UFC bantamweight title history: Dominick Cruz, Aljamain Sterling, Sean O'Malley and more

The bantamweight title will be on the line Saturday in the UFC 306 main event when Sean O’Malley (18-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) puts the belt up for a second time when he takes on challenger Merab Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 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

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: Incumbent

Title defenses: Marlon Vera