.
Whether you are a longtime fan who remembers the days of the “Classic Gold” era or a newcomer curious about why some champions have red stones on their plates, understanding the belt’s design is essential. In this deep dive, we explore the evolution of the UFC belt, the hidden meanings behind the Legacy Belt, and the craftsmanship that turns raw metal into a fighter’s most prized possession.
The Early Days: Trophies, Medals, and the “Superfight” Belt
It is easy to forget that in 1993, the concept of a “UFC Champion” didn’t exist in the way we know it today. The earliest events, starting with UFC 1, were one-night tournaments. The winner didn’t defend a title; they simply survived a bracket. Royce Gracie, the winner of the first tournament, was awarded a trophy and a modest check—not a belt.
As the promotion moved away from the tournament format and introduced weight classes (initially just Heavyweight and Lightweight), the need for a permanent symbol of dominance became clear. This led to the creation of the “Superfight” belt, a massive, somewhat crude design famously held by pioneers like Ken Shamrock and Dan Severn. These early belts were inconsistent in design, often resembling professional wrestling straps more than legitimate sports hardware. They were large, gold-plated, and lacked the intricate detailing that would come later.
The “Classic Gold” Era (2001–2018)
When Zuffa LLC purchased the UFC in 2001, they sought to legitimize the sport. Part of this rebranding included a standardized, professional-looking championship belt. This design, known by fans as the “Classic Gold” belt, became the defining image of the UFC’s golden age.
This belt featured a simpler, more rectangular center plate with the UFC logo prominently displayed in the middle. It was heavy, gleaming, and felt like a prize worth bleeding for. This was the belt held by legends like Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre, and Jon Jones during their record-breaking reigns.
The Problem with the Classic Belt
While iconic, the Classic Gold belt had a logistical flaw: champions received a brand-new belt every time they defended their title. Fighters like Demetrious Johnson, who defended his flyweight title 11 times, ended up with a closet full of identical belts. It was a good problem to have, but it lacked a sense of continuity. The belt didn’t change; it was just replaced. This paved the way for a radical redesign in 2019.
The Legacy Belt: A New Era of Design (2019–Present)
In January 2019, just ahead of UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw, the promotion unveiled the UFC Legacy Championship Belt. Designed in collaboration with UFC officials and manufactured by Jae El Manufacturing, this belt was a complete departure from tradition. It wasn’t just a trophy; it was a customizable record of a fighter’s career.
The Legacy Belt is valued at approximately three times the cost of the Classic belt, featuring legitimate stones and a complex multi-layer construction. But the real value lies in its symbolism. Every millimeter of the belt represents a specific piece of UFC history.
Decoding the Legacy Belt: What Do the Symbols Mean?
The Legacy Belt is dense with iconography. Here is a breakdown of the key elements that confuse many fans:
- 25 Stones for 25 Years: Surrounding the center plate are 25 white cubic zirconia stones. These represent the UFC’s 25th anniversary, which occurred in 2018, the year the belt was designed.
- The 8 Flags: The center plate features the iconography of eight distinct country flags. These honor the first eight nations to produce a UFC champion: usage of these specific flags pays homage to the sport’s global expansion.
- USA: Mark Coleman
- Canada: Carlos Newton
- Brazil: Murilo Bustamante
- Netherlands: Bas Rutten
- Poland: Joanna Jędrzejczyk
- Belarus: Andrei Arlovski
- UK: Michael Bisping
- Ireland: Conor McGregor
- Roman Numerals: The year 1993—the promotion’s inaugural year—is engraved in Roman numerals.
- The Octagon and Square Pattern: The background texture behind the logo isn’t random. It features lines forming octagons (25 lines for 25 years) and squares (8 lines for the 8 sides of the Octagon).
The Red Stones: Tracking Title Defenses
Perhaps the most innovative feature of the Legacy Belt is the side plate system. Unlike the Classic era, champions no longer receive a new belt for every defense. instead, they keep one “Legacy” belt for their entire reign.
On the left side plate, there is a space for the fighter’s name and weight class. Surrounding this plate are 16 settings for stones. When a fighter wins the belt, these settings are filled with white stones. For every successful title defense, one white stone is replaced with a red ruby. The date and location of the specific defense are then engraved next to the ruby.
This system turns the belt into a living timeline. A glance at a champion’s belt instantly tells you how dominant they have been. For example, when Israel Adesanya or Kamaru Usman entered the cage during their reigns, their belts were studded with multiple red stones, visually asserting their status as long-reigning kings.
Special Edition Stones: The 30th Anniversary
The Legacy Belt system allows for flexibility. A notable variation occurred in 2023 for the UFC’s 30th anniversary. For title fights that took place during this year, the standard red rubies were replaced with green emerald-colored stones (or green cubic zirconia) to commemorate the milestone. Fighters who defended their titles in 2023 carry these unique green stones on their belts forever, marking their reign during a specific chapter of the promotion’s history.
The BMF Belt: A Symbolic Prize
No discussion of UFC belts is complete without mentioning the “BMF” (Baddest Motherf***er) belt. First introduced for the bout between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz at UFC 244, this belt breaks all the rules. It is not tied to a weight class or a ranking system. It is a darker, grittier version of the standard belt, featuring black leather and dark metal plates.
While critics initially dismissed it as a marketing gimmick, the BMF belt has persisted, later being contested by fighters like Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje. It represents a different kind of value in MMA—entertainment value and violence, rather than just pure sporting merit.
FAQ: Common Questions About UFC Belts
Do UFC fighters keep their belts?
Yes. In the “Legacy” era, a fighter receives one belt when they become champion. They keep this physical belt even if they lose the title later. However, they do not get a new belt for every defense anymore; they get the red ruby updates instead. If a fighter wins a title in a different weight class, they receive a second belt for that division.
Are the stones on the UFC belt real diamonds?
Generally, no. The standard stones used on the Legacy Belt are cubic zirconia (synthetic diamonds) and created rubies. While they look premium, they are durable and replaceable. However, the belt itself is still valuable, estimated to cost thousands of dollars to manufacture due to the gold plating and custom leather work.
What happens to the belt when a champion retires?
The champion keeps it. The belt is their personal property. This is why you often see retired legends like Daniel Cormier or Khabib Nurmagomedov displaying their hardware at home or in their gyms long after they have left the sport.
Who manufactures the UFC belts?
Since the introduction of the Legacy Belt in 2019, the belts have been manufactured by Jae El Manufacturing. They worked closely with UFC officials to ensure the new design met the durability requirements for travel and post-fight celebrations.
Why are there flags on the UFC belt?
The eight flags on the Legacy Belt (USA, Canada, Brazil, Netherlands, Poland, Belarus, UK, Ireland) represent the first eight countries to have a fighter win a UFC championship. It is a tribute to the international growth of the sport, acknowledging that MMA is no longer just an American or Brazilian endeavor.
