List of Professional Fighters League champions

Professional Fighters League (formerly the World Series of Fighting, or "WSOF") is an American mixed martial arts promotion, and the following is a history of its champions in each weight class. As well as championship history for their International promotions WSOF: Canada and WSOF Global Championship.

PFL Tournament champions

2018
Event(s)DivisionWeightChampionRunner-upSemi-finalists
PFL 11 (2018)
December 31, 2018		 Heavyweight Until 120 kg Brazil Philipe Lins United States Josh Copeland United States Alex Nicholson
United States Jared Rosholt
Light Heavyweight Until 93 kg United States Sean O'Connell Brazil Vinny Magalhães Russia Bazigit Atajev
Canada Smealinho Rama
Middleweight Until 84 kg United States Louis Taylor Russia Abusupiyan Magomedov Sweden Sadibou Sy
United States John Howard
Welterweight Until 77 kg Russia Magomed Magomedkerimov United States Ray Cooper III Brazil Handesson Ferreira
Serbia Bojan Veličković
Lightweight Until 70 kg Brazil Natan Schulte Russia Rashid Magomedov United States Chris Wade
Brazil Thiago Tavares
Featherweight Until 66 kg United States Lance Palmer United States Steven Siler United States Andre Harrison
Brazil Alexandre Almeida

2019
Event(s)DivisionWeightChampionRunner-upSemi-finalists
PFL 10 (2019)
December 31, 2019		 Heavyweight Until 120 kg Azerbaijan Ali Isaev United States Jared Rosholt Russia Denis Goltsov
United States Kelvin Tiller
Light Heavyweight Until 93 kg Argentina Emiliano Sordi United States Jordan Johnson Russia Bazigit Atajev
Russia Rashid Yusupov
Welterweight Until 77 kg United States Ray Cooper III United States David Michaud Brazil Glaico França
United States Chris Curtis
Lightweight Until 70 kg Brazil Natan Schulte (2) Tajikistan Loik Radzhabov United States Chris Wade
Russia Akhmet Aliev
Featherweight Until 66 kg United States Lance Palmer (2) United States Alex Gilpin United States Daniel Pineda
Canada Jeremy Kennedy
Women's Lightweight Until 70 kg United States Kayla Harrison Brazil Larissa Pacheco Canada Sarah Kaufman
Canada Bobbi Jo Dalziel

2021
Event(s)DivisionWeightChampionRunner-upSemi-finalists
PFL 10 (2021)
October 27, 2021		 Heavyweight Until 120 kg Brazil Bruno Cappelozza Croatia Ante Delija Russia Denis Goltsov
United States Jamelle Jones
Light Heavyweight Until 93 kg Brazil Antônio Carlos Júnior Norway Marthin Hamlet Brazil Cezar Ferreira
Argentina Emiliano Sordi
Welterweight Until 77 kg United States Ray Cooper III (2) Russia Magomed Magomedkerimov Canada Rory MacDonald
Sweden Sadibou Sy
Lightweight Until 70 kg Brazil Raush Manfio Tajikistan Loik Radzhabov United States Clay Collard
Paraguay Alexander Martinez
Featherweight Until 66 kg Russia Movlid Khaybulaev United States Chris Wade England Brendan Loughnane
United States Bubba Jenkins
Women's Lightweight Until 70 kg United States Kayla Harrison (2) United States Taylor Guardado New Zealand Genah Fabian
Brazil Mariana Morais

