(This story was up to date so as to add new data.)
The bantamweight title modified arms within the UFC 306 major occasion when Sean O’Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) was outworked by challenger Merab Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC).
Check out a chronological historical past of the UFC’s 135-pound title, which migrated over from the WEC in 2010 when the promotions merged.
Dominick Cruz
Dominick Cruz, WEC 53
Date: Dec. 16, 2010
Occasion: WEC 53
Opponent: Scott Jorgensen
Complete reign: 1,117 days
Title defenses: Urijah Faber, Demetrious Johnson
Renan Barao (interim)
Renan Barao
Date: July 21, 2012
Occasion: UFC 149
Opponent: Urijah Faber
Complete reign: 534 days as interim champ; 138 days after being promoted to champion (Jan. 6, 2014)
Title defenses: Michael McDonald, Eddie Wineland, Urijah Faber
T.J. Dillashaw
T.J. Dillashaw
Date: Might 24, 2014
Occasion: UFC 173
Opponent: Renan Barao
Complete reign: 603 days
Title defenses: Joe Soto, Renan Barao
Dominick Cruz
Dominick Cruz
Date: Jan. 17, 2016
Occasion: UFC Struggle Night time 81
Opponent: T.J. Dillashaw
Complete reign: 348 days
Title defenses: Urijah Faber
Cody Garbrandt
Cody Garbrandt
Date: Dec. 30, 2016
Occasion: UFC 207
Opponent: Dominick Cruz
Complete reign: 309 days
Title defenses: None
T.J. Dillashaw
T.J. Dillashaw
Date: Nov. 4, 2017
Occasion: UFC 217
Opponent: Cody Garbrandt
Complete reign: 501 days
Title defenses: Cody Garbrandt
Henry Cejudo
Date: June 8, 2019
Occasion: UFC 238
Opponent: Marlon Moraes
Complete reign: 352 days
Title defenses: Dominick Cruz
Petr Yan
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JULY 12: (R-L) Petr Yan of Russia punches Jose Aldo of Brazil of their UFC bantamweight championship battle throughout the UFC 251 occasion at Flash Discussion board on UFC Struggle Island on July 12, 2020 on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photograph by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Date: July 12, 2020
Occasion: UFC 251
Opponent: Jose Aldo
Complete reign: 237 days
Title defenses: None
Aljamain Sterling
Aljamain Sterling
Date: March 6, 2021
Occasion: UFC 259
Opponent: Petr Yan
Complete reign: 896 days
Title defenses: Petr Yan, T.J. Dillashaw, Henry Cejudo
Petr Yan (interim)
Petr Yan, UFC 267
Date: Oct. 30, 2021
Occasion: UFC 267
Opponent: Cory Sandhagen
Title defenses: None
Sean O’Malley
Present champion USA’s Sean O’Malley (L) celebrates victory over Ecuador’s Marlon Vera throughout their UFC Bantamweight Championship bout on the Kaseya Heart in Miami, Florida, on March 9, 2024. between (Photograph by GIORGIO VIERA / AFP) (Photograph by GIORGIO VIERA/AFP through Getty Pictures)
Date: Aug. 19, 2023
Occasion: UFC 292
Opponent: Aljamain Sterling
Complete reign: 393 days
Title defenses: Marlon Vera
Merab Dvalishvili
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 14: Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia poses along with his staff after defeating Sean O’Malley of the US to win the bantamweight title throughout UFC 306: Riyadh Season Noche at Sphere on September 14, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photograph by Christian Petersen/Getty Pictures)
Date: Sept. 14, 2024
Occasion: UFC 306
Opponent: Sean O’Malley
Complete reign: Incumbent
Title defenses: None
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