UFC Championship Safe and Secure: Which Fighter Has the Easiest Division?

To be called a champion, you must successfully defend the title at least once.

Fighters have heard that saying more than often on their path to glory, but many fail to achieve capturing the championship prize. However it is much harder to retain the belt than to capture it.

There are always challengers who are climbing the proverbial ladder and looking to earn at shot at the coveted title that a champion cherishes dearly.

There are obstacles along the way but it takes a true champion to battle through adversity and remain on top, whether it is an injury or a competitive division.

We’ll look at the five champions who rule their respective divisions and the potential challengers they might face. Only time will tell whether each champion go on to create legacies or become labeled as a “paper champion.”

Heavyweight Division-Champion: Brock Lesnar

Now sitting atop the UFC’s heavyweight division, Brock Lesnar has every right to be called the top heavyweight in MMA.

Following two dominant and successful title defenses over Frank Mir and Shane Carwin, Lesnar is on an unstoppable roll and looks to hold onto the heavyweight strap for the foreseeable future.

In fact, with the athleticism, power and agility the former WWE star possesses, it’s hard to see many heavyweight contenders having a shot at dethroning the 265lb behemoth.

Lesnar’s next opponent will be another undefeated challenger in Cain Velasquez, a former NCAA Division 1 wrestler. Velasquez is a heavyweight prospect who has also been on a tear, rounding off victories against Cheick Kongo and Antonio Rodrigo Minotauro Nogueira, in fact he’s only the second man to finish the Brazilian.

Velasquez is a technical fighter, with crisp boxing skills and strong takedowns. He’d definitely be a threat to Lesnar on the feet, considering Lesnar only has 6 professional fights and relies more on his wrestling and brute strength.

However it is evident Lesnar is improving each time he fights and it is no secret he is a favorite to walk out of UFC 121 with the belt in hand.

This weekend’s heavyweight bout between Junior Dos Santos and Roy Nelson will determine the next challenger for the title. Assuming Lesnar gets past Velasquez, he’ll have another stiff test in either Nelson or Dos Santos, more so with Dos Santos.

Junior Dos Santos is another technically sound boxer with a better stand up than Velasquez and Carwin, not to mention he holds knockout power in both hands.

Dos Santos is no stranger to fighting bigger opposition either. The Brazilian has obliterated heavyweight fighters such as Stefan Struve, Mirko Cro Cop and Gabriel Gonzaga. Even though he holds a purple belt in Brazilian-Jiu-Jitsu, Dos Santos has not fought off his back thus far in his UFC career.

If Lesnar takes him down it will be interesting to see if and how he can defend off his back.

If Nelson steps up to face Lesnar, don’t let his physique fool you the man can stand and trade with some of the best fighters in MMA. A former IFL Heavyweight Champion, Nelson also has knockout power and an underrated ground game.

So if he’s taken down, it’s likely he still be in comfortable position to try and submit the champion.

On the feet, sure he has knockout power, but so does Carwin and he couldn’t put away the resilient Lesnar. Nelson would only be able to throw for so long before he’s taken down and smothered by the bigger, more athletic Lesnar.

Risk of losing the Heavyweight title- Medium

Light Heavyweight Division-Champion: Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua

Upon debuting in the UFC in 2007 Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua was widely regarded as the No. 1 Light Heavyweight in the world and it seemed as if it were only a matter of time before he’d become UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.

But things don’t always go according to plan.

Knee injuries would plague the Brazilian before he finally would get his title shot in May 2010 and he surely did not disappoint, knocking out Lyoto Machida less than 3 minutes into the bout.

Now that Rua has finally reached the top of the Light Heavyweight division, it will be quite a tough challenge for him to stay there because it is the most competitive division in the UFC.

In his first title defense he’ll be facing a fast, explosive wrestler in Rashad Evans. Evans picked up a unanimous decision win over Rampage Jackson in order to receive his shot at Shogun Rua, where he used his speed and wrestling skills to his advantage.

While Evans has relied on his striking in the past, it might not be wise to strike with an aggressive fighter like Rua especially when Evans chin has been suspect.

Evans wrestling skills might be more useful in the title bout vs. Shogun Rua as he can keep him on the ground and tire out the Brazilian; Shogun’s takedown defense isn’t the greatest so Evans could capitalize on this weakness.

Other challengers who will be waiting in the wings include Lyoto Machida, Antonio Rogerio ‘Lil’ Nog’ Nogueria, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson and Jon ‘Bones’ Jones.

Each challenger poses more problems to Shogun Rua than in any other division.

Not to discredit Rua’s skills or accomplishments, but considering how stacked the Light Heavyweight division is and how mixed martial artists are continuing to improve and evolve, it's likely Rua’s reign as champion will not be as successful without facing some tough challengers.

Risk of losing the Light Heavyweight title- High

Middleweight Division-Champion: Anderson 'The Spider' Silva

Ever since debuting in 2006, it seems there is no way to stop Anderson Silva.

Every challenger that’s been put in front of him, he’s beaten them easily without breaking a sweat and looking at how the less-than exciting UFC Middleweight division is, his dominant reign as champion will only continue to get easier.

The middleweight division doesn’t always seem to enthuse the Curitiba native which is why he’ll occasionally move up to the light heavyweight division and embarrass some of the division top tier competition.

