“You aren’t a true champion until you successfully defend your title”

Entry in progress—B.P.
 
Bleacher Report
UFC’s Top 10 First-Time Title Defenses
By Brian Oswald , MMA Editor Oct 22, 2009
They say you aren’t a true champion until you successfully defend your belt. Just ask former “champions” like Matt Serra, Vitor Belfort, Forrest Griffin, and most recently Rashad Evans—all of whom came up short their first time around. 
 
Twitter
Luis Noel Felix®
‏@RockstarFelix
I have new motivation and goals thank you @AFOMMA. “Your not a great champion until you successfully defend Your TITLE” I wanna be great 😊!
7:05 PM - 30 Nov 2010
 
Twitter
James Haywire
‏@corruptdatum
You’re not a champion until you successfully defend your title.
8:39 AM - 21 Feb 2011
   
Bleacher Report
UFC 189 Results: Robbie Lawler Lifts New-Look UFC with Old-School Slugfest
By Chad Dundas , MMA Lead Writer Jul 12, 2015
(...)
There is an old adage in the fight game that says you’re not really a champion until you successfully defend your title. By that measure—or any—Lawler is now the new standard-bearer in a weight class that unexpectedly lost dominant champion Georges St-Pierre to retirement near the end of 2013.