Which fighter won the first UFC light heavyweight championship?

Frank Shamrock won the first UFC light heavyweight championship.

Shamrock captured the title at UFC Japan on December 21, 1997, defeating Olympic gold medalist Kevin Jackson by submission. The championship was originally called the UFC Middleweight Championship, but it was later renamed the light heavyweight title when the UFC adjusted its weight-class terminology.

Shamrock became one of the early UFC’s most complete fighters. He combined submission grappling, wrestling, striking, and conditioning, and he successfully defended the championship several times during his reign. His title run helped establish the division as a major part of the promotion.

A frequent source of confusion is the changing name of the belt. Modern UFC fans may associate “middleweight” with a much heavier division than the one originally represented by this championship. The historical title lineage, rather than the later terminology, identifies Shamrock as its first champion.