The bantamweight division in mixed martial arts refers to a number of different weight classes:
- The UFC's bantamweight division, which groups competitors within 126–135 lb (57.2-61.3 kg)
- The King of the Cage bantamweight class, with upper limit at 145 lb (65.8 kg)
- The Shooto bantamweight division, which suits competitors below 125 lb (56.7 kg)
- The ONE Championship's bantamweight division, with upper limit at 65.8 kg (145.1 lb)
- The Road FC's bantamweight division, with upper limit at 135.6 lb (61.5 kg)
The bantamweight division sits between the lighter flyweight (116–125 lb) division and the heavier featherweight division (136–145 lb).
Ambiguity and clarification
For the sake of uniformity, many American mixed martial arts websites refer to competitors between 126 and 135 lb (57 and 61 kg) as bantamweights, as it encompasses both the Shooto Featherweight division (132 lb / 60 kg) and the King of the Cage Flyweight division (135 lb / 61 kg). The Association of Boxing Commissions, which governs MMA in the United States, uses the 126-135 standard for "bantamweight".
Prior to UFC 31, 150-pound (68 kg) fighters were known as bantamweights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, after which the weight limit was raised to 155 lb (70 kg), and the division was reinstated as the lightweight class.
The bantamweight limit, as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and the Association of Boxing Commissions is 135 lb (61.36 kg).
Professional champions
Current champions
These tables were last updated in May 2023.
Men:
| Organization | Reign Began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFC | March 6, 2021 |
 Aljamain Sterling
|
23–3 (3KO 8SUB) | 3 |
| Bellator | May 7, 2021 |
Sergio Pettis
|
21–5 (3KO 4SUB) | 1 |
| Rizin FF | December 31, 2020 |
 Kyoji Horiguchi
|
29–3 (15KO 3SUB) | 0 |
| ONE Championship | March 11, 2022 |
 John Lineker
|
35–9 (17KO 4SUB) | 0 |
| Fight Nights Global | October 10, 2017 |
 Tomáš Deák
|
20–10–1 (6KO 8SUB) | 1 |
| Cage Warriors | September 6, 2019 |
 Jack Cartwright
|
10–0 (3KO 5SUB) | 3 |
| ACA | March 6, 2020 |
Daniel Oliveira
|
27–6 (9KO 11SUB) | 0 |
| Brave CF | March 11, 2022 |
 Brad Katona
|
11–2 (1KO 3SUB) | 0 |
| Legacy Fighting Alliance | N/A |
 Vacant
|
N/A | N/A |
Women:
| Organization | Reign Began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFC | July 30, 2022 |
Amanda Nunes
|
22–5 (13KO 4SUB) | 0 |
| Invicta FC | January 18, 2023 |
Talita Bernardo
|
10–4 (0KO 6SUB) | 0 |
See also
- List of current MMA Bantamweight Champions
- List of current MMA Women's Bantamweight Champions
- List of UFC Bantamweight Champions
- List of WEC Bantamweight Champions (defunct)
- List of Pancrase Bantamweight Champions
- List of Road FC Bantamweight Champions
External links
-
Media related to Bantamweight mixed martial artists at Wikimedia Commons
