UFC Bantamweight Title Lineage

Sean O'Malley reacts after his knockout victory over Aljamain Sterling in the UFC bantamweight championship fight during the UFC 292 event at TD Garden on August 19, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC)

Go Through All Of The Bantamweight Title Winners In UFC History

By THOMAS GERBASI, ON TWITTER: @TGERBASI • Aug. 21, 2023

The UFC's bantamweight division is an absolute shark tank. As Aljamain Sterling sits at the top, here's a rundown of every UFC bantamweight champion.

Dominick Cruz (2010-2014) WEC bantamweight champion who defeated Scott Jorgensen at WEC 53 on December 16, 2010 to win first UFC Bantamweight Championship. Defended title successfully against Urijah Faber and Demetrious Johnson. Vacates title due to injury on January 6, 2014 (Watch On UFC Fight Pass)

Dominick Cruz wins WEC title on 6/1 (Zuffa Getty Images)

Renan Barao (2012-2014) defeats Urijah Faber at UFC 149 (7/21/12) to win interim title. Defends title against Michael McDonald and Eddie Wineland. Promoted to undisputed champion on January 6, 2014. Defends title against Faber.

TJ Dillashaw (2014-2016) Defeats Barao at UFC 173 (5/24/14) to win title. Defends title against Joe Soto and Barao. (Watch On UFC Fight Pass)

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 24: T.J. Dillashaw reacts to his victory over Renan Barao in their bantamweight championship bout during the UFC 173 event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 24, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Dominick Cruz (2016) Defeats Dillashaw at UFC Fight Night (1/17/16) to regain title. Defends title against Urijah Faber. (Watch On UFC Fight Pass)

Cody Garbrandt (2016-2017) Defeats Cruz at UFC 207 (12/30/16) to win title. (Watch On UFC Fight Night)

LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 30: (L-R) Cody Garbrandt and Dominick Cruz taunt each other in their UFC bantamweight championship bout during the UFC 207 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 30, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

T.J. Dillashaw (2017-2019) Defeats Cody Garbrandt to win the title for the second time. Had to vacate the title from a failed drug test. (Watch On UFC Fight Pass)

Henry Cejudo (2018-2020) Defeats Marlon Moraes at UFC 238 (6/8/19) to win vacant title. Defends title against Dominick Cruz at UFC 249, then retires, vacating title on May 9, 2020.

Henry Cejudo celebrates his TKO victory over Marlon Moraes of Brazil in their bantamweight championship bout during the UFC 238 event at the United Center on June 8, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Petr Yan (2020-2021) Defeats Jose Aldo at UFC 251 (7/12/20) to win vacant title. (Watch On UFC Fight Pass)

Petr Yan of Russia celebrates after his TKO victory over Jose Aldo in their UFC bantamweight championship fight during the UFC 251 event at Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island on July 12, 2020.jpg

Aljamain Sterling (2021) Defeats Petr Yan to win title via disqualification after Yan used an illegal knee strike at UFC 259 (3/6/21). (Watch On UFC Fight Pass)

Aljamain Sterling reacts after his victory by disqualification over Petr Yan of Russia due to an intentional foul in their UFC bantamweight championship fight during the UFC 259 event at UFC APEX on March 06 2021 in Las Vegas Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Petr Yan (2021) Defeats Cory Sandhagen at UFC 267 for the interim title (10/30/2021) (Watch On UFC Fight Pass)

Aljamain Sterling Defeats interim champion Petr Yan at UFC 273 (4/9/2022). Defended at UFC 280 against T.J. Dillashaw (10/22/2022) (Watch On UFC Fight Pass). Defended the belt at UFC 288 against Henry Cejudo.

Sean O'Malley reacts after his knockout victory over Aljamain Sterling in the UFC bantamweight championship fight during the UFC 292 event at TD Garden on August 19, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC)

Sean O'Malley Defeats Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 (08/19/2023). O'Malley goes onto defend the title against Marlon "Chito" Vera at UFC 299 (03/09/2024). (Watch On UFC Fight Pass).

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