2022
Event(s)DivisionWeightChampionRunner-upSemi-finalists
PFL 10 (2022)
November 25		 Heavyweight Until 120 kg Croatia Ante Delija Brazil Matheus Scheffel Brazil Renan Ferreira
United States Juan Adams
Light Heavyweight Until 93 kg Australia Rob Wilkinson Russia Omari Akhmedov Brazil Delan Monte
United States Josh Silveira
Welterweight Until 77 kg Sweden Sadibou Sy United States Dilano Taylor Canada Rory MacDonald
Brazil Carlos Leal
Lightweight Until 70 kg Canada Olivier Aubin-Mercier Scotland Stevie Ray United States Anthony Pettis
Paraguay Alexander Martinez
Featherweight Until 66 kg England Brendan Loughnane United States Bubba Jenkins United States Chris Wade
Japan Ryoji Kudo
Women's Lightweight Until 70 kg Brazil Larissa Pacheco United States Kayla Harrison Ukraine Olena Kolesnyk
Czech Republic Martina Jindrová

Men's Championship history (defunct)
All WSOF Championships were retired and vacated on June 7, 2018, when the PFL league format began at PFL 1. The PFL crowns seasonal champions as an alternative to recognizing a single lineal champion.

Heavyweight Championship
206 to 265 lbs (93 to 120 kg)
No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 Greece Smealinho Rama
def. Derrick Mehmen		 WSOF 14
Edmonton, AB, Canada		 October 11, 2014 237 days
2 Bulgaria Blagoy Ivanov WSOF 21
Edmonton, AB, Canada		 June 5, 2015 3060 days

1. def. Derrick Mehmen at WSOF 24 on Oct 17, 2015
2. def. Josh Copeland at WSOF 31 on Jun 17, 2016
3. def. Shawn Jordan at WSOF 35 on March 18, 2017
4. def. Caio Alencar at PFL Fight Night on November 2, 2017

Ivanov vacated title on April 25, 2018, after becoming free agent and signing with the UFC.

Light Heavyweight Championship
186 to 205 lbs (84 to 93 kg)
No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 United States David Branch
def. Teddy Holder		 WSOF 23
Phoenix, AZ, USA		 September 18, 2015 507 days 1. def. Vinny Magalhães at WSOF 33 on Oct 7, 2016
Branch vacated title on February 6, 2017, after becoming free agent and signing with the UFC.

Middleweight Championship
171 to 185 lbs (77 to 84 kg)
No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 United States David Branch
def. Jesse Taylor		 WSOF 10
Las Vegas, NV, USA		 June 21, 2014 961 days

1. def. Yushin Okami at WSOF 15 on Nov 15, 2014
2. def. Clifford Starks at WSOF 30 on Apr 2, 2016
3. def. Louis Taylor at WSOF 34 on Dec 31, 2016

Branch vacated title on February 6, 2017, after becoming free agent and signing with the UFC.

Welterweight Championship
156 to 170 lbs (70 to 77 kg)
No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 United States Steve Carl
def. Josh Burkman		 WSOF 6
Coral Gables, FL, USA		 October 26, 2013 154 days
2 Brazil Rousimar Palhares WSOF 9
Las Vegas, NV, USA		 March 29, 2014 492 days

1. def. Jon Fitch at WSOF 16 on Dec 13, 2014
2. def. Jake Shields at WSOF 22 on Aug 1, 2015

Palhares was stripped of the title on August 3, 2015.
3 United States Jon Fitch
def. João Zeferino		 WSOF 30
Las Vegas, NV, USA		 April 2, 2016 698 days

1. def. Jake Shields at WSOF 34 on Dec 31, 2016
2. def. Brian Foster at PFL Daytona on June 30, 2017

Fitch vacated title on March 1, 2018, after signing with Bellator.

Lightweight Championship
146 to 155 lbs (66 to 70 kg)
No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 United States Justin Gaethje
def. Richard Patishnock		 WSOF 8
Hollywood, FL, USA		 January 18, 2014 1196 days

1. def. Nick Newell at WSOF 11 on July 5, 2014
2. def. Luis Palomino at WSOF 19 on Mar 28, 2015
3. def. Luis Palomino at WSOF 23 on Sep 18, 2015
4. def. Brian Foster at WSOF 29 on Mar 12, 2016
5. def. Luiz Firmino at WSOF 34 on Dec 31, 2016

Gaethje vacated title on April 27, 2017, after signing with the UFC.