Nothing against the rest of the middleweight division, it has some of the most talented fighters in MMA but they’re not on the same level as Silva.

While making his intentions clear that he has no desire to abandon the UFC middleweight division or the title, it shouldn’t be too hard to find match ups, it will just be hard to find anyone worthy of defeating Silva.

For his upcoming bout at UFC 117 Silva will square off against gritty wrestler Chael Sonnen.

Sonnen has become more recently known for his trash talking than his skills as of late and he’s doing a solid job at it, but come fight night, the time for talking will be over.

It is possible Sonnen could take Silva down but how long can he continue that strategy before Silva figures him out, remember Silva allows his opponents to press the action first so that he can feel them out and get an idea of their strengths and weaknesses.

Keep in mind though, Sonnen is relentless and aggressive with the take downs and he follows up with hard shots to tire his opponents and wear them down.

However Sonnen has been suspect in the past for making mistakes on the ground vs. BJJ specialists and has ended up being submitted.

That is a very likely scenario in this bout, either that or just another complete one-sided performance by Silva.

Another challenger who will be waiting in the wings will be Vitor Belfort, the Brazilian was originally scheduled to face Silva but an injury forced him out of the bout.

Belfort, who holds victories over Rich Franklin and Wanderlei Silva, will be the last legitimate threat to Silva’s title reign and he holds good reason to.

Belfort has huge knockout power and has lightning quick combinations; on top of that he has arguably the fastest hands in MMA.

This will certainly be one bout no fan would want to miss, as either Silva or Belfort has the ability to end the fight instantaneously.

Risk of losing the Middleweight title- Low

Welterweight Division-Champion: Georges 'Rush' St-Pierre

There is no one in MMA who is more dominant and well rounded than the French-Canadian, Georges St-Pierre. The Welterweight kingpin has run through every competitor he’s faced and as good as his opponents are, he’s just that better.

St-Pierre is one the most accomplished fighters in UFC holding victories over Matt Hughes, BJ Penn and Jon Fitch establishing a legacy as one of the greatest fighters of all-time.

St-Pierre will continue to cement his legacy as new challengers await him.

St-Pierre will defend his belt against Josh Koscheck later this year following a coaching stint on the reality show The Ultimate Fighter. Both fighters met previously in 2007 where St-Pierre took down the four-time NCAA All-American at will and dominated for the entire fight.

Koscheck has greatly improved since then, going 6-2 in his last 8 fights and rounding off three straight victories over the likes of Frank Trigg, Anthony Johnson and Paul Daley.

The aspects of his game have also improved and he’s become a much more versatile fighter, picking up victories by knockout and submission.

However when these two men square off again, will all the improvement in Koscheck’s arsenal pay off?

It’s not likely against St-Pierre.

Should St-Pierre steamroll through Koscheck, another familiar foe shall be waiting for him in either Jon Fitch or Thiago Alves. St-Pierre demolished both competitors and in a rematch, it will likely end in the same result.

Thiago Alves has some of the best leg kicks in MMA and has some of the hardest hands too, but when he challenged for St-Pierre’s belt last year, his stand up was non-existent.

St-Pierre took him down at will and controlled him while pounding him into oblivion. Alves looked like he didn’t belong in there, it just wasn’t his night.

Jon Fitch held his own against the Welterweight champion but was taken down and took solid shots in the process. Fitch has a renowned ground game, as no one except for St- Pierre, has passed his guard.

St-Pierre controlled Fitch on the ground and dominated the entire bout. Like Alves, Fitch was outmatched against the champion.

Risk of losing Welterweight title- Low

Lightweight Division-Champion: Frankie Edgar

In one of the most shocking upsets in UFC history, Edgar pulled off a win over BJ Penn at UFC 112.

Edgar outpointed Penn on the feet and surprisingly took down the former champion twice. Although it was shocking to most UFC fans, the victory was a well-deserved one for Edgar, who improved to 12-1 professional record.

But all good things must come to an end.

Edgar will end up facing Penn in a rematch for the Lightweight crown later this month and might not be so fortunate this time around.

Penn has some of the best boxing in MMA.

He puts together crisp and clean combinations that are a lightning quick and hard to defend against. Also on the ground, he is such a unique and talented fighter that he uses his legs to defend and attack his opponents, as evident in his bout vs. Kenny Florian.

If Edgar is to edge past Penn for a second time, he’ll have either Kenny Florian or Gray Maynard to square off against.

Florian is a Mauy Thai and BJJ specialist, earning 10 of his victories by submission. He is also known by delivering some of the nastiest elbows to his opponents.

He has vastly improved since his days on The Ultimate Fighter and has experience in title bouts before, going four rounds with former champion BJ Penn before being submitted.

Florian will certainly bring his best should he challenge for the Lightweight title again.

Gray Maynard has been one of the more impressive fighters in the Lightweight division. The NCAA Division 1 wrestler has beat everyone in his path, while improving to a 10-0 professional record.

Maynard hasn’t faced any slouches either, along the way he’s picked up victories over Roger Huerta, Nate Diaz and Rich Clementi, in fact he’s the only man to hold a victory over Frankie Edgar.

If these two competitors meet inside the octagon, surely Maynard will have a psychological advantage over him.

Risk of losing Lightweight title: High.