(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
- 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
- Date: June 8, 2019
- 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: Umar Nurmagomedov
