Top 5 fighters who went down a weight class and excelled  

Weight classes and the practice of weight cutting has been an integral part of the sport of MMA ever since the sport stepped out of the dark ages and started it's journey of being a legitimate sport.

There have always been certain fighters who have been benefited by moving up or down from the weight divisions they started their careers in. They have achieved great laurels and have been hugely successful in weight classes that weren't originally their own.

With UFC 245 around the corner, the most successful Featherweight Champion of the UFC, Jose Aldo is set to test the waters on his Bantamweight debut against the extremely dangerous striker Marlon Moraes.

It remains to be seen whether this move will prove fruitful for Aldo or not, but in this feature, we have ranked the Top 5 fighters across time who have dropped a weight class and excelled in a lighter weight division.

#5 Lyoto Machida

A pioneer of the sport, a future UFC Hall-of-Famer and the former UFC light heavyweight, Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida started his MMA career at the light heavyweight division, initially in the smaller promotions before making his UFC debut at UFC 67 in the year 2007.

Machida quickly rose to prominence in the UFC's Light-Heavyweight division by defeating top contenders and legends of the sport like Sokodjou, Tito Ortiz and Thiago Silva. Being an undefeated contender at 14-0, Machida secured a title shot against Rashad Evans at UFC 98. He then went on to become the UFC's Light-Heavyweight champion with his win over Rashad Evans and later defended his belt against fellow Brazillian Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 104 before finally losing the title to Shogun at UFC 113. Machida continued his Light Heavyweight campaign for 3 years and also fought the champion Jon Jones in the meanwhile.

Finally, Machida dropped down to Middleweight in October 2013 and fought Mark Munoz and defeated him via 1st round KO. Machida went on to fight Gegard Mousasi and the challenged the Middleweight champion Chris Weidman, falling short in a closely fought 5-round contest. Lyoto Machida has been a staple contender in the Middleweight division of the UFC and has fought the very best of the division and delivered some remarkable performances along the way.

Machida currently competes at Bellator where he recently fought the Middleweight Champion, Gegard Mousasi and lost via split decision. Lyoto Machida has been a top contender at Middleweight after being a UFC champion at Light Heavyweight and continues to compete at the highest level and might add a Bellator Middleweight title to his legacy before retiring from the sport.

#4 Joseph Benavidez

Joseph Benavidez is one of the sport's all time best Bantamweight and Flyweight fighters

The perennial top-contender at the Flyweight division and a veteran of the sport, Joseph Benavidez began his MMA journey way back in the year 2006 fighting in smaller local promotions before eventually signing with the WEC in the year 2008. Benavidez began his career as a Bantamweight fighter and spent his WEC days competing at Bantamweight where he fought elite fighters such as Miguel Torres and WEC Champion Dominick Cruz twice for the WEC belt, but ended up unsuccessful both the times.

On being signed by the UFC, Benavidez continued to compete at 135 lbs and was always a top contender in the Bantamweight division. When Dana White and the UFC announced the inclusion of the Flyweight division, Joseph Benavidez was amongst the first few fighters to make the shift down to 125 lbs and competed at the inaugural Flyweight tournament final against Demitrious Johnson for the newly formed Flyweight title. Benavidez lost to "Mighty Mouse" Demitrious Johnson who then went on the defend his Flyweight belt for a record 11 times before finally losing it to Henry Cejudo.

Benavidez continued to be one of the top contenders at Flyweight and has defeated the elite of the division, including the current champion, Henry Cejudo. He could never really find his home at Bantamweight but has emerged as one of the all-time best fighters to compete at Flyweight division.

#3 Frankie Edgar

Former Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar is a force to be reckoned with at Featherweight

The former UFC Lightweight Champion and a future Hall-of Famer, Frankie "The Answer" Edgar began his UFC career competing at the Lightweight division where he quickly rose through the ranks and challenged the legend BJ Penn at UFC 112. Edgar entered the bout as a huge underdog but to the shock of the world, ended up beating BJ Penn via decision to win the UFC Lightweight title. Edgar went on to defend his title against BJ Penn at UFC 118 and Gray Maynard at UFC 125, a closely fought fight which ended in a draw and UFC 136 where he knocked Maynard out to cement himself as the Champion. Edgar then lost his title to Benson Henderson at UFC 144 and a subsequent rematch as well at UFC 150.

