Sherdog’s Top 10: Longest Bellator MMA Title Reigns

10. Liam McGeary

McGeary started his career 10-0 with eight first-round finishes and earned his shot at the light heavyweight championship at Bellator 134 on Feb. 27, 2015. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt under John Danaher, he outdueled Emanuel Newton cross five round to claim a unanimous decision at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Scorecards of 48-46, 48-47 and 48-47 brought with them the 205-pound title. McGeary successfully defended his crown seven months later, as he submitted UFC hall of famer Tito Ortiz with an inverted triangle choke at Bellator 142. It marked the first time Ortiz had been submitted since 1997. McGeary went on to surrender the light heavyweight championship in a lopsided decision loss to four-time NCAA All-American Phil Davis in November. He had spent 617 days atop the division.

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