UFC bantamweight title history: Dominick Cruz, Aljamain Sterling, Merab Dvalishvili, more
(This story was updated to add new information.)
The bantamweight title is on the line in the UFC 316 main event when champion Merab Dvalishvili (19-4 MMA, 12-2 UFC) takes on ex-champ Sean O'Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) in a rematch.
Take a look at a chronological history of the UFC's 135-pound title, which migrated over from the WEC in 2010 when the promotions merged.
Dominick Cruz
Date: Dec. 16, 2010
Dec. 16, 2010 Event: WEC 53
WEC 53 Opponent: Scott Jorgensen
Scott Jorgensen Total reign: 1,117 days
1,117 days Title defenses: Urijah Faber, Demetrious Johnson
Renan Barao (interim)
Date: July 21, 2012
July 21, 2012 Event: UFC 149
UFC 149 Opponent: Urijah Faber
Urijah Faber Total reign: 534 days as interim champ; 138 days after being promoted to champion (Jan. 6, 2014)
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
Date: May 24, 2014
May 24, 2014 Event: UFC 173
UFC 173 Opponent: Renan Barao
Renan Barao Total reign: 603 days
603 days Title defenses: Joe Soto, Renan Barao
Dominick Cruz
Date: Jan. 17, 2016
Jan. 17, 2016 Event: UFC Fight Night 81
UFC Fight Night 81 Opponent: T.J. Dillashaw
T.J. Dillashaw Total reign: 348 days
348 days Title defenses: Urijah Faber
Cody Garbrandt
Date: Dec. 30, 2016
Dec. 30, 2016 Event: UFC 207
UFC 207 Opponent: Dominick Cruz
Dominick Cruz Total reign: 309 days
309 days Title defenses: None
T.J. Dillashaw
Date: Nov. 4, 2017
Nov. 4, 2017 Event: UFC 217
UFC 217 Opponent: Cody Garbrandt
Cody Garbrandt Total reign: 501 days
501 days Title defenses: Cody Garbrandt
Henry Cejudo
Date: June 8, 2019
June 8, 2019 Event: UFC 238
UFC 238 Opponent: Marlon Moraes
Marlon Moraes Total reign: 352 days
352 days Title defenses: Dominick Cruz
Petr Yan
Date: July 12, 2020
July 12, 2020 Event: UFC 251
UFC 251 Opponent: Jose Aldo
Jose Aldo Total reign: 237 days
237 days Title defenses: None
Aljamain Sterling
Date: March 6, 2021
March 6, 2021 Event: UFC 259
UFC 259 Opponent: Petr Yan
Petr Yan Total reign: 896 days
896 days Title defenses: Petr Yan, T.J. Dillashaw, Henry Cejudo
Petr Yan (interim)
Date: Oct. 30, 2021
Oct. 30, 2021 Event: UFC 267
UFC 267 Opponent: Cory Sandhagen
Cory Sandhagen Title defenses: None
Sean O'Malley
Date: Aug. 19, 2023
Aug. 19, 2023 Event: UFC 292
UFC 292 Opponent: Aljamain Sterling
Aljamain Sterling Total reign: 393 days
393 days Title defenses: Marlon Vera
Merab Dvalishvili
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