5 forgotten UFC champions

Winning a UFC championship is one of the toughest challenges in sports, but defending it is an even greater task. Not every UFC titleholder can dominate like Jon Jones, Demetrious Johnson, or Georges St-Pierre.

Here's a look back at five UFC champions who often get overlooked.

Carlos Newton - UFC welterweight champion (May 2001)

Many believe St-Pierre was the first Canadian to win a UFC title. However, it was actually Carlos Newton who brought the championship across the border.

The Newmarket, Ontario resident returned to the UFC after nearly a three-year stint fighting in Japan and squared off against then-170-pound champion Pat Miletich at UFC 31. Many fight fans consider it one of the best submission victories in UFC history; Newton secured a rare bulldog choke in the third round to take home the welterweight title.

However, the Canadian's title reign was short-lived, losing to Miletich's protege Matt Hughes at UFC 34. The former NCAA Division I wrestler lifted up Newton after being caught in a triangle choke and slammed the Canadian to the canvas for the TKO victory. Newton's total time as a champion lasted just 183 days.

Newton never officially announced his retirement but last competed in July 2010, recording a unanimous decision loss to UFC veteran Brian Ebersole at Impact FC 1.

Dave Menne - UFC middleweight champion (September 2001)

While Dan Henderson won the UFC's first-ever middleweight tournament in 1998, Menne is considered the first 185-pound champion in UFC history.

"The Warrior" faced Cesar Gracie Fight Team product Gil Castillo at UFC 33 after amassing an impressive 30-7-2 record. The Minnesota Martial Arts Academy standout came away with a unanimous decision victory to claim the promotions inaugural middleweight title.

Menne's time as champion only lasted 105 days as Brazil's Murilo Bustamante knocked him out in the second round at UFC 35.

The 45-year-old last competed in March 2012 where he lost by unanimous decision to Bustamante in a rematch at Amazon Forest Combat 2.

Ricco Rodriguez - UFC heavyweight champion (September 2002)

Starting his career with a 13-1 record, Ricco Rodriguez fought Randy Couture for the vacant heavyweight title at UFC 39 after former champion Josh Barnett tested positive for steroids.

Rodriguez overcame adversity in the title fight, coming from behind in the fifth round to earn a TKO victory over "The Natural." However, in the first defense, "Suave" was matched up against 6-foot-8 powerhouse Tim Sylvia.

Unable to deal with Sylvia's height and reach advantage, Rodriguez lost by first-round knockout at UFC 41.

The 42-year-old hasn't officially retired from MMA and has lost six of his last seven fights, most recently suffering a TKO loss to Hatef Moeil at CFS 9 in February 2019.

Sean Sherk - UFC lightweight champion (October 2006)

Following more than a three-year absence, the UFC brought back its lightweight division in 2006. Sean Sherk fought Kenny Florian for the vacant 155-pound championship at UFC 64.

Sherk dominated the title fight with his wrestling, securing several takedowns on The Ultimate Fighter 1 finalist en route to a unanimous decision victory. "The Muscle Shark" followed that up with a successful title defense against Hermes Franca at UFC 73, winning once again by decision.

After the victory, Sherk was flagged by the California State Athletic Commission for steroids and was subsequently stripped of his lightweight championship. Sherk wasn't reinstated until April 2008 and fought new 155-pound titleholder B.J. Penn at UFC 84.

The Hawaiian dominated the matchup, finishing Sherk in the third round via TKO.

The Minnesota native fought three more times before officially retiring from MMA in September 2013.

Carla Esparza - UFC strawweight champion (December 2014)

Joanna Jedrzejczyk is often mistaken as the first 115-pound champion in UFC history, but it was actually Carla Esparza. "The Cookie Monster" defeated Angela Hill, Tecia Torres, and Jessica Penne on The Ultimate Fighter 20 to secure a spot in the finals against Rose Namajunas.

The 32-year-old's experience proved to be too much for "Thug Rose," as Esparza submitted Namajunas in the third round to claim the vacant title at The Ultimate Fighter 20 finale. Her reign as champion was one of the shortest in UFC history at just 93 days, however.

Esparza faced Jedrzejczyk at UFC 185 and suffered one of the most lopsided losses in championship history. The Polish standout dominated the fight with her striking and finished Esparza in the second round via TKO.

The California native still competes in the UFC's strawweight division and was recently scheduled to face Michelle Waterson at UFC Portland before the coronavirus pandemic canceled the event.