(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 migrated over from the WEC in 2010 when the promotions merged.
Dominick Cruz
Date: Dec. 16, 2010
Event: WEC 53
Opponent: Scott Jorgensen
Total reign: 1,117 days
Title defenses: Urijah Faber, Demetrious Johnson
Renan Barao (interim)
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
Henry Cejudo
Event: UFC 238
Opponent: Marlon Moraes
Total reign: 352 days
Title defenses: Dominick Cruz
Petr Yan
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 (interim)
Date: Oct. 30, 2021
Event: UFC 267
Opponent: Cory Sandhagen
Title defenses: None
Sean O'Malley
Date: Aug. 19, 2023
Event: UFC 292
Opponent: Aljamain Sterling
Total reign: 393 days
Title defenses: Marlon Vera
Merab Dvalishvili
Date: Sept. 14, 2024
Event: UFC 306
Opponent: Sean O’Malley
Total reign: Incumbent
Title defenses: None
