Let's look at all you need to know about UFC Bantamweight Division.
UFC Bantamweight Division
Bantamweight is a weight class in combat sports. In MMA, the Bantamweight Division is within 126-135 lbs (57.2-61.2 kg). The Bantamweight Division sits between the Flyweight Division (116-125 lbs) and the Featherweight Division.
Current Bantamweight Champion- 2024
The current UFC Bantamweight Champion is Merab Dvalishvili (18-4-0).
At UFC 306, Merab Dvalishvili defeated Sean O'Malley to become the new bantamweight champion. Dvalishvili was declared the victor via a unanimous decision after five rounds.
Latest Results from UFC Bantamweight
| Date | Fight | Method | Round | Result | |
| September 14, 2024 | Sean O'Malley (c) vs. Merab Dvalishvili | Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 48–47, 48–47) | 5 | 5:00 | Merab Dvalishvili def. Sean O'Malley (c) |
| September 14, 2024 | Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Aori Qileng | Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | Raúl Rosas Jr. def. Aori Qileng |
UFC Bantamweight Rankings 2024
| Rank | Fighter | Record | M | Win Streak | Result | Last fight | Next fight |
| C | Merab Dvalishvili | 18–4 | 11 (0 def) | Win | UFC 306 Sean O'Malley | TBD | |
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 18–2 (1 NC) | 0 | Loss | UFC 306 Merab Dvalishvili | TBD | |
| 2 | Umar Nurmagomedov | 18–0 | 18 | Win | UFC on ABC 7 Cory Sandhagen | TBD | |
| 3 | Petr Yan | 17–5 | 1 | Win | UFC 299 Song Yadong | UFC Fight Night 248 Deiveson Figueiredo | |
| 4 | Cory Sandhagen | 17–5 | 0 | Loss | UFC on ABC 7 Umar Nurmagomedov | TBD | |
| 5 | Deiveson Figueiredo | 24–3–1 | 3 | Win | UFC on ABC 7 Marlon Vera | UFC Fight Night 248 Petr Yan | |
| 6 | Marlon Vera | 23–10–1 | 1 | 0 | Loss | UFC on ABC 7 Deiveson Figueiredo | TBD |
| 7 | Henry Cejudo | 16–4 | −1 | 0 | Loss | UFC 298 Merab Dvalishvili | TBD |
| 8 | Song Yadong | 21–7–1 (1 NC) | 0 | Loss | UFC 299 Petr Yan | TBD | |
| 9 | Mario Bautista | 15–2 | 2 | 7 | Win | UFC 307 José Aldo | TBD |
| 10 | Rob Font | 20–8 | −1 | 0 | Loss | UFC on ESPN 52 Deiveson Figueiredo | UFC Fight Night 245 Kyler Phillips |
| 11 | José Aldo | 32–9 | −1 | 0 | Loss | UFC 307 Mario Bautista | TBD |
| 12 | Kyler Phillips | 12–2 | 3 | Win | UFC 299 Pedro Munhoz | UFC Fight Night 245 Rob Font | |
| 13 | Jonathan Martinez | 19–5 | 0 | Loss | UFC 301 José Aldo | UFC 309 Marcus McGhee | |
| 14 | Dominick Cruz | 24–4 | 0 | Loss | UFC on ESPN 41 Marlon Vera | TBD | |
| 15 | Montel Jackson | 14–2 | 5 | Win | UFC on ESPN 59 Da'Mon Blackshear | TBD |
Check Out: All the Weight Classes from UFC
History of Bantamweight Class
Before the UFC-WEC merger, Dominick Cruz was the WEC Bantamweight Champion. At WEC 53, Cruz defeated Scott Jorgensen to retain the WEC Bantamweight Championship and was simultaneously awarded the inaugural UFC Bantamweight Championship.
At UFC 173, T.J. Dillashaw defeated Renan Barao to win the UFC Bantamweight Championship. At UFC Fight Night: Dillashaw vs Cruz, Dominick Cruz became the first-ever two-time Bantamweight Champion. At UFC 207, Cruz lost the title to Cody Garbrandt, who eventually lost it to Dillashaw, making the latter a two-time division champion.
Due to a failed drug test, Dillashaw vacated his title in March 2019. After winning the vacant title at UFC 238 and defending it at UFC 249, Cejudo became the fourth UFC fighter to hold titles in two different weight classes (Flyweight and Bantamweight) simultaneously and the second to defend titles in two other weight divisions.
Petr Yan defeated Jose Aldo at UFC 251 and became the current UFC Bantamweight Champion.
In his first title defense, Yan faced #1 ranked Bantamweight Aljamain Sterling at UFC 259 on March 6, 2021, and lost the title by disqualification due to an intentional illegal knee landed by him in the fourth round to Sterling.
Sterling couldn't continue the fight any further due to a concussion, and the doctor recommended stopping the fight, thus making him the new UFC Bantamweight champion. This is the first-ever title change caused by disqualification in UFC history.
Sterling then defended his belt against Petr Yan, T.J. Dillashaw, and Henry Cejudo.
Sterling's next title defense was against Sean O'Malley at UFC 292, where he lost the championship via a TKO in the second round, making O'Malley the new bantamweight champion.
O'Malley defended the title once against Marlon Vera, after which he lost the championship to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 on September 14, 2024.
UFC Weight Divisions
Men
Women
Click for more UFC Rankings.
*Last Updated on October 13, 2024
FAQs On UFC Bantamweight Division
Q. Why do they call it bantamweight?
A. The division's name is derived from bantam chickens in mixed martial arts.
A. The division's name is derived from bantam chickens in mixed martial arts.
Q. How many kg is a bantamweight in UFC?
A. In UFC, bantamweight is classified as between 126 to 135 lb.
A. In UFC, bantamweight is classified as between 126 to 135 lb.
Q. Who is the current Bantamweight Champion?
A. Merab Dvalishvili is the current bantamweight champion.
A. Merab Dvalishvili is the current bantamweight champion.
Q. Is Aljamain Sterling still a bantamweight?
A. Aljamain Sterling recently announced that he is moving up to the featherweight (145 lbs) division.
A. Aljamain Sterling recently announced that he is moving up to the featherweight (145 lbs) division.
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