Featherweight Championship
136 to 145 lbs (61 to 66 kg)
No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 Russia Georgi Karakhanyan
def. Lance Palmer		 WSOF 7
Vancouver, BC, Canada		 December 7, 2013 196 days
2 United States Rick Glenn WSOF 10
Las Vegas, NV, USA		 June 21, 2014 176 days
3 United States Lance Palmer WSOF 16
Sacramento, CA, USA		 December 13, 2014 371 days

1. def. Chris Horodecki at WSOF 21 on June 5, 2015

4 Brazil Alexandre Almeida WSOF 26
Las Vegas, NV, USA		 December 18, 2015 226 days
5 United States Lance Palmer (2) WSOF 32
Everett, WA, USA		 July 30, 2016 231 days
(602 days)
6 United States Andre Harrison WSOF 35
Verona, NY, USA		 March 18, 2017 446 days

1. def. Steven Rodriguez at PFL Everett on July 29, 2017

The WSOF Featherweight championship was retired on June 7, 2018 when the PFL league format began at PFL 1.[1][2]

Bantamweight Championship
126 to 135 lbs (57 to 61 kg)
No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 Brazil Marlon Moraes
def. Josh Rettinghouse		 WSOF 9
Las Vegas, NV, USA		 March 29, 2014 1,011 days

1. def. Josh Hill at WSOF 18 on Feb 12, 2015
2. def. Sheymon Moraes at WSOF 22 on Aug 1, 2015
3. def. Joseph Barajas at WSOF 28 on Feb 20, 2016
4. def. Josh Hill at WSOF 32 on Jul 30, 2016
5. def. Josenaldo Silva at WSOF 34 on Dec 31, 2016

Moraes vacated title on January 3, 2017, after becoming a free agent and signing with the UFC.
2 Russia Bekbulat Magomedov
def. Donavon Frelow		 WSOF 35
Verona, NY, USA		 March 18, 2017 446 days
The WSOF Bantamweight championship was retired on June 7, 2018 when the PFL league format began at PFL 1.[1][2]

Flyweight Championship
116 to 125 lbs (53 to 57 kg)
No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 Russia Magomed Bibulatov
def. Donavon Frelow		 WSOF 24
Mashantucket, CT, USA		 October 17, 2015 446 days
Bibulatov vacated title on January 5, 2017, after joining the UFC.

Women's Championship history (defunct)
All WSOF Championships were retired and vacated on June 7, 2018 when the PFL league format began at PFL 1. The PFL crowns seasonal champions as an alternative to recognizing a single lineal champion.

Women's Strawweight Championship
106 to 115 lb (48 to 52 kg)
No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 Mexico Jessica Aguilar
def. Alida Gray		 WSOF 8
Hollywood, FL, USA		 January 18, 2014 484 days

1. def. Emi Fujino at WSOF 10 on June 21, 2014
2. def. Kalindra Faria at WSOF 15 on Nov 15, 2014

Aguilar vacated title on May 18, 2015, after joining the UFC.

Symbolic Titles
All WSOF International Championships were retired and vacated on June 7, 2018 when the PFL league format began at PFL 1. The PFL crowns seasonal champions as an alternative to recognizing a single lineal champion.

Canadian Welterweight Championship
156 to 170 lbs (70 to 77 kg)
No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 Canada Ryan Ford
def. Joel Powell		 WSOF Canada 1
Edmonton, AB, Canada		 February 21, 2014 472 days
Ford vacated title on June 8, 2015, after retiring from the sport of MMA.

