The Bantamweight Division of the UFC has seen a number of great champions over the past decade.
On 135 pounds there is demonstrably no hunter larger than the current champion Merab Dvalishvili, which this year sets his world title on UFC 316.
After beating Umar Nurmagomedov earlier this year, DvalishHvili Sean O'Malley will meet in a rematch in the main event of UFC 316 on Saturday.
In anticipation of his title fight with O'Malley, DvalishHvili is already considered 'the largest Bantamweight of all time' by Henry Cejudo for his 12-fighter win racing and four victories over former champions.
Of course, DvalishVili is not the only hunter in the Bantamweight 'goat' conversation.
Bloody Elbow arranges the top 5 largest UFC -Bantam weights of all time.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
5. Renan Barao
Renan Barao once had a 32-1 record in his prime in the UFC history.
Barao was the second UFC Bantamweight champion, in the footsteps of Dominick Cruz while he was injured. In 2012, Barao won the interim title of Urijah Faber in the absence of Cruz and De Riem defended twice before he was promoted to undisputed champion.
The Brazilian had the second longest interim title rule in the history of UFC, only behind Tom Aspinall, who recently surpassed him during his wait for Jon Jones.
Barao went on a win with a nine fight between WEC and UFC before he lost the title to TJ Dillashaw in a huge upset.
Barao defeated the will of Urijah Faber (twice), Eddie Wineland, Michael McDonald, Scott Jorgenson and Brad Pickett during his heyday.
4. TJ Dillashaw
The man to bring the title of Barao to an end is #4 on our list.
TJ Dillashaw was a +650 Underdog to beat Barao on UFC 173. Dillashaw completely dominated Barao over five rounds and closes the show with a head kick and bumps to become the champion in 2014.
Dillashaw defended the title twice before he lost two years later to a recurring Dominick Cruz.
The time of Dillashaw at the top was not ready, however, because the former champion Back-to-Back victories put together for a crack at the then champion Cody Garbrandt. Dillashaw Tko'ed Garbrandt twice in a row to strengthen his legacy as a two-time Bantamweight champion.
In 2019 the UFC Dillashaw stripped of the title. Dillashaw was suspended by USADA for a positive drug test for the performance-promoting drug epo, as a result of his flying weight fight vs. Henry Cejudo.
3. Aljamain Sterling
The title Reign by Aljamain Sterling could have become better, but it is not to be denied that Aljo is one of the greatest Bantam weights of all time.
Sterling is the only champion in the UFC to win their title due to disqualification, after receiving an illegal knee from Petr Yan in 2021. Regardless, 'Funkmaster' released himself when he defeated Yan in five rounds in their Rematch.
Sterling defended the title a total of three times. The American definitely dominated an injured Dillashaw for a second round of TKO and defeated former two -division champion Cejudo by a split decision in his last successful defending defense before he dropped the belt to Sean O'Malley in 2023.
In addition to his title fights, Sterling defeated people like Cory Sandhagen, Renan Barao, Pedro Munhoz and Jimmie Rivera.
2. Dominick Cruz
For years Dominick Cruz was the largest Bantamweight of all time.
But nothing lasts forever and Cruz's CV, although difficult to beat, probably met his competition with the current Run of Dvalishvili.
The inaugural UFC Bantamweight champion and former WEC champion have been undefeated for 8 years and has seven title profits between the two promotions. Cruz defeated Dillashaw, Faber (twice), Joseph Benavidez (twice) and UFC Vliegweig Geit Demetrious Johnson.
The UFC career of Cruz was plagued by injuries, operations and long fired. One of Cruz's greatest achievements was when he returned after two years of inactivity to win the title of Dillashaw in 2016.
After another title defense about Faber, Cruz lost the belt to Cody Garbrandt later that year.
1. Merab dvalishvili
Merab Dvalishvili just has no longer to stop since he dropped his first two UFC fights.
In his last five fights, Dvalishvili, a busy wrestler with Cardio, has decided the will of Hall of Famer Jose Aldo, Yan, Cejudo, O'Malley and Umar Nurmagomedov.
Dvalishvili tries to go this weekend before his thirteenth-right victory against O'Malley. 'The Machine' has already erased the top 3 contenders in the Bantamweight Division.
Prior to the matchup, the coach of Sean O'Malley Tim Welch Dvalishvili has mentioned the best Bantamweight ever 'for the unique skills he owns.