In an attempt to resurrect his career, Frankie Edgar dropped down to Featherweight and in his 1st fight at 145 lbs, challenged the great Jose Aldo for the title. Edgar was defeated by Aldo in a closely fought fight, but this fight marked the beginning of his journey at Featherweight. Ever since his shift to Featherweight, back in 2013, Edgar has fought and defeated the very best in the division and has also challenged for the title 3 times, twice against Jose Aldo and once against Max Holloway, however falling short of glory each time.

Even though he is yet to win a title at Featherweight, Frankie Edgar has been extremely successful in his new division and has established himself as a perennial top-contender at 145 lbs.

#2 Gegard Mousasi

A true legend of the sport, Gegard Mousasi has emerged as one of the best Middleweights in the world.

A pioneer and veteran of the sport, the former Bellator Middleweight Champion Gegard Mousasi's MMA career is a stuff of legends. A veteran of 55 professional MMA fights, Mousasi has fought and defeated the best in the world in numerous weight divisions. In his earlier days, Gegard Mousasi used to compete in the Light-Heavyweight division and occasionally at Middleweight as well on Pride FC, Dream FC and Strikeforce. He also won the Dream Light-Heavyweight title, the Strikeforce Light-Heavyweight title and the Dream Middleweight title.

Upon signing with the UFC in the year 2013, Mousasi settled down in the UFC's Middleweight division where he began to wreak havoc and defeated one top-contender after the other. In his UFC Middleweight campaign, Gegard Mousasi defeated elite competition and former champions such as Mark Munoz, Chris Weidman, Vitor Belfort and Dan Henderson. However, despite his best efforts, he was unable to secure a title shot which also led to his dispute with the UFC and his subsequent departure from the organisation.

Mousasi made the move to Bellator where in merely 2 fights he became the Middleweight Champion and later on defended his title against the Bellator Welterweight Champion, Rory MacDonald. Gegard Mousasi has since lost his title to Rafael Lovato Jr. at Bellator 223, but continues to be the top-contender at the Bellator Middleweight division and possibly next in line for a title shot.

Despite having won various titles in different weight classes, Gegard Mousasi unlocked his true potential at Middleweight and has since then established himself as one of the best Middleweight fighters in the world today.

#1 Daniel Cormier

Double Champion "DC" was an unstoppable force at Light-Heavyweight

At the top of our rankings is the former Light-Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion of the UFC, Danier "DC" Cormier. It is a common misconception amongst fans that DC is a natural Light-Heavyweight who moved up to Heavyweight to challenge for the title.

In reality however, DC is and has always been a natural Heavyweight all throughout his wrestling and MMA career and made the move down to Light-Heavyweight when he signed with UFC, possibly to avoid a collision course with his long time friend and training partner, Cain Velasquez.

DC started his career at the Heavyweight division in Strikeforce where he was a long time champion and undefeated in 11 pro fights. DC fought his first 2 fights in the UFC at Heavyweight as well wherein he defeated Frank Mir and Roy Nelson, before finally making the cut to Light-Heavyweight at UFC 170.

DC's exploits at the Light-Heavyweight division is known to every fan of the sport. Having only lost once to Jon Jones, DC went on to become the champion at 205 lbs, and also defended his title 3 times against Anthony Johnson, Volkan Oezdemir and Alexander Gustaffson. Cormier eventually moved back to Heavyweight to fight the champion Stipe Miocic, whom he defeated to win the title, and has since then, settled down in the Heavyweight division.

Daniel Cormier is the finest example of a fighter who dropped a weight class and absolutely dominated the division. Despite it being a tough and brutal cut for him, DC shone at Light-Heavyweight and established himself as one of the best fighters ever to compete in the division and the sport as well.