Sherdog’s Top 10: Moments When Titles Changed Hands

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The pinnacle of any fighter’s career comes when he or she captures a world title. Whether the championship moment occurs in a ring or in an MMA cage, nothing signifies superiority over an opponent more than having the gold strapped around one’s waist.

Such feelings are only enhanced when the belt is wrested away from a champion trying to defend it. It is one thing to capture a vacant title and something altogether different when a reigning titleholder is dethroned. Anderson Silva, Georges St. Pierre, Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture and countless other all-time greats have felt both the exhilaration and the sorrow associated with title fights.

The latest installment in the Sherdog Top 10 series examines the most memorable moments when a title changed hands from one champion to the next. How does your list compare?

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HONORABLE MENTIONS: Jose Aldo-Mike Thomas Brown (WEC 44), Fabricio Werdum-Cain Velasquez (UFC 188), Dan Henderson-Wanderlei Silva (Pride 33), Randy Couture-Tim Sylvia (UFC 68), Ronda Rousey-Miesha Tate (Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey”), Anthony Pettis-Benson Henderson (WEC 53), Maurice Smith-Mark Coleman (UFC 14)

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