Every UFC Bantamweight Champion Ever, Ranked By Skill

Highlights

• Bantamweight fighters must stay under 135 pounds to compete in the UFC’s smallest division since 2010.
• Champions like Cody Garbrandt and Petr Yan have shown remarkable power and skill in title fights.
• Young talents like Sean O’Malley are making waves with impressive striking skills and championship potential.

Bantamweight is one of the smallest weight classes in the UFC, as fighters’ bodies can’t be more than 135 pounds. The division has been around since 2010 and a few fighters have built up a legacy.

In total, there have been eight different men crowned at 135 pounds and some of the champions have had enough skill to defend their titles for multiple fights.

8 Cody Garbrandt Ends Dominick Cruz’s Reign

It feels like Cody Garbrandt has fallen off the map in the UFC – but he was an impressive fighter early in his career. The native of Ohio started his career a perfect 10-0 with remarkable knockout power. Eventually, Garbrandt would get a title shot to face the immortal (at the time) Dominick Cruz. Garbrandt, just like his nickname, showed “No Love” to Cruz and pieced him up with two knockdowns. After the scorecards came into play, Garbrandt won by unanimous decision and in a stunning victory. However, his 135-pound was short-lived as he failed to defend his belt against TJ Dillashaw and hasn’t seen gold since.

7 Petr Yan Beats Legend In First Title Fight

Controversial Losses Cost the Russian Fighter

Petr Yan has been at the center of controversy in his Bantamweight career. Yan won his first title at UFC 251 after defeating Jose Aldo by knockout. However, he would lose his belt to Aljamain Sterling after getting a disqualification for what was deemed an illegal knee to a grounded opponent. The Russian would get his rematch after winning the interim title at UFC 267 – but would lose to Sterling again in a controversial split decision. Still, Yan is a high-level striker, who isn’t afraid to go to the ground, which he proved in the fourth round in his second fight versus Sterling.

6 Sean O’Malley Proves Himself Against Championship-Level Wrestler

The Sugar Show Could Dominate For Years

You can tell that Sean O’Malley had a chance to be special since his fight 230 significant strike masterpiece against Kris Moutinho. The first seven of his nine fights in the UFC were knockouts. He’s truly one of the best strikers in the game today and is only 29.

Sugar got his first title shot at Bantamweight after just edging out a win against Yan. But O’Malley needed to prove that he could stop a champion-level wrestler – and he did just that against Sterling with an impressive knockout. O’Malley would defend the belt against Marlon Vera to avenge his only loss. Now, for years to come the 135 pounds may be a victim of the Sugar show.

5 Henry Cejudo Has Titles in Bantamweight and Flyweight

Triple C Gets His Name From Double Champion Status And Gold Medal

If Henry Cejudo did not retire in 2020 after his UFC 249 win and continued to stay active at Bantamweight, he might be much higher on this list. The California native won the gold medal for freestyle wrestling at the 2008 Olympics. But it’s not just Cejudo’s wrestling; he gets his Triple C nickname because of his gold medal combined with becoming just one of the few fighters in UFC history to hold two belts simultaneously. Cejudo has won two Flyweight and two Bantamweight titles each.

4 Aljamain Sterling Did Not Win Nine Fights in a Row by Accident

The Funk Master Leads All Bantamweights in Top Control

Without question, Sterling deserves the respect of one of the best Bantamweights to ever do it – but some fans may discredit some of his championship fights. It was not only the disqualification win, but he arguably lost the Henry Cejudo fight and the Yan rematch.

Plus, Dillashaw was fighting with a dislocated shoulder. But you don’t defend a belt against top contenders three times by mistake and win nine fights in a row, which is the longest streak in 135-pound history. The Funk Master wrestling and ground game and high-level Brazillian jiu-jitsu took his fighting to the next level. He leads all Bantamweights in top control time.

3 Renan Barao was One of the Most Entertaining Fighters of All-Time

Fights Went Where He Wanted Them To Go

Based on his style, Renan Barao was one of the most entertaining fighters of all-time. The relentless cardio and knockout power made the Barron a tough opponent to handle. But the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt took his game to the next level by making himself near impossible to take down, with a stuff rate of 94.7 percent. Meaning, that fights went where Barao wanted them to go. In title bout wins, Beraro is tied for fourth all-time in 135-pound history.

2 TJ Dillashaw Knocked Out Garbrandt and Barao

Arguably The Most Accomplished Fighter in Bantamweight History

Dillashaw with his five title fight wins, most of all-time in Bantamweight, might be the most accomplished fighter at 135 pounds. While the now 38-year-old was known for his grappling, he had plenty of striking power. Dillashaw’s seven knockouts rank first all-time among Bantamweights. Four of his knockouts came against big names in the division including Garbrandt and Barao.

1 Dominick Cruz Becomes UFC’s First Bantamweight Champion

The Dominator Had a 12-Fight Win Streak

Sure, Dominick Cruz has lost the past three out of his five fights, and may be heading for retirement soon – but let’s not forget about the superb run he had. Before the UFC, The Dominator won three titles in the WEC at 135 pounds. In the UFC, he became the first-ever Bantamweight champion and defended his belt once before being forced to sit out for multiple years and got stripped of his title due to injuries.

But in 2014, he returned to the Octagon and regained the gold back in 2016. Cruz’s 12-fight MMA winning streak was ended by Garbrandt at UFC 207. During his reign, The Dominator beat Urijah Faber twice, Dillashaw, and Demetrious Johnson.