10 MMA Champions Who Held World Titles Elsewhere

10. Fabricio Werdum (IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championships Black Belt Gold Medal)

Let's just read off a few of Fabricio Werdum's credentials, shall we?

European jiu-jitsu champion, Abu Dhabi Combat Club World Heavyweight Champion (x2), a Black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Judo and Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu World Champion (x4).

You can see why this dude went on to win the UFC Heavyweight Championship.

Werdum got into Brazilian jiu-jitsu due to being choked out (via triangle choke) by his former girlfriend's ex-boyfriend - as good a reason as any - and he probably has him to thank for his dominance as a fighter.

Werdum became a teacher of jiu-jitsu - when he was just a purple belt - in Madrid and all over Spain, after moving to the country to be closer to his mother. This experience catapulted Werdum into the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championships and he would go onto claim the top prize in 2000 (at Blue belt Openweight and sub-100kg), 2003 and 2004 (both Black belt over-100kg).

The Brazilian would take this immense experience into his work in PRIDE, Strikeforce and the UFC, where he would defeat Cain Velasquez to become the Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion.