“September 20, 2024 10:15 am ET (This story was updated to add new information.) The bantamweight title changed hands in the UFC 306 main event when Sean O’Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) was outworked by challenger Merab Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC). Take a look at a chronological history of the UFC’s 135-pound title, which”, — write: mmajunkie.usatoday.com
The bantamweight title changed hands in the UFC 306 main event when Sean O’Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) was outworked by challenger Merab Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC).
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, WEC 53
Date: Dec. 16, 2010
Event: WEC 53
Opponent: Scott Jorgensen
Total reign: 1,117 days
Title defenses: Urijah Faber, Demetrious Johnson
Renan Barao
Date: July 21, 2012
Event: UFC 149
Opponent: Urijah Faber
Total 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
Date: May 24, 2014
Event: UFC 173
Opponent: Renan Barao
Total reign: 603 days
Title defenses: Joe Soto, Renan Barao
Dominick Cruz
Date: Jan. 17, 2016
Event: UFC Fight Night 81
Opponent: T.J. Dillashaw
Total reign: 348 days
Title defenses: Urijah Faber
Cody Garbrandt
Date: Dec. 30, 2016
Event: UFC 207
Opponent: Dominick Cruz
Total reign: 309 days
Title defenses: None
T.J. Dillashaw
Date: Nov. 4, 2017
Event: UFC 217
Opponent: Cody Garbrandt
Total reign: 501 days
Title defenses: Cody Garbrandt
Date: June 8, 2019Event: UFC 238
Opponent: Marlon Moraes
Total reign: 352 days
Title defenses: Dominick Cruz
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JULY 12: (R-L) Petr Yan of Russia punches Jose Aldo of Brazil in their UFC bantamweight championship fight during the UFC 251 event at Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island on July 12, 2020 on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Date: July 12, 2020
Event: UFC 251
Opponent: Jose Aldo
Total reign: 237 days
Title defenses: None
Aljamain Sterling
Date: March 6, 2021
Event: UFC 259
Opponent: Petr Yan
Total reign: 896 days
Title defenses: Petr Yan, T.J. Dillashaw, Henry Cejudo
Petr Yan, UFC 267
Date: Oct. 30, 2021
Event: UFC 267
Opponent: Cory Sandhagen
Title defenses: None
Current champion USA’s Sean O’Malley (L) celebrates victory over Ecuador’s Marlon Vera during their UFC Bantamweight Championship bout at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on March 9, 2024. between (Photo by GIORGIO VIERA / AFP) (Photo by GIORGIO VIERA/AFP via Getty Images)
Date: Aug. 19, 2023
Event: UFC 292
Opponent: Aljamain Sterling
Total reign: 393 days
Title defenses: Marlon Vera
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 14: Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia poses with his team after defeating Sean O’Malley of the United States to win the bantamweight title during UFC 306: Riyadh Season Noche at Sphere on September 14, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Date: Sept. 14, 2024
Event: UFC 306
Opponent: Sean O’Malley
Total reign: Incumbent
Title defenses: None
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