Global Heavyweight Championship
206 to 265 lbs (93 to 120 kg)
No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 Russia Evgeny Erokhin
def. Brandon Cash		 WSOF Global Championship 2: Japan
Tokyo, Japan		 February 7, 2016 851 days 1. def. Richard Odoms at WSOF Global Championship 3: Philippines
All WSOF International championships were retired and vacated on June 7, 2018 when the PFL league format began at PFL 1.[1][2]

Global Flyweight Championship
125 lbs (57 kg)
No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 Japan Yusaku Nakamura
def. Lawrence Diguilio		 Deep Cage Impact 2016: DEEP vs. WSOF-GC
Tokyo, Japan		 December 17, 2016 537 days
All WSOF International championships were retired and vacated on June 7, 2018 when the PFL league format began at PFL 1.[1][2]

WSOF Tournament champions
Event(s)DivisionChampionRunner-upFinal
WSOF 5, WSOF 7 e WSOF 10 Middleweight United States David Branch United States Jesse Taylor June 21, 2014
WSOF 20 e WSOF 23 Light Heavyweight United States David Branch United States Teddy Holder September 18, 2015
WSOF 25 Lightweight United States Brian Foster Brazil João Zeferino November 20, 2015

Records

Most wins in title bouts

The following includes all fighters with three or more championship and/or interim championship title fights. Fighters with the same number of title wins are arranged in order of most title bouts. Tournament championships are not included.

Title wins

 Champion

 Weight class

 W D NC L
6 United States Justin Gaethje Lightweight 6 0 0 0
Brazil Marlon Moraes Bantamweight 6 0 0 0
United States David Branch Light Heavyweight
Middleweight		 2
4		 0
0		 0
0		 0
0
5 Bulgaria Blagoy Ivanov Heavyweight 5 0 0 0
3 United States Lance Palmer Featherweight 3 0 0 3
Mexico Jessica Aguilar Women's Strawweight 3 0 0 0
Brazil Rousimar Palhares Welterweight 3 0 0 0

Most consecutive title defenses

The following includes all WSOF champions who were able to consecutively defend their title two times or more. Fighters with the same number of title defenses are listed chronologically.

Defenses Champion Weight class Span
5 United States Justin Gaethje Lightweight January 18, 2014 - April 27, 2017
Brazil Marlon Moraes Bantamweight March 29, 2014 - January 3, 2017
4 Bulgaria Blagoy Ivanov Heavyweight June 5, 2015 - April 25, 2018
3 United States David Branch Middleweight June 21, 2014 - February 6, 2017
2 Mexico Jessica Aguilar Women's Strawweight January 18, 2014 - May 18, 2015
Brazil Rousimar Palhares Welterweight March 29, 2014 - August 4, 2015

Multi-division champions
Interim title

Fighters who have won championships in multiple weight classes.[3] Tournament champions are not included.

No. Champion Division Won Lost Defenses Reign Total Reign
1 United States David Branch Light Heavyweight September 18, 2015
(WSOF 23)		 February 6, 2017
(Vacated)		 1 507 days 1468 days
Middleweight June 21, 2014
(WSOF 10)		 February 6, 2017
(Vacated)		 3 961 days

Simultaneous two division champions

This table, different from the previous one, only counts the periods in which the fighter loaded the titles simultaneously and the defenses in that period of time.

No.ChampionDivisionSpanDefensesSimultaneous Reign
1 United States David Branch Light Heavyweight September 18, 2015 – February 6, 2017 1 507 days
Middleweight 2

Champions by nationality

Fighters with multiple title reigns in a specific division will be counted once in the Division champions. Interim champions who have never become linear champions will be listed as interim champions.

CountryTournament
champions		Division
champions		International
champions		Total
 United States 8 8 - 16
 Brazil 6 3 - 9
 Russia 3 3 1 7
 Canada 1 - 1 1
 Argentina 1 - - 1
 Bulgaria - 1 - 1
 Greece - 1 - 1
 Mexico - 1 - 1
 Japan - - 1 1

See also

References
  1. Staff (2018-08-31). "Playoff matchups set for PFL's first season of $1 million winners". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
  2. "Fight Card - PFL 11". PFL.
  3. "MMA All-time Record Holders". sportsillustrated.
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